Picture: Carlos Eduardo Mello

Bio

Carlos Eduardo Mello has served as p[rofessor of trombone at the University of Brasília, Brazil, since 1993. On two separate occasions he was awarded a grant from the Brazilian Government, through its National Research and Technology Agency - CNPq,  to pursue his graduate education in the United States. The first such award helped him earn his Master's Degree in trombone performance from Michigan State University (1989). The second has made possible his current residency at MSU, where he plans to finish his Doctor of Musical Arts degree by May of 1999. Carlos Eduardo holds a Music Education degree from the University ofrasília. He is a former member of the National Theatre Symphony Orchestra in Brasília, where he performed as principal trombonist between 1990 and 1993. He is a founder and former trombonist with Brazilian Brass, a cross-cultural brass quartet, with which he participated in a national tour sponsored by the United States Information Service inBrazil (USIS), in 1993. Carlos Eduardo also founded and directed the UnB Trombone Choir, in Brasília, from 1990 to 1992. His performances, teaching experiences and interests include features with Brasílian ensembles and orchestras, college recitals, premiering contemporary works for trombone and working with electro-acoustic and computer music composition. His main trombone instructors include Paulo R. Silva (Brasília, Brazil) and Curtis Olson (MSU).

Research
Mr. Mello's dissertation research project involves the study of trombone multyphonics and its relation to trombone pedagogy and composition.  Multyphonics are produced on brass instruments through two main techniques. The most widespread of these consists of humming a given pitch over a regular note, thus producing combination tones which are reinforced in various patterns according to the intervals involved, the position of the pitches in relationship to the natural harmonics of the instrument and other factors. Several aspects of this technique have, for a long time, kept it from becoming a full fledged part of the instrument's vocabulary. Among these are voice control and intonation, the interference by the voice in the normal vibrating pattern of the lips, the coordination of two interdependent actions. Several authors mention the necessity for a body of supporting literature for the teaching and learning of this technique, similarly to what happens to the traditional techniques.
 
Trombone Links
 
General links of interest to trombonists:
Family and Friends
This area contains pictures of Mr. Mello's family and friends, as well as some personal information.
 
 
 
 
 Carlos Eduardo Mello - HomePage / mellocar@pilot.msu.edu /
started Dec 30 1996,last modification Nov 15 1998