The Art of Expressive Playing
For Winds and Percussion, A Study in Individual, Small Ensemble and Large Group Performance.
By Jerry Nowak, Henry Nowak.
Text: Henry Nowak; Jerry Nowak.
Brass ensemble. For Brass.
64 pages. Published by Carl Fischer. (JB53)

The Art of Expressive Playing focuses on aspects of playing that result in an expressive performance. There are no absolute rules converning expressive playing and phrasing, only concepts. These concepts arise out of the natural relationship of meter, rhythm, contour, tonality, style and historical period. Our system of music notation is at best, a general outline of the intent of the composer. To this outline, we as musicians must add all of the subtle nuances that are not represented in the written music. Jerry and Henry Nowak have taken on the task of teaching students how to play more expressively. For the first time in convert band pedagogy, the Nowaks have provided the written, visual and aural aids that give every instrumentalist a point of departure for a truly musical performance.