MellophoniusMajorus

jeez Ron! You're just on a roll with this mellophonium stuff, aren't ya!!! That's awesome...thanks for the links and the info...it's all extremely helpful!!!!!!!! b**bs

Hey, I've been lookin' all over then net and at my college's music library and I can't find the charts, but I KNOW THEY'RE THERE!!!!!! I'm looking for charts which have a mellophone part to them. I can't remember the composer or the pieces, but I know someone has told me about 'em before. I think Don Elliott (that's his name, right?) used to play mellophone for a jazz ensemble (along with a few other instruments)... ANY HELP????

I don't know if this show has ever been posted about anything before, but one of my favorite horn licks is in '86 Spirit of Atlanta. The mellos go CRAZY in Sweet Georgia Brown, ESPECIALLY right before the drum break...starting at about 6:14ish...way up in the stratosphere too!!!!

Does anyone know any good volume exercises? Both for soft and loud dynamics...though generally, one way helps the other. I'm more specifically looking for softer dynamics. But yeah, I don't think I've ever seen a dynamic exercise posted on here....I'm probably wrong though. *listening to Blast!* Now THEY are good...

Try the Mello 5v...a little deeper than 6v. I like it...

I just listened to "Stuff"...sounds like a fun tuba piece. And I agree with you, it seems like it'd be more difficult to play that what it seems...I hope I can find a fun mello piece, or just something different. 16th note runs are just so over-rated. I'm tired of the norm... B)

I know I already had a topic going, but I wanted to start another one...Anyway, I did a mello I&E solo last year and didn't do too well. I think it was just the piece I picked out (Morceau de Concert by Saint Saens...sp?). Does anyone who's done I&E have suggestions for pieces to look at for this season, solo-wise? Our corps doesn't really get a chance to stick around and listen to other solos...we all play in the morning, then leave to go rehearse. I would also like to get a brass quintet arrangment of like Zelda or Mario Bros. or something...something like that would be a cool ensemble piece. Anyone know of any?

Are you high? are YOU?? B) *high five* point for the mellos!! heh heh...

It may just be the staff teaching technique coming through in what my argument with this point is, but I came back over this past summer, took like 2 or 3 days to get my horn embouchure back and I am a MUCH better player...I mean like light years from what I started out as. My sound is a HECK of a lot better, and because of lung capacity exercises we did and everything, my air flow in every register is superb, and my musicality...extending through the phrase and all is much improved. I think in this case, like I said, it may just be the teaching technique...most of the mellos that were in my section can probably agree with me. I heard a few of them at the camp this past weekend, and they have also improved a LOT both on horn and mello...I may not be THE BEST player in the world, but for my college I've gone from being about 3rd or 4th best, to being 1st or 2nd...depending on what kind of sound you like (mine being really dark, and the other guys being on the bright side, but sometimes it depends on what you need or like for certain pieces of music) B)

I know there have been quite a few posts lately on the topic of the mellophone, but I thought one more couldn't hurt! I mean it IS the best section in any marching unit. B) Anywho, I consider myself to be a mellophone player, though college professors would consider me to be a "Horn major". I would like to know why people (MAINLY horn players) consider the mellophone to be such a...I guess...hinderence to the horn. They generally say they "don't like the sound"..."it's too bright"..."there are intonation problems" and all that. My personal opinion on this subject is "EXACTLY!!" I mean, it's NOT a french horn! It's a mellophone...there are only 2 real similarities...it's the alto voice in a piece, and they are in the same key. Though on the alto voice subject, the mello is generally in the more upper part of the alto voicing, while the horn is generally (but not ALWAYS) in the lower part of the alto voicing. There's probably something I'm forgetting to say, but I'll remember after a few posts have been...well...posted!!

I don't remember exactly where it was was, but I THINK (correct me if I'm wrong) it was at a regional...???? (or maybe they always do it, and I just saw it at that contest for some reason) I don't know...anyway, I kinda peeked over at Phantom Regiment's retreat block and saw this huge pile of Contras...it was some sweet abstract art. I was amazed. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Anywho, I wanted to take a picture, but darn the luck! I don't bring any cameras onto the field... B) Catch ya later~!

You know, I'm one of those people who says that it's not the piece of metal in front of your face...it's your face. Meaning, it's the player...if you want a dark sound, you can get it if you work at it no matter what you use. All the metal is is an amplifier of what your mouth is doing. Oh yeah, BTW, I use a UMI 6...on a (hold your breath for this one, you mello buffs) YAMAHA MELLOPHONE!! MUAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! And I like it! Heh heh... B) Catch ya later~!