Schottenbauer Publishing

Monday, August 10, 2015

Systematic Exercises for Learning Chamber Music

The speed and ease of learning chamber music can be increased by using the exercises Learning Chamber Music by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D. Available for traditional trios, quartets, and quintets, as well as for flexible instrumentation, these exercises provide systematic practice at seven major components of chamber music:
  • 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
These exercises provide unique opportunities for the beginning musician to learn on basic skills by alternating the focus of practice between the instruments.

For example, consider the first three pages of Learning Chamber Music for piano trio, with piano, violin, and cello:



Discussion Questions
  1. Where is the melody? 
  2. What occurs with the melody in the first staff? 
  3. How is the second staff different than the first?
  4. What is the purpose of the dynamics in the second staff?





Discussion Questions
  1. Where is the melody? 
  2. What occurs with the melody in the first staff? 
  3. How is the second staff different than the first?
  4. What is the purpose of the dynamics in the second staff?
  5. How is this page different from the first page?





Discussion Questions
  1. Where is the melody? 
  2. What occurs with the melody in the first staff? 
  3. How is the second staff different than the first?
  4. What is the purpose of the dynamics in the second staff?
  5. How is this page different from the first page?
  6. How is this page different from the second page?


Now, consider the first page alone.  The musicians are challenged to perform first staff in perfect balance, with no instrument being more prominent than any other. Then, in the second staff, the musicians are challenged to perform while listening to the main melody at an elevated dynamic, more prominent than the other instruments. On the second and third pages, the location of the melody changes. By alternating the location of the melody, the exercises challenge every student to practice balancing their dynamic tone with the other instruments. The task of practicing include:
  1. Same dynamics: Perfect dynamic blending
  2. Different dynamics: Melody contrasting to harmony
  3. Different location of melody: Each student obtains practice in the above 2 skills, including all timbres and registers
By offering two different dynamic markings for the same passage, students may learn comparison and contrast skills in both listening and in tonal production.

As an additional benefit of the exercises, students may build ear training skills, so as to understand the difference between their instrument and the ensemble. This includes the abilities to hear:
  1. All instruments blending equally
  2. A different instrument as more prominent than oneself
  3. Oneself as more prominent than other instruments
A computer-generated audio recording of these first three pages of exercises is available on YouTube.


Learning Chamber Music is available for purchase from MusicaNeoThe full list of current editions now includes:


  • String Ensembles
    • Trio (Violin, Viola, Cello)
    • Quartet (2 Violins, Viola, Cello)
    • Quintet (2 Violins, Viola, 2 Cellos)
  • Woodwind Ensembles
    • Flute 
      • Trio
      • Quartet
    • Clarinet 
      • Trio
      • Quartet
    • Mixed Woodwinds
      • Trio (Flute/Oboe, Clarinet, & Bassoon/Cello)
      • Trio (2 Flutes/Oboes, & Bassoon/Cello)
      • Quartet (Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon)
      • Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Basoon)
  • Brass
    • Trio (Trumpet, Horn, Trombone/Euphonium)
    • Quartet (2 Trumpets, Trombone/Euphonium, Tuba/Bass Trombone)
    • Quintet (2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, Tuba/Bass Trombone)
  • Mallet Percussion
    • Trio
    • Quartet
  • Flexible Instrumentation
    • Band & Orchestral Instruments
      • Trio
      • Quartet
      • Quintet
    • Piano with Mixed Band & Orchestral Instruments
      • Trio
      • Quartet
      • Quintet
  • Piano Ensembles
    • Piano Trio (Violin, Cello, Piano)
    • Piano Quartet (Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano)
    • Piano Quintet (2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Piano)
    • Piano with Band & Orchestral Instruments, Flexible Instrumentation
      • Trio
      • Quartet
      • Quintet