How to Play in Tune

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Before we get to the “How Do I’s”, I need to address a few questions which are seldom asked but are equally important: Why is it important to play in tune? Playing “out of tune hurts”. It doesn’t hurt the player but it certainly hurts the listener. If you watch television programs such as “American Idol” or “So You Think You’ve Got Talent” or some equally popular show, you have experienced the horror of amateur singers trying to make it big. When they land on an out of tune note for any length of time, we all seem to have…

Are You A Professional or An Amateur?

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Due to the fact that this post primarily contains information related to the more limited topic of music, the original question could be restated more accurately as “Are You A Professional or An Amateur Musician”? According to the latest AI (Artificial Intelligence) source: A professional musician is someone who earns a living by performing, creating, recording, or teaching music. They may work as freelancers, be employed by institutions (e.g., orchestras, bands, schools), or work independently to create and promote their music. Their level of income and recognition can vary widely, from local performances to global fame. An amateur musician is…

Features to Consider when Buying a Trumpet

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When deciding on which trumpet/cornet to buy, there are a few guidelines that need to be addressed. The bottom line cost is one of the most obvious questions for most people. Unless you are interested in the ultimate, hand fitted, custom made, work of art, one of a kind horn, you should expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,500 for a quality instrument. When I speak of the ultimate, one of a kind trumpet, I am reminded of a situation many years ago when a college first told me about  his friend who was making truly one of a kind,…

See What Your Tonguing Looks Like

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Often we are told to listen to our sounds and evaluate our progress. As I demonstrated on an earlier post we were able to see what our tone looks like through recording software. The same is true when trying to improve other areas of our playing, and in this case we will look at single tonguing and multiple tonguing through the eyes of the recording program Audacity. As in our other visual studies, we will be using the free software program Audacity. which can be downloaded at this site. Audacity To understand what is happening when you tongue a note,…