Review

Jacob Taitel
Beyond the Scale for Trombone and Euphonium:
Trombone and euphonium

Maple City, MI, United States
Publisher: Encore Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.encoremupub.com

Method book. 35 pages.

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

Jacob Taitel’s Beyond the Scale for Trombone and Euphonium serves to build fluency with scales and modes through a compendium of two-octave scales, sequential scalar patterns, and rhythmic variations. Donated for review by Encore Music Publishers, the work is divided into three sections: Scales and Modes, Rhythmic Patterns, and Melodies. The first section presents and incorporates a variety of approaches to foster fluency of reading skills and the comprehension of various scales through relative and parallel approaches. Rather than the cursory acknowledgement of the standard 15 major keys due to enharmonic equivalence (C-sharp/D-flat, F-sharp/G-flat, C-flat/B), this work includes all of them in each scale and modal item. Taitel fosters a parallel approach by grouping various scalar and figuration exercises with a single tonic in what he refers to as “The Crazy 8’s.” Here he focuses on a single tonic while cycling through natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, chromatic, major scale, a Herbert L. Clark technical study, and ending with an Arnold Jacobs exercise (i.e. Brass Gym’s Beautiful Sounds). His “Modal Madness” exercises span the mode, playing it in thirds, and similar Clark/Jacobs figurations). His appendix identifies other scalar patterns that can be explored, with corresponding scale degree numbers. Section 2 identifies 20 different rhythmic variations to incorporate into the first section's scales and modes. While beginning with a ubiquitous dotted eighth – sixteenth note rhythm, it quickly grows in complexity, incorporating a variety of triplet, quintuplet, and some advanced 5:4 groupings with triplets to span all levels of ability. As Beyond the Scale exists in parallel editions for trumpet and tuba, I would encourage a future version to focus on a tenor or bass trombone-ranged version since the current edition requires some accommodations. This is a welcome addition to help expand scalar fluency for trombone and euphonium players alike.