Review

Various
Intermediate Level Clef Studies for Trombone:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2013
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Study Material - etude
Secondary Genre: Study Material - method

Ralph Sauer, former principal trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has compiled a collection of melodies he has used in his personal teaching of tenor and alto clefs. These etudes are designed as study material leading to Blazhevich Clef Studies. In the preface, Sauer comments that the melodies should be unfamiliar, yet simple enough to assist the musician in recognizing mistakes within a given key. Sauer made a conscience decision to not change clefs within a given etude. This helps the student focus on one clef at a time. Ranges are relatively narrow in order to encourage the student to focus on the basic reading of staff lines and spaces. The use of one ledger line above and below the staff in tenor and alto clefs does occur, but does not reach above high c2, and then only in a few of the later or higher-numbered etudes. There are thirty-six etudes over nineteen pages with each taking approximately half a page. The melodies are based on works of 18th and 19th century composers, like those of Gossec, Rudolphe, Hasse, etc. The excerpts are mostly lyrical; some are more articulated and contain varying meters. Clefs alternate from etude to etude throughout the book. Personally, I would prefer to first go through all one clef. Nevertheless, this is another good resource for learning tenor and alto clefs on trombone.

-Matthew Driscoll
Cornell and Central College (Iowa)