The Last Post & Rouse: Memory Aids & Cheats

THE LAST POST:

RAAF (similar to our version)

Australian War Memorial (less similar to ours)

THE LAST POST & THE ROUSE:

Governor General's Foot Guards (similar Last Post to ours, ends of Rouse phrases are quicker)

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Download the basic sheet music in treble or bass clef here:

DIFFICULTY: Medium - Hard

TIME COMMITMENT: Weeks

1) Download the sheet music in your clef from my website.
2) Watch some or all of the military players play this in the videos above.
3) Try either long note swells, lip slurs or fast-tonguing single note rhythms as daily warm-ups and decide which you think is most helpful for preparing you to play this well.
4) Complete the "write it out in rainbow colours" exercise to help visualise and memorise the structure of The Last Post.
5) Practice daily in original key or lowered, focusing on a beautiful controlled sound without overdoing the dynamics, pauses and vibrato.

MEMORY JOGGERS FOR EACH PHRASE OF THE LAST POST:
Red: The famous bit with the swells.
Orange: The bit with a 3/4 bar.
Yellow: The longer phrase that starts really high and has accents to accentuate.
Green: Bookend 1 - longer lead-in note, accelerate into...
Blue: The faster tempo section.
Violet: Bookend 2 - quicker lead-in note.
Indigo: The shorter phrase that starts really high. No accents. Leads into ending which I now call...
Ultraviolet: More swells like the beginning. End the last note before it starts to wobble!

THE ROUSE:
First phrase: Steady beat, clear tonguing. The sun is creeping towards the horizon.
Second phrase: Same again, but stronger as if the sun has crested in distance.
Final phrase: Beautiful majestic sound. The sun is awe-inspiring but it never blasts early in the morning.