In the Practice

Room with

Practice is a
PRIVLIEGE
JOY
IMPROVEMENT
RELAXED
BEAUTIFUL
EXPRESSIVE
And
FOREVER

Buddy Baker

For more information and

resources on Bakers pedagogical
techniques his Tenor Trombone
method is pictured above.
Although this book looks practices
specific to trombone playing, much
of Bakers teaching philosophy can
be applied to all instrumental and
vocal instruction. This book
includes in depth explanations of
posture, breath support, exercises,
and a warm-up routine. This book
can be found in your local music

Buddy
Baker
Research Project by Tyler Harr

Biography

5 Basic Concepts

Edwin Buddy Baker (began his musical journey by

playing his fathers old army bugle. However, Baker
would put extra tuning slide grease on his bugle,
essentially turning it into a slide trumpet and then
began playing the trombone. He was extremely
successful in his public school years thanks to his teacher, Ivan Arnold who would help him win
solo competitions all four years of his high school career. He would then go to Indiana
University and study with Dr. Thomas Beversdorf (1924-1981). Finishing his degree in 1954, he
would then go into the Army as a Second Lieutenant and after ROTC training would become a
pilot for two years. After these years in the military Buddy baker would continue his education
with a Masters Degree in trombone performance. He began teaching at 1966 until present while
also teaching music camps, clinics, workshops, and festivals around the country. Baker has also
been the president for the International Trombone Association.

1. Relaxed, natural, and easy

a. Adapt to the way muscles
and bones are formed
2. Correct Fundamentals
different note lengths would have different
a. Train like an athlete, but
numbers beginning at number 2, and he could
dont sound athletic
easily express note lengths to students
3. Lifetime learning
a. Improve continually
1. Still tongued, but very legato,
b. Work for consistency and
sustained sound
correctness
2.
Clean T on each note, basic
4. What not to do
staccato style
a. Learn how not to
a. Used for solo literature,
complicate things and
basis for all other tonguing
make it as natural as
3.
Dwell
at
contact point longer,
possible.
tongue is tight and faster
b. Dont expend too much
a. Often needed for ensemble
energy, be efficient
or chamber work
5. Practice makes- not perfect
4.
Dwells
at contact point for half of
a. You can practice and get
the
note
worse
a. secco style, little body of the
i. How are you
note
practicing?
5. very little air is allowed to pass, this
b. Practice smarter-not harder
causes extreme tension
c. Listen, attempt to
a. dont every use a 5, very
remember how things feel
extreme staccato

Numbered Tonging system

Efficiency

get a big easy sound with least effort

4 Cs- Correctness, Concepts,

Consistency, Confidence

Dont waste time, learn how

to practice
Think, Listen, Watch, Feel
while you practice
Rest when tired, if tired the
wrong muscles will be used,
and dont let them
Learn the difference between
fatigue and tightness, relax
and rest
Concentrate on the task at
hand

Practice things that are correct or

almost never correct. Dont waste
practice time on things that are
incorrect.