The Canadian Brass continues to blaze new trails.
The five musicians are known for their lively concert performances,
mixing music with acting, talking and much humor. But who knows
that most of their repertoire is published and played
by brass players around the world?
And who knows -- aside from students -- that they
are passionate about teaching?
The
group's first sheet music appeared in 1977. Today The Canadian Brass
is the cutting edge in music education for brass players. Most of
the 600 works composed or arranged for them are published by Hal
Leonard, the largest publisher of educational music in the U.S.A.
The Milwaukee-based company's music books from the
Canadian Brass tops 175 and the list is growing. The group has also
generated 20 concert arrangements for full band. Practically every
piece is accompanied by a CD with The Canadian Brass playing the
music.
"It helps students to hear us play what they have
on their music stands," says Chuck Daellenbach, known for his tuba
antics and witty commentary. "Hal Leonard actually began adding
CDs after a trial run of our recordings. They found them very popular
with educators and students." This summer marks the first
release by Hal Leonard of a Canadian Brass CD being sold separately.
The demand for Canadian Brass's workshop and other videos also
made Hal Leonard revive the company's video business ten years ago.
"We are the tip of a wedge," says Chuck who is directing the group's
publishing ventures. The Canadian Brass publications take up several
pages in Hal Leonard's catalogue -- everything from hymns, jazz
and pop to classical music.
They cover all the brass bases, from solo works to quintets
and full band. Trumpeter Fred Mills, a founding Canadian Brass member
who played with the group for 24 years, continues to transcribe
most of the group's classical repertoire from his teaching position
at the University of Georgia. He has just been appointed senior
editor. Luther Henderson, the famous arranger for Duke Ellington,
is still onboard as a jazz arranger with 120 Canadian Brass titles
so far.
Chuck
Daellenbach is excited about the group's newest teaching tool, a
CD with sheet music series called 'Play Along'. It drops out one
instrument so that the brass student can sit in with the Canadian
Brass five -- or four in this case.
"The educational market for band and brass music is huge. The U.S.
and Canada has around 25,000 bands," says Paul Lavender, head of
band and orchestra music at Hal Leonard. The appetite for brass
music in education is so vast that Hal Leonard often spends several
hundred thousand dollars launching a new release in the company's
band methods for high schools, called 'Essentials 2000'.
Lavender has worked closely with The Canadian Brass and says, "They
are the world's best, as brass players and as performers.
The students see them as heroes wherever they go."
Even
with a busy concert schedule, The Canadian Brass members always
meet students with energy and enthusiasm. Their love for teaching
is little known to the public. Every moment counts and they genuinely
care about the development of each brass player.
"We are interested in all levels of playing, from beginners to
professionals," says trombonist Eugene Watts. "Parents can look
at us and say, 'Yeah, we wouldn't mind if our kid grew up
to be like Gene'," says Chuck, smiling mischievously to Gene over
cappuccinos. "That's pushing it!" says Gene and they break up laughing.
The
group's first sheet music appeared in 1977. Today The Canadian Brass
is the cutting edge in music education for brass players. Most of
the 600 works composed or arranged for them are published by Hal
Leonard, the largest publisher of educational music in the U.S.A.
Chuck
Daellenbach is excited about the group's newest teaching tool, a
CD with sheet music series called 'Play Along'. It drops out one
instrument so that the brass student can sit in with the Canadian
Brass five -- or four in this case.
Even
with a busy concert schedule, The Canadian Brass members always
meet students with energy and enthusiasm. Their love for teaching
is little known to the public. Every moment counts and they genuinely
care about the development of each brass player.
