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[RichWilley]

Now available here: The Reinhardt Routines—a total embouchure development plan  for trombone.

Dr. Donald S. Reinhardt's sheer genius is finally available to those who really want to develop no-nonsense trombone chops and improve their musicianship without suffering from "analysis paralysis."

Dave Sheetz (Reinhardt's heir apparent) and I took great pains to develop a method book that requires no knowledge of Reinhardt's teaching. All you do is play what you see as it's presented with a minimal amount of text. Complete with an Eleven Day plan that you rotate through again and again, there are also "Supplemental Routines" that will help you iron out wrinkles in all areas of your trombone playing and your overall musicianship.

Some of you know me as a trumpet player who also plays valve trombone and bass trumpet. Being "ambidextrous" with brass instruments gives me an interesting vantage point from which to thoroughly marvel at the depth of Dr. Donald S. Reinhardt's brilliance.

I'm sure many of you have been waiting for a set of routines that will have you building your range, endurance, sound, flexibility, slide technique, articulation, dynamics, etc., and especially your musicianship. You don't have to wait any longer. It's here.

[Paul Martin]

OK, Dave Wilkins (sp?) and Doug Elliot, our resident embouchure guys, peer review this book!

[Joel Felberg]

OK, Dave Wilkins (sp?) and Doug Elliot, our resident embouchure guys, peer review this book!

I know Doug was a student of Reinhardt's...maybe Dave was too. Both have an insane embouchure knowledge and I too would love to see their thoughts on this book.

[Pivotbone]

Well, my name isn't Dave or Doug, but I do know a fair amount about Reinhardt's teachings.  This book is basically a reproduction of an out-of-print book Reinhardt wrote in 1942.  The book is an eleven day routine that you repeat over and over again.  The material is systematic and takes you through a LOT of different techniques.  The material is written with a lot of Reinhardt's ideas on embouchure embedded in the exercise.  So, while it may not be of interest for you to know WHY the exercises are written as they are, it may be comforting to know that Reinhardt's teachings are in the entire book!

In addition to the original 1942 edition, Rich Willey and Dave Sheetz have updated the material based on corrections and updates made to the material over the course of his long teaching career.  Also, Dave and Rich have suplemented the material with additional routines that you can use to iron out many areas of your technique.

I've heard many criticisms of Reinhardt based on it not being practical for someone to approach the material without a teacher.  This is something Dave Sheetz and I tried to rectify at the ITG conference this Spring with a masterclass we gave.  This book is really an extention of what we talked about there.  For someone who has never read a word about what Reinhardt said about embouchure (or other) mechanics, the exercises will bring you a long way toward developing your chops without that knowledge.  For someone who has read the encyclopedia and did not know how to proceed, this book will give you a concrete routine to use along with your newly-aquired knowledge.

This book is the practical approach many have been looking for with Reinhardt's teachings.  However, be aware that there is very little text about embouchure here.  If you are looking for more on THAT subject, get a copy of Reinhardt's Encylopedia of the Pivot System.  Also, on the web you can read more about the subject in greatly simplified form at:

http://trombone.org/articles/library/viewarticles.asp?ArtID=240  and

http://www.mediafire.com/?4v2nalevufw  (This is an outline I did for the presentation at the ITG conference this year).

If you try it out, let us know what you think!!

Rich

[JBledsoe]

Hi,


 Is this book just a collection of exercises created by Reinhardt? Does the book cover what embouchure type you have, or a diagnostic tool for deducing your embouchure type? I had a lesson with Doug Elliott a few months ago, and personally I think trying to tackle embouchure studies using Reinhardts classifications would be very difficult and possibly detrimental without the help of someone who is very knowledgeable being at your side.

[RichWilley]

Is this book just a collection of exercises created by Reinhardt? Does the book cover what embouchure type you have, or a diagnostic tool for deducing your embouchure type? I had a lesson with Doug Elliott a few months ago, and personally I think trying to tackle embouchure studies using Reinhardts classifications would be very difficult and possibly detrimental without the help of someone who is very knowledgeable being at your side.

I think much of your concern was already addressed in the previous post:

For someone who has never read a word about what Reinhardt said about embouchure (or other) mechanics, the exercises will bring you a long way toward developing your chops without that knowledge.  For someone who has read the encyclopedia and did not know how to proceed, this book will give you a concrete routine to use along with your newly-aquired knowledge.

Let's face it . . . a player who doesn't know what type he/she is who is doing things contrary to that may never reach his/her full potential. However, there are drills that can help erase bad habits and replace them with new, good habits.

And, think about it this way: those people doing things contrary to their physical type playing out of all the standard method books hardly stand a chance of arriving at an organized regimen of drills to correct their playing.

However, those same people stand a much better chance of overcoming many of those obstacles by playing out of a regimen of drills organized specifically to undo bad habits and create good habits.

That is the premise of this book; doing an organized regimen of drills that encourage positive embouchure development. I personally don't believe that you can continue to rotate through these drills and not see dramatic improvement.

You also have this forum to go to with any questions or concerns you may have and get informed answers from Doug or Dave . . . or even me.

[RichWilley]

OK, Dave Wilkins (sp?) and Doug Elliot, our resident embouchure guys, peer review this book!

Dave Wilken has his copy; I trust he's going through it thoroughly before commenting. Doug's copy is on its way to him, and I expect he'll also have some thoughtful comments for us.

There's one routine in there that Doc gave me when I was working on slide technique called The Glizzando High Register Routine. I remember Doc told me there was no excuse for a trombonist not having a consistent, usable and musical high F if he (or she) uses that routine.

As it reads in the book:

Dr. Donald S. Reinhardt used The Glizzando High Register Routine for trombone for over fifty years. It is a time-tested, proven routine that is used for the purpose of developing and maintaining a good, solid, maneuverable high register.

[Dave]

I just got the book a couple of days ago and have had a chance to read it through and digest it.

I was familiar with most of the exercises, but not all.  Much of the book is material that was previously published, but the older publication assumed that you were taking lessons with Reinhardt and didn't include the specific instructions.  There's also a good amount of other exercises and routines that as far as I know has never been published before.

Good stuff.  I think there's a lot of material that anyone can benefit from, regardless of background.

Is this book just a collection of exercises created by Reinhardt?

Mostly, but there's a lot of written text that explains how to practice the exercises to derive the most benefit possible.

Does the book cover what embouchure type you have, or a diagnostic tool for deducing your embouchure type?

Not at all.  I suspect that you also understand why.

had a lesson with Doug Elliott a few months ago, and personally I think trying to tackle embouchure studies using Reinhardts classifications would be very difficult and possibly detrimental without the help of someone who is very knowledgeable being at your side.

Since you understand the personal nature of brass players' embouchures, you also understand how some specific instructions for one player can be exactly opposite of what another player needs to do.  The instructions in this book cover what's appropriate for all players and also give some advice on how to fine tune it for your own best approach.  But this is something that you should be doing already with whatever you already use.  As far as what's unique to the individual, if you're aware of your embouchure type you can use this book (or whatever you use) to even better effect because of that knowledge.

I think "The Reinhardt Routines" offer a nice, viable alternative for someone who is looking for a new approach to developing routine work that covers virtually all the technical challenges trombonists come across when playing most in most musical situations.  You'll find things in it that resemble Arban's, Remington, Caruso, Baker, and probably others.  Taken individually the basic approach of the exercises probably aren't really unique to Reinhardt (long tones, flexibility studies, articulation studies, high range exercises, etc.).  The real value lies in how it is organized to address everything over the long term and allow easy modification for individual needs and goals.


Dave

[RichWilley]

You'll find things in it that resemble Arban's, Remington, Caruso, Baker, and probably others.  Taken individually the basic approach of the exercises probably aren't really unique to Reinhardt (long tones, flexibility studies, articulation studies, high range exercises, etc.).  The real value lies in how it is organized to address everything over the long term and allow easy modification for individual needs and goals.

Excellent points, Dave!

This is not an instant gratification book; this is one for those content to make steady progress over the long term. That being said, though, I think some people might be noticing improvements in their playing before they make it all the way around the full Eleven Day regimen the first time.

On thing different from some books is that this one is written up to the high F, and contains a concrete plan to get you up there and really playing up there. This is not one of those books that you have to take things up an octave to get beyond the "high school" high Bb.

Many more people than Dave (on this forum) have this book in their possession. I'd love to hear from them, also.

Thanks for your insights and observations, Dave!

[sanfranboner]

I've just received the book, and am looking forward to working with it.  I have a question, possibly regarding a typo.  At the bottom of p. 43, in point #5, the reader is referred to pp. 21-22, and asked to play drills 1, 3, 6, 10, and 12.  Then, point #6 says to use drills 1-14.  But on pp. 21-22, there are only 10 drills.  Are the instructions on p. 43 referring to the wrong pages?   

[RichWilley]

I've just received the book, and am looking forward to working with it.  I have a question, possibly regarding a typo.  At the bottom of p. 43, in point #5, the reader is referred to pp. 21-22, and asked to play drills 1, 3, 6, 10, and 12.  Then, point #6 says to use drills 1-14.  But on pp. 21-22, there are only 10 drills.  Are the instructions on p. 43 referring to the wrong pages?   

Aaagh! You are right! That should say pp.24-25! Good catch! I will go fix that right now on the master so that the next printing is correct. Thank you!!!

So, tell us, if you haven't even started, what are you doing on page 43?

(Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

 

[sanfranboner]

I'm one of those guys who always "reads the users manual" first.    I'm in the middle of a bunch of work right now, and I don't consider that the best time to change my practice routine.

[AxSlinger7String]

I just started lessons with a  graduate trombone student here at UMass who himself studies with someone (can't remember the name) who was a long time student of Reinhardt.  In that first lesson we identified my embouchure type and a list of things that I don't do "right" - right meaning the way that will get the best results.  For the first time ever I am thinking about pivot/tracking and even during the 2 hour lesson he told me that he noticed an improvement in my playing.  Now, since I'm in marching band I'll admit I'm not in the greatest shape to play cultured music, but I'm still not that bad. 
Included in the routine my teacher (Rich) put together for me was the "glissando to the high register" which i can definitely tell will expand and relax my high register.  I'm also going to be reading excerpts out of the "Pivot Encyclopedia"

Overall I'm very excited to start studying this way, Rich showed me that it gets results, he could easily slur from Bb1 to Bb5 with good tone.

[Pivotbone]

I just started lessons with a  graduate trombone student here at UMass who himself studies with someone (can't remember the name) who was a long time student of Reinhardt.  In that first lesson we identified my embouchure type and a list of things that I don't do "right" - right meaning the way that will get the best results.  For the first time ever I am thinking about pivot/tracking and even during the 2 hour lesson he told me that he noticed an improvement in my playing.  Now, since I'm in marching band I'll admit I'm not in the greatest shape to play cultured music, but I'm still not that bad. 
Included in the routine my teacher (Rich) put together for me was the "glissando to the high register" which i can definitely tell will expand and relax my high register.  I'm also going to be reading excerpts out of the "Pivot Encyclopedia"

Overall I'm very excited to start studying this way, Rich showed me that it gets results, he could easily slur from Bb1 to Bb5 with good tone.

Hey Chris, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the lesson!  We may get you working out of this book soon!

Rich

[AxSlinger7String]

Haha, I've mentioned the forum to a couple people in my section in band to explain where I learned/heard a few of the things that tend to come out of my mouth, but I never knew anybody that actually posted before.

[BGuttman]

Haha, I've mentioned the forum to a couple people in my section in band to explain where I learned/heard a few of the things that tend to come out of my mouth, but I never knew anybody that actually posted before.

What, I don't count?

[AxSlinger7String]

I was expecting that.   I met you through the forum; and got a great deal out of it.  I didn't know Rich was on here when I met him; it gives you more of that small-world feeling.

[Hornman805]

I'm very curious here...how about it, Doug, have you checked out the book?

thanks,
   Michael

[Doug Elliott]

My review of “The Reinhardt Routines”:

The original “Pivot System” manual was my introduction to Reinhardt’s ideas, long before I studied with him.  I had forgotten about many of those exercises; the book has been out of print for years and I don’t even know if I still own a copy.

“The Reinhardt Routines,” compiled and edited by Rich Willey who was studying with Reinhardt at the same time I was, is a collection of that material, plus most of the other exercises “Doc” gave his students.

It is organized into an 11 day routine intended to be a warm-up for each day, encompassing many aspects of his teaching, and using range up to high F (or beyond) every day.  Some of it is quite strenuous when done as presented, but you don’t have to do everything - it is designed to use whatever range is available “without strain.”

For those familiar with the more standard warm-ups like Remington, there are similarities, but obvious differences.  Many of Reinhardt’s exercises start at the top and go down and back up, where other teachers’ warm-ups would start at the bottom and go up and back down.  Also, each day is different - you cover everything by rotating through the 11 day cycle.

The instructions scattered throughout the book show a little about the way he taught.  They make you think about the way you practice, not just play the notes.  There are warnings to not use too much mouthpiece pressure, avoid straining, and rest frequently.  He tells you where to breathe and where not to breathe; how soft or loud to play each exercise, with crescendos and diminuendos marked; when to use different kinds of attacks, often starting with no tongue; how to use vowel sounds to change the tongue level for different ranges.  Some of his ideas on slide technique are included.  Alternate positions are covered, as well as playing in all keys.

Nothing will take the place of actually studying with the man himself.  But this book gives considerable insight into the way he taught brass playing.  It doesn’t include anything about his embouchure types – that’s a whole different subject.  Reinhardt is typically known to most players only in terms of his focus on embouchures, however there was so much more to his teaching.  This book is a good introduction to that.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about improving their playing, at any level.  Even so, I don’t agree with everything in it.  The instructions are to start every day with the “Pivot Stabilizer.”  That exercise was intended specifically to work on your particular “pivot” or “embouchure motion” as I prefer to call it.  If you don’t completely understand or are not properly instructed in your personal embouchure mechanics, this exercise could do more harm than good.  I suggest skipping the Pivot Stabilizer entirely.  There is a lot to be gained from the rest of the book.  Also, Reinhardt’s language and writing style is very “old school” – he wrote this book in 1942 – and it can be a little hard to understand some of his terminology.

Get the book!  You can find it at www.boptism.com along with lots more good stuff from Rich Willey’s publishing company.

[Hornman805]

Thanks Doug. That's all the endorsement I need! BTW Doug, let me know if you're ever out in CA. Would love a lesson.

Later,
   Michael