- Long tones are effective for improving tone quality and training mental focus and concentration
- Rather than "sustaining a straight tone," setting a clear destination is what matters
- Create a natural ending by thinking of it as a "release" rather than "cutting off" the sound
- Focus on the lower register and utilize Remington's Sustained Long Tone Tuning
Euphonium Long Tone Practice: Improve Tone Quality by Setting a Clear Destination
Euphonium long tone practice is effective for improving tone quality and training mental focus and concentration. In the sense of concentrating on one thing, long tones are an effective practice method. However, rather than fixating on sustaining a perfectly straight tone, setting a clear destination and producing sound with a natural flow leads to more practical practice.
Ineffective vs. Effective Examples: Fixating on a Straight Tone vs. Setting a Clear Destination
In the ineffective example, focusing too much on sustaining a straight tone results in an unnatural sound flow. Since humans are constantly in motion, producing a completely static sound is extremely difficult. There is also a tendency to try to forcibly cut the sound off with the mindset of "cutting off" the end of the sound. On the other hand, in the effective example, setting a clear destination and naturally sustaining the sound toward it allows you to produce sound with a natural flow. The end of the sound follows the concept of "release," letting the sound go to create a natural ending.
Practice Steps
To practice euphonium long tones effectively, it is important to follow step-by-step practice stages. By setting a clear destination and being mindful of the "release", you can improve tone quality with a natural flow.
Step 1: Set a Clear Destination
Set a target point as your destination. For example, by exhaling toward beats 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as your destination, the tone will naturally sustain straight until that point. When the destination is clear, the sound naturally extends toward it, eliminating the need to forcibly sustain a straight tone.
Step 2: Have an Articulation Image
Play with a purpose and image of how you will project the sound. Rather than thinking about the method of how to tongue, first decide on the shape in which you will project the sound, then play, which leads to clearer articulation.
Step 3: Be Mindful of the Sound Release
Think of the end of the sound as not "cutting off" but "release", and let the sound go. Release is a word that implies the direction of "setting free" and "letting go," and it allows you to create a natural ending to the sound.
Step 4: Use Remington's Sustained Long Tone Tuning
Practice using Remington's Sustained Long Tone Tuning. Take what is written measure by measure and connect from the base note to the next note with a slur, practicing in a pattern where the intervals gradually widen by half steps. The tempo is approximately 50, and you play with a pulse of two beats per measure. It is recommended to practice long tones that descend in register, moving down by half steps from B into the lower range.
Step 5: Crescendo-Decrescendo to Change Tonal Density
Practice crescendo-decrescendo where rather than changing the volume of the sound, you greatly change the density of the sound. By increasing the tonal density, you can simultaneously improve both tone quality and tonal density.
Step 6: Improving Tone Quality with Vibrato
Practice using vibrato to gradually increase the resonance of the sound. Apply vibrato to the initial base note, gradually widen the vibrato to increase resonance, and let the destination of that vibrato become the next note.
- Set a clear destination (e.g., exhale toward beats 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as your destination)
- Play with an articulation image in mind (decide how you will project the sound)
- Let the sound go at the ending with the concept of "release"
- Use Remington's Sustained Long Tone Tuning and focus on the lower register
- Practice crescendo-decrescendo to change tonal density
- Use vibrato to gradually increase the resonance of the sound
Summary: Practice Euphonium Long Tones Effectively by Setting a Clear Destination
Euphonium long tone practice is effective for improving tone quality and training mental focus and concentration. Rather than fixating on sustaining a perfectly straight tone, setting a clear destination and producing sound with a natural flow leads to more practical practice. Incorporate the concept of "release" rather than "cutting off" the sound, practice focusing on the lower register using Remington's Sustained Long Tone Tuning, and by implementing crescendo-decrescendo exercises that change tonal density and vibrato-based practice, you can improve your euphonium tone quality.
