Quick Etude Question

[thomasreay]

Would No.54 be considered a technical etude?

Thanks!

[Scooter Pirtle]

Would No.54 be considered a technical etude?

Thanks!

All of Rochut is "technical," but I think the intent of the book was to provide flowing vocalise-type exercises (which these exercises all do!).

If you're using this as an audition piece for a corps, I think it would be appropriate to play it as written to demonstrate your phrasing, breath control, and musicality. If you feel in doubt, you could be prepared to perform it with the tempo brightened a bit and without some of the slur markings to bring up the articulation demand a bit.

Best of luck!!

[SaraNYC]

Would No.54 be considered a technical etude?

Thanks!

Here's a web page that lists a number of top music school audition requirements for low brass, you can get an idea of some of the other technical studies out there:

http://www.csulb.edu/~lmarstel/audcompare.htm

A Rochut is more of a melodious etude or legato study. Of course, they do get more technically difficult as you progress through the entire 120 etude series, but the point of them, as Scooter mentioned, is to work on smooth flowing legato playing. The reason we use them for trombone is because we have to tongue every note, even the slurred legato ones. The entire Rochut series goes through every key and time signature and various tempos getting progressively difficult particularly in range requirements all the while demanding that you play in a singing legato style as smoothly as possible.

Etude 54 is a slow 6/8. It will demonstrate your ability to subdivide in a 6/8 meter and play slow and legato, but it's just in F concert and nor real challenging from a rhythmic standpoint. Compare that with #53. You go from 5 flats to 3 sharps back to 5 flats and more rhythmic contrast. I would look to combine #54 one with something like an Arban's or scale study to show a little more contrast.