PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are the FASTEST way to improve. A private teacher who plays your particular instrument can model the details that you need to work on and provide one-on-one reinforcement. In the Omaha area, we are fortunate to have some extremely high-quality private teachers available. Area music stores including Dietze Music, Schmitt Music, and Thompson Music often have private instructors on staff. This can be a good place to start your search. There are also a number of individuals who have home studios around the area. Please ask Mr. Dreessen for his most current list of area instructors. Please be advised that this list is not an endorsement of any particular instructor, nor is this list comprehensive.
EQUIPMENT
As you grow and gain valuable experience, your equipment should upgrade as well! Your needs as a beginning player in middle school were different than what they are now. Think of your instrument like a bike. When you first learn to ride, you need something simple and forgiving, but as you grow, you want to get more options, and more importantly, equipment that FITS. With that in mind, please consider upgrading your band equipment:
Upgrading to a higher level instrument. These produce sound easier, they sound better, and often have better range than the student-level instruments used in middle school. Because this is usually a major purchase, it should be tailored to your individual needs. Please talk to Mr. Dreessen about options for your instrument and budget. I am happy to help get you going in the right direction.
Upgrading your mouthpiece. If your budget isn't ready for a whole new instrument, often upgrading to a higher quality mouthpiece can make noticeable improvements! We say a lot that the horn is just an amplifier - the mouthpiece is where the sound is produced. There are two general suggestions:
1. By high school, you have likely outgrown the mouthpiece/setup you started on. Brass players especially NEED a larger sized mouthpiece. Woodwind players should be using a reed strength that matches their ability and experience.
2. The mouthpiece and setup you use for marching band should be different than what you use for concert band. Different sounds, different equipment.
My best advice is to go to a music store and get fitted for a new mouthpiece. Brass players have a great resource in our backyard- Thompson Music in West Omaha stocks a huge selection of mouthpieces, and specializes in finding the right one for each person. If that isn’t a possibility, please ask Mr. Dreessen for recommendations.