Why Do I Sound Like Me, And You Sound Like You?

At first reading most would consider that statement as a boasting, self centered comment made by a pompous egotist. And you might be correct in your opinion but do remember, all trumpet players are usually a little “big headed” about their art form. Today as I worked on my sites, I realized that most young players are able to play the notes and yet they seem to lack the musicianship needed to execute a musical phrase. Faced with this dilemma, I decided to break down the elements required to perform in a more musical style and because of this concern,…

A New Toy Gets A Look-Over

On an earlier post I showed what was used decades ago to alter your sound and octaves with the old Vox Octavoice. Now it’s time to see how things have improved in the digital world. Check out this video and learn what is possible to use today to improve or at least alter you sounds. Ultra-Simple Battery-Powered Vocal Effects Stompbox with Reverb, Echo and Pitch Correction Ultra-simple vocal effects stompbox with reverb, echo and pitch correction Gives you flexible, creative control in a battery-powered format Vocally tuned reverb places your voice in the perfect musical space High-quality, low-noise mic preamp…

I Think We All Can Use An Escape- Let’s hear it for the “Mnozil Brass”

Mnozil Brass is an Austrian brass septet. They play classical, jazz and other styles of music using traditional brass instruments and more unusual instruments such as the customized rotary valved trumpet and bass trumpet. Music is presented with a typical Austrian style of humour, which can be approximately characterized as “jet black” and “here and there” absurd. Elements of slapstick exist next to virtuosic brass playing. They are often popularly referred to as “The Monty Python of the musical world”. Austrian and German schlager songs of the 20th century are often caricatured. All founding members were graduates of the renowned Vienna College of Music, who met while playing at the Mnozil…

Aerosol Studies on Spreading the Virus

Thanks to our good friend (Corky Maschinot) from The Villages in Florida for sharing this with us. NHIMA New Horizons International Music Association Aerosol Studies Preliminary Results, July 2020 Below you will find 2 links to very important studies to provide information about aerosol distribution for wind instruments. The first link shows the preliminary results (July 10, 2020) of the “Performing Arts Aerosol Study” conducted at the University of Colorado. NHIMA has provided financial support for this study. These preliminary results are for woodwinds and brass only, future results will be posted for vocalists. Final results (peer reviewed) are not…

“Free Arrangement Contest”- Winners

The results of our “Free Arrangement Contest” are in and the winning entries will be sent out in the next few weeks. I would like to thank all of you that participate in this exercise and we will offer this option again next year. The benefit of the contest has resulted in giving me some ideas as to what kind of arrangements you are interested in as well as the winners receiving free material; so we all benefited from this venture. Thanks again to all and if you have any requests for your ensemble, please contact me and I will…

“Free Arrangement Contest”

Due to the fact that I have been regularly posting arrangements on our site for the past 13 years (ugh) I, from time to time, run out of ideas to work on. I am offering a contest to my friends which should both generate inspirations for me as well as fill request from my supporters. Below are the rules for this contest. Rule 1. Any song/tune/style/instrumentation/number of players and difficulty can be entered. Rule 2. Only one suggestion can be submitted at a time. Suggest as many as you wish, but each has to be submitted individually. Rule 3. You…

An Old Toy Gets A Look-Over

To admit that a product of the 60s is still interesting to anyone is a surprise. But after rummaging through my bin of “the old and discarded,” I ran across a friend I had not seen in decades (many, many decades). Let me introduce you to the Vox Octavoice I. I acquired my Octavoice one day while giving a trumpet lesson at our university. The student mention that he had a device that I might be interested in and because of the fact that many people were experimenting with many things (fill in you own thoughts about that comment) at…

Why do trumpet players need an Amplifier?

Well, not all trumpet players really have to have an amp for our chosen instrument has all the power we need. Or does it? Have you ever played with a rock band? In most cases the band has a sufficient sound system but some times we are forgotten and need to boost our volume a little to be heard over the screaming guitars and drums. Another use of an amp is something I ran into recently when I started playing harmonica in a Blue Grass band. Yes I said a Blue Grass Band. At my age, I am very interested…