David L. Wells, clinician
David Wells is currently the music director for the River Rogues Jazz Ensemble as well as leader of The River City Jazz Ensemble big band. David served as the founder and director of the Northview Community Band for 25 years, before retiring in 2019. He is also the leader for the Dave Wells Strolling German Oompa Band, and The Ein Prosit German Band.
Brass Clinic Handout
The brass clinic handout is used when I provide private instruction to brass players. It addresses long tones and lip slurs.
Scale Sheets
The purpose of these scales was to provide all the major scales in two octaves for students to play for chair tryouts. Students were expected to play four scales, one octave, memorized, in a sixteenth note pattern. Those who prepared more scales or more octaves received more positive points. Some came in prepared to play all twelve scales in multiple octaves. I used the scales in class warm ups to learn more than just the “same old” four common scales. The bands became accustomed to playing in remote keys. I found the bands played with more proficiency on the more challenging music for their age.
David L. Wells, clinician
There are six melodies for you to use at your discretion for the following purposes: Chair tryouts, Chair Challenges, Playing tests & Sight-reading. Each melody is eight measures long. They were created for students to display technical performance abilities using dynamics, articulations, range, tempo, and rhythm. I wrote them and you have permission to unlimited copying for the purposes listed above. – David L. Wells Music
8 Measure Melodies
Using the melodies 1 through 6:
The purpose of these melodies was to provide melodic material for tryouts. The goal of each melody was to include some of the following elements:
All instruments could play them together in unisonUse half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, triplets, and some rests
Use accidentals, various articulations, various dynamic levels, cresc. & dim., and range of more than one octave.
I used one melody per year. Having six different melodies prevented a melody from becoming the only one they ever had to learn from one year to the next.
The melodies may be appropriate for chair challenges if not being used for tryouts in the same year.
Ensemble Clinician
David L. Wells is available to clinic beginning to advanced bands and ensembles.