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Scales: Chromatic/Major/Minor

Scales: Chromatic/Major/Minor
Scales are a great starting point for fundamentals on the horn. Most exercises are built around scales and arpeggios so learning them early is key. I suggest starting with a chromatic scale. Find a trusty fingering chart from one of your band books or online ( http://www.public.asu.edu/~jqerics/HornFingeringChart.pdf ) and find a note that is in the middle of your current range that is comfortable to play. From there, work your way chromatically down as low as you can continue to get notes to speak. When you reach your lowest possible note, turn around and work your way back to to where you started. Now do the same thing going up. Go as high as you can without forcing and come back down. This is a great starting point for getting to know your way around the full range of the horn and you should start memorizing your chromatic scale as soon as possible.
Then we need to work on major scales. Full range of the horn makes it possible to play every scale a full three octaves, but finding a solid two octaves for each scale within your range is the best place to start. These should also be memorized and prepared for entrance auditions, juries, and playing tests that could come up throughout your college career. Scale sheets are easy to find online, but I suggest learning them by key signature without looking at the scale written out so that you do not create bad habits and make scale sheets a crutch.
For minor scales, there are three forms : natural, harmonic, and melodic. Different programs have their own requirements for which ones you are expected to learn. You should learn how to create each type of minor scale in your theory class so again, work on figuring these scales out without the use of a scale sheet in front of you. The most common type that is required is the harmonic minor scale, but you should be able to construct the others if needed.

For all scales, these are the basic patterns that so much of  your music is going to be based around. Having a fluency of all types of scales is invaluable to your overall playing. Do not think that once you have learned a scale you can be done with it. These should be reviewed in your practice sessions regularly so that you keep up the fluencies that can be applied to all other music.

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