Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Department of Music
MUU 232
Woodwind Techniques
Approved by Department: November 4, 2003
Course Description
This course will prepare prospective music educators to be able to teach woodwind instruments to
beginning school students, and to successfully apply knowledge of woodwind instruments in the school
instrumental music program in classroom and ensemble settings.
Prerequisites:
None
2 Clock hours, 1 Semester Credit hour
Course Rationale
In an actual teaching position, school instrumental music educators will be expected to teach
woodwind instruments to beginning students, and to instruct woodwind players during ensemble and
classroom settings, even if the educator is not a woodwind player. These goals are accomplished by having
the students in this course learn how to play woodwinds as beginners, by giving them playing experiences,
and by giving them opportunities to teach the class how to play beginning woodwind instruments.
This course will familiarize the student with the basic playing techniques of the flute, oboe,
bassoon, clarinet, and saxophone. Correct fingering, embouchure, articulation, and tone production will be
studied. The student will be expected to play elementary solo and ensemble literature. Common teaching
problems and pedagogical methods will be presented, and the student will experience opportunities to teach
beginning woodwinds.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate rudimentary playing skills on woodwind instruments.
2. Play elementary and intermediate level solo and ensemble repertoire for woodwinds.
3. Teach other students correct playing skills on woodwinds.
4. Compare and contrast various pedagogical methods.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of solo and pedagogical literature appropriate for different levels
of playing.
6. Perform basic maintenance and repair on woodwind instruments.
Course Outline
1. Basic Performance Skills:
a. Assembly
b. Embouchure
c. Fingerings
d. Breathing
e. Tonguing & Articulation
f. Technique
g. Intonation
h. Student qualifications
2. Elementary Woodwind Pedagogy
a. Band Methods
b. Specific Woodwind Teaching Methods for the Beginning Student
c. Specific Woodwind Repertoire for the Beginning Student
d. Teaching Strategies for Special Needs Students
3. Specific Administrative Requirements for the Instrumental Music Education Specialist.
a. Equipment selection: instrument, reed, and mouthpiece.
b. Classroom environment: homogeneous vs. heterogeneous arrangement.
c. Music Technology relative to woodwind teaching.
Supplies
2 clarinet reeds, 2 saxophone reeds, 1 oboe reed, 1 bassoon reed depending on instrument selection.
STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PURCHASE OF ABOVE PRODUCTS.
Assessment
Assessment of each student’s level of accomplishment with reference to the course objectives will be based
upon the student’s:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
active participation in homogeneous woodwind ensemble experiences that emphasize tone
production and sight reading;
classroom demonstration of the ability to tune the specified instrument accurately;
performance, in a jury setting, rudimentary technical exercises appropriate to the specific
performance medium;
performance, in a jury setting, beginning scale exercises appropriate to the specific performance
medium at a tempo appropriate to beginning study;
preparation and performance, in a classroom setting, with attention to pitch and rhythmic
accuracy, good tone, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, intonation, and other details of musical
expression, a musical composition of an appropriate level of difficulty to the beginning study of
the specified performance medium; and read at sight, with attention to pitch and rhythmic
accuracy, good tone, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, intonation, and other details of musical
expression, a short excerpt from an elementary level composition for band medium.
written exams covering fingerings and task analysis of embouchure formation
videotaped assessment and review of teaching assignments and effectiveness
Instructional Resources
Recommended textbook:
Dietz, William, general editor. Teaching Woodwinds: A Method and Resource Handbook for Music
Educators. New York: Schirmer Books, 1998.
University Interscholastic League's, Prescribed Music List, UIL: Austin, Texas, 2001.
Colwell & Goolsby. The Teaching of Instrumental Music, 3rd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002.
Judy, Stephanie. Making Music for the Joy of It: Enhancing Creativity Skills and Musical Confidence. Los
Angeles, CA: J. P. Tarcher, 1990.
Lieberman, Julie Lyonn and W. Donald Cooke. You Are Your Instrument: The Definitive Musician’s Guide
to Practice and Performance, 3rd ed. New York: Huiksi Music, 1992.
Lewis, Barbara. Syllabi for Music Methods Courses, 2nd. ed. Reston, VA: Music Educators National
Conference, 2002
Music Educators National Conference. Spotlight on Teaching Band. Reston, VA: Music Educators
National Conference, 2001.
Moss Rehabilitation Hospital Settlement Music School Therapeutic Music Program. Guide to the Selection
of Music Instruments with Respect to Physical Ability and Disability, 1982.
Freymuth, Malva. Mental Practice and Imagery for Musicians. Bardon Qld, Australia: Integrated
Musicians Press, 1999.
Green, Don. Audition Success: An Olympic Sports Psychologist Teaches Performing Artists How to Win.
Sebastopol, CA: Promind Music, 1998.
Rasmussen, M. Teacher's Guide to the Literature of Woodwind Instruments. Durham, NH: Brass and
Woodwind Quarterly, 1966.
Rehfeldt, P. Playing Woodwind Instruments. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 1998.
Rhodes, T. C. Essential Elements: A Comprehensive Band Method. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, 2002.
Salmon, Paul G. and Robert G. Meyer. Notes from the Green Room: Coping With Stress and Anxiety in
Musical Performance. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass, 1998.
Weerts, Richard K. How to Develop & Maintain Successful Woodwind Section. West Nynack, NY:
Parker Publishing Co., 1972.
Weisberg, Arthur. The Art of Wind Playing. New York: Schirmer Books, 1975.
Westphal, Frederick. Guide to Teaching Woodwinds. New York: McGraw Hill, 1991.
WWW SITE & INTERNET NEWSGROUPS
General woodwind information:
Wind World http://www.windworld.com/
Windplayer On-line http://www.windplayer.com/
Woodwind Guide http://www.wfg.sneezy.org/
Instrument manufacturers and makers:
Boosey & Hawkes http://www.boosey.com/
Leblanc http://www.gleblanc.com/
Selmer http://www.selmer.com/
Yamaha http://www.yamaha.com/
Reeds and instrument products:
Rico International http://www.ricoreeds.com/
Rovner Products, Inc. http://www.rovnerproducts.com/
Vandoren Reed Products http://www.daddario.com/
Bassoon/Oboe:
The Bassoon Studio http://www.geocities.com/shellyandryan/bassoon1.html
Bassoon.Org http://bassoon.org/page1.htm
Bassoon Fingering Companion http://idrs.colorado.edu/bsnfing/finghome.htm
International Doublereed Society http://idrs.colorado.edu/
Oboe Grand Central http://www.wsu.edu/~blake/
Clarinet:
The Clarinet Homepage http://www.windplayer.com/wp/clarinet.html
International Clarinet Association http://www.clarinet.org/
The Clarinet Corner http://www.selmer.com/clarinet/discus/index.html
Jazz Clarinet Homepage http://www.mikecassara.com/clarinet/
Flute:
General information. http://users.uniserve.com/~lwk/supply.htm
National Flute Association http://www.nfaonline.org/
Saxophone:
North American Saxophone Alliance http://www.saxalliance.org/
International Saxophone Homepage http://www.saxophone.org/
Saxophone FAQ http://www.rahul.net/rrk/saxfaq/
Music Education:
Music Eduation National Conference http://www.menc.org/