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Teenage trombonists, tuba players and euphonium enthusiasts enjoyed a trumpet- and flute-free day Tuesday when the University of Nebraska at Omaha held its 10th annual Low Brass Day.
Peter Madsen, who coordinates the event and is the director of UNO’s jazz ensembles and jazz combos, said the event gives the university a chance to work with prospective students on the low brass instruments.
“Low brass” instruments — including the trombone, tuba and euphonium, a sort of tenor tuba — provide the baritone and bass “voices” for the wind instruments.
“It gives the students and band directors in the area an opportunity to focus on teaching the skills necessary to play those very specific instruments, because every instrument has its own quirks and idiosyncrasies that need attention,” Madsen said.
“Sometimes in a full band setting, it’s hard to give the detailed attention to every single instrument and what they need to know in terms of playing their instrument better. When it’s all low brass instruments, we can address some of the problems and concerns that are common just to those instruments.”
The first year, the event drew four people. Forty area students were enrolled Tuesday from schools including Gretna High School, Bellevue West and Omaha Central.
The event consists of rehearsals, clinics and master classes, culminating in two concerts — a free concert featuring Low Brass participants and UNO’s Low Down Brass Ensemble, plus a concert featuring guest artist Mark Fisher and the UNO chamber orchestra.
Fisher, the assistant principal trombone with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and principal trombone with the Santa Fe Opera, also taught a master class in the morning.
“A big part of the day is getting to work with an out-of-town guest,” Madsen said. “They’ll get to hear a level of trombone and euphonium playing ... that you just don’t get to hear very often.”
Fisher said the appeal of events such as Low Brass Day was “interacting with young players and sharing what I know ... and just share the wealth the same way people did with me when I was coming up.
“It’s quite traditional, when you get a workshop or conference or large group of trombonists, or euphonium players or tuba players, that’s a very brotherly situation. It’s incredibly supportive,” Fisher said.
A.J. Bowen, associate instrumental director at Bellevue West High School, brought nine students to the event.
“I think it gives the low brass students a day to be the main focus of their ensemble,” Bowen said. “Normally, they’re setting the foundation for the rest of the band. This is their day to be the melody and the main focus.”
Bass trombonist Wes Vanderhoof, one of Bowen’s seniors, was attending Low Brass Day for the first time. He said he was enjoying it very much.
“The in-depth teaching, the way they go over techniques and such, it’s really going to be beneficial,” he said.
Kate Gerdes, a sophomore euphonium player at Gretna High School, said she was enjoying “getting together with people who play the same instrument as you and have the same interests.”
She was heading to lunch with Emily Nolan, a junior trombone player at Omaha Central.
“Most times, you don’t think of the low brass people being the ‘enthusiastic’ band kids,” Nolan said. “Now that we all get to be together and be the enthusiastic low brass kids, it’s really fun.”
Contact the writer:
444-1074, john.keenan@owh.com
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