These posts are written by: Bruce Chidester

Bird and Diz At Odds

A very good friend sent me this video this morning and I think it is definitely worth sharing.

Habits! Why are they so difficult to break?

“We are creatures of habit”. If you doubt this fact, try taking these simple tests. 1. The next time you brush your teeth, place your tube of tooth paste in the drawer with the cap pointing the opposite direction. 2. Cross your hands and try to place your right thumb…

High Note Entrances Made Easier

Your exposed entrance is coming up and your chances of hitting the high C at a pianissimo dynamic level has been improving but is still at the 50% success level. Here’s the down beat and all eyes are on you. Oops! If you have ever been faced with this humbling…

Update on the “THE PERFECT PERFORMANCE CHAIR/STOOL”!

Few people have realized the importance of my recent discovery of the perfect item of support for every musician. But don’t let that upset you for most people do not understand many of the things I do or say. Ask my wife. This is an update to my first post…

Chet Baker at His Best

  Chesney Henry “Chet” Baker, Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and vocalist. Baker earned much attention and critical praise through the 1950s, particularly for albums featuring his vocals (Chet Baker Sings, It Could Happen to You). Jazz historian David Gelly described…

A New Way to Appreciate the Clarke Technical Studies Book

Every brass player should recognize the Second Study in the famous Clarke Technical Studies book but seldom are we able to perform it in public. It is with great pride that I now offer to you a concert version of this fine exercise.

How To Arrange Music For Your Trumpet Quartet

Download exercise sheet here- Hymn for trumpet ensemble arranging assignment #1 Play musical example here-Quartet Hymn arrangement Before we start, I will assume that you do play trumpet and understand the ranges, both high and low of the instrument. Because of the limited range of the trumpet, this will be the…

How Young Can They Get?

The youngest trumpet player in the world?

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IN ORDER TO IMPROVE YOUR TONE QUALITY (PART #4) Over Adjusting When You Play

One of the most common offense to the trumpet occurs when a player over compensates when playing notes. When I speak of overcompensating I’m directing my criticism to mainly the embouchure area. When most players attempt to reach a high note, the mindset is usually “give it your all” and…

What You Should Know In Order To Improve Your Tone Quality (Part #3)

We have been very busy responding to your comments on the subject of improving tone quality and this makes me very pleased for all musicians should be concerned with their sound. In this the third installment on the subject of a focused sound, we will be addressing two related and…