Unlike many modern method books that rely heavily on flashy graphics, popular tunes, or play-along CDs, the Rubank series focuses on the fundamentals. It was written in an era when instrumental mastery was achieved through discipline, scales, and etudes. The Elementary Method is the first rung on a ladder that includes Intermediate and Advanced Volumes, creating a seamless continuum of education that can take a student from their first buzz to conservatory-level proficiency. When you open the Rubank Elementary Method - Cornet or Trumpet , you aren't just looking at a collection of songs. You are looking at a curriculum designed to build a complete player. Here is a breakdown of the core components that make this book a staple in music education. 1. The Introduction and Tone Production The book begins with a comprehensive illustrated glossary of the instrument. For a beginner, understanding the parts of the cornet or trumpet—from the mouthpiece to the bell, the valves to the slides—is crucial.
It typically begins in the middle register—notes like C, D, E, and G. These notes provide the highest rate of success for beginners. Only after these notes are mastered does the book expand into the lower and upper registers. This prevents students from developing bad habits, such as excessive mouthpiece pressure, which often occurs when trying to reach high notes too early. While many elementary books focus solely on getting the notes out, Rubank introduces articulation early on. Students learn the difference between slurring (playing notes smoothly without the tongue) and tonguing (separating notes with the tongue).
Whether you are a band director looking for curriculum material, a private instructor seeking a reliable text, or a student embarking on your musical journey, understanding the value of this method book is essential. This article explores the history of the Rubank series, the pedagogical structure of the Elementary Method, the advantages of the PDF format, and how to best utilize this resource for maximum musical growth. Before diving into the specific contents of the book, it is important to understand its heritage. The Rubank publications were born out of a mid-20th-century desire to provide American music students with a systematic, no-nonsense approach to learning an instrument.
More importantly, the opening pages address the most difficult aspect of brass playing: tone production. The text offers diagrams and instructions on embouchure formation (the way the lips are held) and breath control. This focus on the "mechanics" of sound ensures that students don't just learn to press buttons, but learn how to make a characteristic brass sound. Many method books introduce notes in a somewhat random fashion. Rubank, however, introduces notes in a logical sequence that favors the natural overtone series of the trumpet.