Chamber music is an often neglected part of music education, with students having hectic individual lesson schedules and little time to practice additional repertoire. In order to bring chamber music education into the home, where it is most convenient and affordable, students require convenient resources. The following new educational music by composer M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D., paves the way to accessible chamber music.
Learning Chamber Music
A new series of training pieces for chamber ensembles by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D., are available from MusicaNeo. Learning Chamber Music is a series of exercises which provides convenient and succinct practice for young instrumental students. The series, which has begun with the edition for piano trio, is to be expanded over the next few years to include a variety common chamber music groups, including strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, and percussion.
Learning Chamber Music for Piano Trio is representative of the series. This work consists of 48 pages of exercises focusing on basic skills required in piano trio. Exercises are divided into 7 sections, each with a particular theme:
- Part I: Tuning, Dynamic Balance, and Basic Rhythmic Exercises
- Part II: Entrance and Timing Exercises (Tempo Setting and Timing)
- Part III: Ending Exercises (Holding Notes Full Length and Fermatas)
- Part IV: Tempo Change Exercises (Accel. and Rit.; Section Changes)
- Part V: Other Common Time Signatures (22, 24, 34, 68)
- Part VI: Advanced Rhythm (Duple vs. Triple)
- Part VII: Articulation and Stylistic Matching Exercises
On MusicaNeo.com, the exercises above are provided in a zip file, accompanied by instructions for practice.
Complementing these exercises, Three Miniature Piano Trios are a set of brief practice pieces in classical style. Students can learn one or more of these pieces to hone their new skills, with rapid progression and results. These chamber music selections are available from MusicaNeo for only $10, including sheet music and MIDI file for home practice. A computer realization of the music is available free on SoundCloud.
Direct Link to Chamber MusicThe Big Print Ensemble with Flexible Instrumentation
The greatest obstacle to chamber music is the requirement for specific instrumentation. Fortunately, another option exists. Flexible instrumentation refers to a specific orchestration which provides parts for multiple possibilities, including instruments in Treble Clef in C, F, Bb, and Eb, Alto Clef, both high and low Bass Clef, and percussion. Flexible instrumentation music usually includes a score in C, with instructions to divide the available instruments into groups to play each part. Parts are usually performed by a chamber music ensemble of 2 to 5 instruments, but may also be performed by an entire symphonic wind ensemble, band, or symphony orchestra if necessary.
The Big Print Music Method, a new series by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D., provides flexible instrumentation ensemble music which can easily be performed by beginners on band or orchestral instruments, as well as recorder, guitar, piano, and voice. With 3 instrumental parts plus umpitched percussion, these pieces can be performed by 2 or more instruments. The series consists of a mix of popular folk tunes, exercises, and original compositions.
Each piece in The Big Print Ensemble is sold separately from MusicaNeo. Selections include:
- Score in C, Written for 3 Orchestral Instruments plus Percussion
- All Parts for All Instruments
- Treble Clef Instruments in C, F, Bb, and Eb
- Alto Clef
- High and Low Bass Clef
- Percussion
- Audio Files
- Without Metronome
- With Metronome Countoff Clicks
- MIDI File
- Instructions for Practice
To facilitate practice, the MIDI file can be opened with a computer notation program and used to practice at home, when only 1 or 2 instruments are available.
These chamber music selections are available from MusicaNeo for only $2 each.
Direct Link to Big Print Ensemble
The Big Print Conducting Method
Musicians practicing chamber music at home may sometimes feel inhibited by the lack of a group leader. Fortunately, conducting skills are now quite easy to acquire, with The Big Print Conducting Method by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D. This unique approach to teaching conducting contains big print instructional textbooks, plus follow-along video and simple musical samples for practice at home or school. Students are led through conducting skills one by one, from common time signatures through complex time signatures.
The first installment of the method is divided into two parts, available for purchase separately: (1) Introductory Package and (2) Exercises.
Exercises provide practice with all time signatures, plus cutoffs and cuing. The text and video are available for only $10, and the exercises corresponding to these books are available for only $8 from MusicaNeo.The first installment of the method is divided into two parts, available for purchase separately: (1) Introductory Package and (2) Exercises.
- The Introductory Package includes two short textbooks plus the follow-along video.
- The Expanded Exercises include drills on conducting basics, with scores, audio files, and instrument parts for treble instruments in C, Bb, Eb, and F, plus alto and bass instruments in C. Topics include time signatures, cutoffs, and cuing.
