Explore New Song Brass Lessons
Brass Lesson Options:
At New Song School of the Arts (NSSOTA), students can explore and master a wide range of brass instruments, from the tuba to the trumpet, under the guidance of highly skilled, professional instructors. Brass instruments are known for their rich, resonant sounds and require strong breath control, proper posture, and precise embouchure. NSSOTA offers private, in-home, and virtual lessons that cater to students of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an advanced player looking to refine your technique, NSSOTA provides a tailored educational experience to meet every student’s needs.
Private lessons offer a personalized learning environment where students can focus on their chosen instrument, developing their skills with one-on-one guidance from their instructor. Each brass instrument presents unique challenges, and NSSOTA’s professional teachers create individualized lesson plans to address these needs, ensuring students build a strong foundation in both technique and music theory.
Tuba
As the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument, the tuba provides the deep, foundational bass line in ensembles and orchestras. Learning to play the tuba at NSSOTA involves mastering proper breath support, posture, and finger technique to navigate its large size and low range. Instructors focus on reading bass clef, as the tuba’s music is typically written in this format, and teach students how to develop the strength and control needed to produce clear, rich tones.
French Horn
The French horn is known for its circular shape and warm, mellow tone. It requires precise embouchure and control due to its intricate tubing and higher range. Instructors guide students through the complexities of hand positioning in the bell and breathing techniques to create smooth transitions between notes. French horn players will learn to read treble clef and develop a solid understanding of pitch accuracy, which is essential for playing in tune with other instruments.
Trombone
The trombone is distinct among brass instruments because of its sliding valve mechanism, which allows players to adjust pitch by moving the slide to different positions. Learning the trombone involves developing a strong sense of ear training to hit the correct pitch, as there are no defined “valve positions” like other brass instruments. NSSOTA’s instructors focus on slide technique, intonation, and music phrasing. Trombone students will learn to read both bass and tenor clefs, depending on the music they are performing, and they will explore both classical and contemporary repertoire.
Trumpet
The trumpet is the smallest and highest-pitched brass instrument, known for its bright, clear sound. Trumpet lessons at NSSOTA emphasize developing strong embouchure control, finger dexterity for the valves, and breath management. Instructors work with students to achieve clean articulation and smooth transitions between notes. Trumpet students will learn to read treble clef and will explore a wide range of musical genres, from classical to jazz to contemporary music.
Euphonium
The euphonium is similar to the baritone saxophone in size and shape, with a mellow, low-pitched sound that sits between the tuba and the trombone in terms of range. NSSOTA’s euphonium instructors guide students through mastering finger technique for the valves and developing the breath support needed to sustain long, low notes. Euphonium students will learn to read bass clef and will explore both solo repertoire and ensemble playing, where the euphonium often carries important melodic lines.
NSSOTA offers virtual and in-home lessons, allowing students to learn brass instruments from the comfort of their home. Virtual lessons use secure platforms, enabling instructors to provide real-time feedback on technique, posture, and sound production. For students with busy schedules or transportation challenges, virtual lessons offer the flexibility to continue their musical education without compromising on quality.
In-home lessons bring the instructor directly to the student’s home, offering personalized guidance in a familiar environment. This option is ideal for families who prefer a convenient, flexible approach while ensuring students receive the same professional instruction they would be in a traditional classroom setting.
New Song School of the Arts provides ample opportunities for brass students to perform in front of an audience, whether in group settings or as part of recitals. These performances help build confidence and stage presence, which are essential skills for any musician. Students in both private and group lessons will be invited to showcase their progress during recitals held in the school’s Recital Hall or Black Box Theatre. Additionally, group lessons often culminate in ensemble performances, where students can experience the thrill of playing with others in a live setting.
In addition to teaching technical aspects of each instrument, NSSOTA’s brass instructors place a strong emphasis on music literacy. Reading music is an essential skill for all musicians, and brass players will learn how to read treble, bass, and tenor clefs, depending on their instrument. Lessons begin with simple exercises and progress to more complex pieces as students advance. Instructors cover the basics of note reading, rhythms, dynamics, and articulation, ensuring that students have a comprehensive understanding of how to interpret and perform music.
NSSOTA also integrates music theory into lessons, helping students understand the structure of the pieces they are playing. This includes learning about chords, scales, and musical forms, which are crucial for both solo and ensemble performance.
Learning a brass instrument at New Song School of the Arts offers students a comprehensive and supportive musical education. Whether you’re interested in the tuba, trumpet, French horn, trombone, or euphonium, NSSOTA’s expert instructors will guide you through the process of mastering your instrument. With options for private, group, and virtual lessons, students can enjoy a flexible, personalized approach to music education while developing skills in reading music, technique, and musicality.
THE LEARNING PROCESS:
Building Skills and Creativity
At New Song School of the Arts, brass instruction follows a structured yet flexible approach, allowing students to progress at their own pace while mastering the essential skills necessary for proficient brass playing. Each lesson is tailored to individual goals, but all students build a strong foundation in key areas such as sight reading, rhythm, technique, music theory, ear training, and performance.
For both children and adults, lessons include:
Sight Reading
- Understanding the Language of Music: Continuous sight-reading exercises are essential for helping students master the language of music. By regularly practicing note reading, students develop the ability to quickly interpret musical notation, improving their overall musicianship and versatility. Whether it’s reading chord charts, lead sheets, or classical scores, sight reading strengthens their ability to play new pieces accurately and fluently. This foundational skill is crucial for guitarists, bassists, and musicians of all levels, allowing them to engage with various musical styles and perform confidently in both solo and ensemble settings.
Rhythm
- The Heartbeat of Music: Developing strong rhythm skills is essential for helping students understand, feel, and play music with accuracy and groove. Rhythm is the foundation of all musical styles, from rock and jazz to classical and pop. Through consistent practice with rhythmic exercises, metronome work, and playing in ensembles, students learn to internalize timing, syncopation, and tempo changes. Mastering rhythm enables guitarists, bassists, and all musicians to lock in with a band, improve their timing, and create a solid foundation for both solo performances and group settings, making them more versatile and confident musicians.
Technique
- Promoting Musicianship & Artistry: Developing proper technique is essential for promoting musicianship and artistry. By focusing on proper hand positioning, finger strength, dexterity, and accuracy, students build a strong technical foundation that enhances their playing across all styles of music. Instructors ensure both acoustic and electric guitar students develop key skills, such as lead and rhythm playing for electric guitar, and fingerstyle or strumming patterns for acoustic guitar. Mastering these techniques enables students to play with precision and expression, improving their overall musical performance and artistic development. Proper technique prevents injury and allows for greater versatility, whether performing complex solos, rhythmic accompaniments, or improvisations.
Music Theory
- Deepening Appreciation and Understanding: Incorporating regular music theory lessons is essential for students to deepen their appreciation and understanding of how music works. By assigning theory exercises and holding students accountable for completing them each week, instructors help guitarists grasp key concepts such as scales, chord progressions, intervals, and harmony. Whether focusing on acoustic or electric guitar, understanding music theory allows students to improve their improvisation, songwriting, and overall musicianship. Strong theory knowledge empowers students to apply these principles in their playing, enhancing their ability to read sheet music, create original compositions, and perform with confidence across various musical genres.
Ear Training
- Empowering & Equipping Musicians to Play by Ear: Incorporating ear training alongside music theory equips students with the tools needed to confidently play by ear. By developing the ability to recognize intervals, chords, and melodies, guitar students can hear and replicate the natural phrasing, dynamics, and shape of the music they encounter. This skill enhances improvisation and songwriting and allows students to engage with music on a deeper level, identifying key progressions and harmonic structures. Whether playing acoustic or electric guitar, ear training empowers musicians to pick up songs more quickly, improvise with ease, and perform with greater musicality and expression, building their versatility and confidence.
- Creative Exploration and Improvisation: As students gain technical proficiency, they are encouraged to explore their creative side through improvisation and composition. Electric guitar students, in particular, will learn how to solo over chord progressions, utilize effects pedals, and create their own riffs. Acoustic guitarists may focus on songwriting and accompanying vocals, while bass guitar students will work on creating original bass lines that fit within the context of a band or chart.
Performance
- Becoming a Well-Rounded Musician: Learning to prepare, polish, and perform music is key to building self-esteem and confidence in students. Regular performance opportunities help guitarists improve stage presence, timing, and collaboration, whether in solo or ensemble settings. Bass guitarists focus on creating solid rhythm and groove, essential for band performances, while acoustic guitarists often work on vocal accompaniment or solo acoustic sets. Performance helps students overcome stage fright, engage with audiences, and develop discipline and perseverance, shaping them into confident, well-rounded musicians.
New Song School of the Arts’ piano program also emphasizes personalized learning goals to help students achieve specific milestones, whether it’s mastering a challenging piece, improving sight-reading, or composing original music. By focusing on a comprehensive and balanced approach, students become proficient pianists and develop a deep appreciation for music as an art form.
Music Explorer Program
Young Scholars Program
The Young Scholars Program (YSP) emphasizes specific aspects of music such as music theory, music history, music appreciation, etc. This program creates strong musicians and is meant to compliment private lessons but is also perfect for a student not yet studying an instrument. Students in YSP desire a fun, engaging, in depth, and academic approach to musical knowledge and awareness. The “Young Scholars Program: Music Theory Class” incorporates thought-provoking activities and academic exercises that develop an understanding of the “nuts and bolts” of music. The class course culminates with the Texas State Theory Exam, and the student will be awarded based upon their test score. Relatedly, annual participation in the Texas State Theory exam looks great on college or scholarship applications.
Find out about our special program options:
