The First 30 Days
For the beginning band student: the first four weeks, one week at a time.
Before day 1
The whole plan
Why this pace
That's a conservatory program, and then that might be … [an] entire year for students to learn their 12 major [scales], and while that is somewhat reasonable, my rationale for moving faster, simple: we don't have a lot of opportunities for kids to play in ensembles, and in order to retain them, they need to see themselves as young musicians as quickly as possible, and I contend, at the minute they have the ability to play their major [scales] the entire range of their instrument, that's when they will be able to see, metaphorically, the horizon and see themselves as musicians.
The goal is the whole horn
The name of the app is The Whole Horn, so it implies being able to have, eventually, wizardry in execution, freedom of movement throughout the entire range of the instrument. To suggest that the goal is to have freedom of movement within only a partial range of the instrument is not in fact the definition of freedom of movement …
The steps
… So this has to happen in … parts and in steps. You first [establish] position and muscle memory for a position, with a massive focus on [embouchure], then you get all of the notes to speak, ideally by the end of the third week, if you're [a] saxophonist and you're my student, all 32 notes, and then immediately you learn the [scales, one octave], all 12 major scales, and you extend that as soon as possible to the full range of the instrument, articulating each note. All of this can be done in a couple of months if you are extremely focused, extremely well organized with your time …
Every instrument
That's for beginner saxophone, but I would argue that that basic plan should carry over to most instruments, frankly.
What the free app covers
In the free app, the Milestone plays every note across the whole range, and the major scales stop at two octaves. The major scales across the full range are in the Full Studio.
To be completed.
Week 1 · Days 1–7
Position, posture, hands, embouchure
The first week is position, posture, hands, most importantly [embouchure], and they are asked to go home and to [form an embouchure], use a mirror, and just work on making sure that the muscle memory is developed primarily for the [embouchure], but also for posture and hand position, and they blow air into the instrument, and we have learned the fingerings for a few notes.
How long each day
To be completed.
Ready for week 2 when
To be completed.
Week 2 · Days 8–14
More notes, both registers
Second week, they learned more notes and are encouraged to do their own research online … for the [fingerings], but they're taught during the limited time. At this point [a] fair number of notes in both registers, … and they [are] asked to play with sound, to produce sound until they get tired, which could be very quickly, and then go back to no sound.
How long each day
To be completed.
Ready for week 3 when
To be completed.
Week 3 · Days 15–21
The whole instrument: the Milestone
Third week, they're shown all the instrument … at that point. The Milestone … becomes incredibly appropriate, because they are asked to articulate every single note … 16 times, then [eight], and four, [then] two, [then] one, and do it over and over again.
By the end of week 3, ideally
… then you get all of the notes to speak, ideally by the end of the third week, if you're [a] saxophonist and you're my student, all 32 notes …
To be completed.
The Milestone runs each instrument's own range: from G up to the top, back down through G to the bottom, and back up to G.
How long each day
To be completed.
Week 4 · Days 22–30
The twelve major scales, one at a time
Then the fourth week, they [are] asked to learn all 12 major scales one at a time, taking the first scale, learning the note[s], memorizing the note[s], [there] are only seven, and just going up [an octave], and playing that over and over again with very little sound, very little pressure, … so [they] don't let themselves get tired, and make an attempt to get through all 12 [scales]. Realistically, they only get through a couple in that way, but that is the idealistic plan of events for each young student, and whether it's four weeks or four months, that's the way [it] will play out.
How long each day
To be completed.
Days 29 and 30
To be completed.
Ready to go past day 30 when
To be completed.
After day 30
F major, two hours
… And then they start developing technique and ability, basic technique, learning to play those major [scales], and as soon as I can ask him to take F major and play it up and down, one [octave], for two hours, that single exercise, and that effort will teach him stamina, will teach him … time management, energy management …
… If they can play all 12 scales each for two hours, that's the point where they will, as far as I'm concerned, play music for the rest of their lives, if they finish that.
Then the whole range
… and then immediately you learn the [scales, one octave], all 12 major scales, and you extend that as soon as possible to the full range of the instrument, articulating each note …
Practice link
The first time a student opens a link, the app asks what they play; the exercise is waiting underneath.
Brass
To be completed.