If you ever wondered what was going on in your mouth while playing your Trumpet….. Check this out …..and Trombone.
These posts are written by: Bruce Chidester
Required Listening Assignment
As the interest in Trumpet choirs continues to grow, some ensembles seem to occupy the highest level of professionalism. Such is the case for the San Luis Obispo County Trumpet Alliance and their most accomplished director Warren Balfour. I have had the pleasure of knowing and following this remarkable ensemble…
Possibly The Most Difficult Record Copy Ever Made
One of my all-time favorite Dixieland groups was Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen. A list of their successes in the early 1960s would include the following- Midnight in Moscow, The Green Leaves of Summer, Sukiyaki, Hello Dolly and When I’m Sixty- Four. But the most impressive recording in my opinion,…
How to Play a Low F in Tune
Not often, but enough to learn this trick, we are asked to play a low F. Usually it is required by someone who knows nothing about our instrument or acceptable orchestration practices. Or, in the case recently, where I arranged a number which required the first trumpet to exceed what…
Perfect Pitch and How You Can Develop It
Perfect pitch, also known as absolute pitch, is a rare and highly sought-after ability in the world of music. It refers to the ability to identify and reproduce any musical note without any reference point. This means that someone with perfect pitch can hear a note and immediately know its…
More Interesting Assumptions Proven and Disproven
In our never ending quest for truths and the American dream, I came across this assertion which sounded very plausible, yet questionable. On one of the more popular trumpet bulletin boards I found a reference to a trick which apparently Mr. Armando Ghitalla was given credit. The writer mentioned in…
Trumpet Mouthpiece Placement
“Where should I place my mouthpiece when I play my trumpet/cornet?” The placement of your mouthpiece can be affected in many ways. If you have scare tissue as I do, (a friend through a brick and hit me square on the chops) you will notice that the affected area does not…
Living in the Inseparable Worlds of Art, Music and Drama
Choosing a title for this post was not easy for what I wished to describe is as fluid as an oil painting, as subtle as a string quartet and as emotional as a masterfully delivery text in a play. From a musical composer, transcriber, or arranger’s standpoint, the choice of…
Something You Might Have Missed on Facebook
March 9, 2023, An Evening to Remember
When thinking back to memorable events in one’s life, some seem to have a special place in the corners of our memories. One such event now holds that special place in mine. The event was the Dallas Blows Cancer Away Concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Allow me…