That was just one tip offered to Bethel Park music students from members of the renowned Boston Brass ensemble. Based in Boston, the quintet performs a variety of exciting brass arrangements to audiences throughout the world.

Students from Bethel Park's high school music program, along with brass players from Independence and Neil Armstrong middle schools, recently had a one of a kind musical experience as the brass held a workshop at Bethel Park High School recently.

In addition to performing several musical numbers during the workshop, members of the brass offered helpful tips to the students. Jose Sibaja offered practical advice, telling the students to practice the basics every day "like breakfast."

The Miami native advised the students to work on fundamentals like long tones, breathing properly with a good sound, lip flexibility, buzzing, arpeggios, and scales. "Working on the basics will help you be a lot better a lot quicker," said Sibaja, "and it will be a lot more fun."

As the students laughed, Castellanos told them, "Don't do it. It makes your instrument smell really bad."

Castellanos said that band for him was a social thing at the beginning, and he didn't practice. He told the students their band had six French horn chairs and he was so bad he was eighth chair.

But things changed when his mom surprised him with his own horn one Christmas. He asked how he could get better, and his band director suggested practicing - 20 to 30 minutes a day. When there was a challenge a few months later, Castellanos moved up to third chair and eventually made it to first chair.

Stating that it was "crazy how all this started because of McDonald's," Castellanos told the students to find a way to be motivated to practice. "Make it fun for yourself so you play every day."

Andrew Hitz from Washington, D.C., advised the students to listen to great examples of their instrument. "You need to know how you're supposed to sound."

You have to seek that music out, said Hitz, but fortunately, it's easier to find examples of classical instrumentalists than ever before.

Hitz said that typing an instrument name into the search field of Google, iTunes, or You Tube will produce a number of hits. "Some clips will help a musician learn how they should sound," he said, while others will provide examples of how they don't want to sound.

In addition to Hitz, Castellanos, and Sibaja, the other two members of Boston Brass are Jeff Conner from Boston, and Mt. Lebanon's Lance LaDuke.

David Buetzow, Bethel Park High School's music department facilitator and band director, said they have had a partnership with Boston Brass for the last five years, performing with the group several times. Last year, Bethel performed with Boston Brass in Providence, RI, an event senior Jeremy Ferlic experienced. "They bring a big audience," said Ferlic. "It was nice to play before that kind of national audience."

Luke McCurry, a sophomore trumpet player with the BPHS Symphonic Band, was looking forward to playing with the Boston Brass at a concert at the high school that evening. He said it's good to have role models like the brass.

Considering a career in music, McCurry said they give him "something to look forward to."