Scale patterns are super helpful for playing brass instruments and improving your sound. They especially help with how you play different notes and how loud or soft you sound. By using these patterns in your practice, you can gain better control over your music. Here’s a simple guide on how to use scale patterns to get better at dynamics:

1. Basic Scale Practice

Start by playing your major and minor scales at different volumes.

• Begin softly (this is called $pp$ - pianissimo).
• Gradually increase the volume until you are playing loudly (this is called $ff$ - fortissimo).

This exercise helps you learn how to control the loudness of your sound on the instrument.

2. Articulation Variations

Once you feel comfortable with the basic scales, try changing how you play the notes. Here are some ways to do that:

• Staccato: Play each note sharply and quickly.
• Legato: Play the notes smoothly, without any gaps.
• Accents: Make certain notes stand out more than others.

3. Dynamic Patterns

Mix in different loudness patterns while you play your scales. Try this sequence:

• Start soft ($p$ - piano)
• Go to medium soft ($mf$ - mezzo-forte)
• Play loud ($f$ - forte)
• Then back to medium soft ($mp$ - mezzo-piano)
• End with a gradual increase in volume (this is called crescendo), then decrease (this is called decrescendo).

This will help you learn how to switch between different volumes while still sounding good.

4. Interval Focus

Practice your scales in intervals. This means playing notes that are a certain distance apart, like:

• Thirds
• Fourths

This technique helps improve your range and allows you to change your volume smoothly between different notes.

Conclusion

By regularly doing these exercises in your daily practice, you’ll see big improvements in how you control your volume and express your music. Have fun practicing!