The concept promoted by the Personal Embouchure Training Exerciser is not new for we have known of the basic concept for a long time. This exercise was first shared with me by an old circus cornet player many years ago. Years later it was shared again when I played under Merle…
These posts are written by: Bruce Chidester
Select Your Practice Room Carefully
Where do you do most of your practicing? Is it in a band room? Do you slave away every day in a practice room? Is most of your time practicing spent in a small room, a big room, a room with drapes and heavy carpet? Where you practice regularly will…
Why Doesn’t The Air Go Out My Nose?
I have been asked through the years, “Why, when I play a note on a brass instrument, doesn’t the air come out my nose”? Rather than explain the function of the flexible pallet, it is much easier to use an visual illustration and for that reason, please view the following…
Winner(s) of video question, Why Does This Happen?
Thanks to all who participated in this thought provoking exercise. At last count, we had approximately fifty entries, and over 2,000 downloads concerning this question. Some of your answers were very close and some were way off. I have listed two who will be receiving “free” arrangements of their choice…
Why Does This Happen?
Submit the best reason for this to happen and win a Free Trumpet Ensemble Arrangement Of Your Choice! Selection of best reason will be made on June 1, 2014.
Inside The World Of A Cup Mouthpiece
In our never ending quest for scientifically proof of what goes on in our trumpet playing world, we find yet another bit of information to confuse and delight our readers. Here is a video showing what actually happens in the cup of a trumpet mouthpiece as it is being played.…
Improve Your Sight-reading- On Line
I found this site today and felt compelled to share it with you. In a previous post I covered the importance of being able to read rhythms quickly and accurately. It is my belief that being able to recognize rhythms quickly is the most important area a musician needs to…
WHAT I LEARNED IN JAZZ CLASS
These are quotes from students in a college jazz history class. They are extracted from the essay topic, “What I learned over this semester in jazz history.” These are all genuine responses, completely unaltered. They are all 18+ year old students; not high school or middle school age kids. None…
Rotary Trumpets- Revisiting Our Past
The hottest new trend is something from our trumpet past. Rotary valves are making a strong comeback. For that reason I searched for the most interesting description of this option which many trumpet players are switching to- rotary valve trumpets. I found this video very interesting and well done, “so…
Practicing In Front of a Computer Screen
More trumpet players are beginning to read their music off computer screens and this new trend has advantages as well as disadvantages as we will address. More players are beginning to take advantage of on line lessons through Skype as well as other programs and many times their material is…