Good Morning Vietnam!

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For the past four years I have been pumping out post after post every other day. Some were helpful (How To Mark Your Music) and some generated controversy (The Disturbing Monette Video) and one I actually had to apologies for (Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks). Well this “old dog” decided to take the day off and feature a product evaluation submitted to me by a very good friend and accomplished trumpet player by the name of Jen. Here is Jen’s evaluation of her new Mute Master purchased through A&G Music. I just received a new mute holder that I…

Finally- “The Perfect Performance Chair/Stool”!

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We all have suffered long enough when faced with the problem of a comfortable chair or stool when performing on stage or practicing. After spending “almost an entire lifetime” searching for the “PERFECT” solution to this dilemma, I felt compelled to single handedly add comfort and confidence to the world of seated performers. I spend at least eight to ten hours a day (every day) at my computer and when I finally broke down and purchase a new desk chair, I wanted the best I could afford. As it turned out, the purchase price was not at all what I…

Good News For Beginning Trumpet Players

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The market is full of band methods and to choose one as the most effective would be a daunting chore and for that reason I will only say that Essential Elements For Band, published by Hal Leonard would be at the top of my list. What measurements are required to single out just one method as the most effective? Let me list a few which I have found helpful. 1. Is the book attractive? When dealing with beginning students, the book’s appearance is very important. Methods which have been around for more than five years tend to be out of…

The New Schagerl “Raven”- The Best Of Both Worlds

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James Morrison explains his newly designed piston/rotary valve trumpet as only he can….. This is my new trumpet from Schagerl – although it looks a bit like a cornet, it is definitely a trumpet. The design comes from my wish to have a rotary valve instrument due to the different articulation you get compared to piston valves. I find the rotary sounds more precise and there is a smaller “dead spot” between when you push the valve and when the next note comes out clearly. This is particularly noticeable when playing quickly in the upper register (something I like to…

What Is A Neti Pot And How Can It Help My Trumpet Playing?

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Neti Pot is its name and NASTY POT is what I call it. The agony and humiliation I go through while using this instrument of torture cannot be overstated. Now that we have addressed all the positives connected with this helpful little item, I will share with you its benefits and the history as to how and why I am currently putting myself through this agony twice a day. It all started when I moved to the Branson, Missouri area. If you are not aware, Branson is located in the Ozark Mountains and surrounded by a National forest. Trees have…

To P.E.T.E or not to P.E.T.E.

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Many have reported advantages when using the P.E.T.E. mechanism. For me it didn’t seem to increase the benefits as advertised. Because of this, I decided to search and experiment with something different and hopefully more beneficial. Known fact #1- Most great trumpet players suggest that the best embouchure requires firmness in the corners of the embouchure. Known fact #2- the P.E.T.E. exercises increase strength towards the center of the embouchure. So what’s wrong with this picture? To illustrate my point, read what my former trumpet teacher, Don Jacoby said about this topic in his book “The Trumpet Method of Don…

Personal Embouchure Training Device Review

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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 Evans in the Ringling Barnum and Bailey Circus. Mr. Evans shared two exercises which had used for building his “chops” while on the road directing the circus. The first exercise begins with a telephone directory. Select about a half inch of pages from the center of the directory. While bending…

The Worst Instructional Video On The Internet

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Continuing in my limited series of disturbing videos I have selected this gem. YouTube has an ever increasing library of self help videos which strive to inform our world on various subjects. Many of these are very helpful and in some cases, they can be very destructive as in the case of this video- Please read this post completely before trying the above instructions. This could possible be the worst instructional video on the internet! If these instructions are followed as described in the video, I can guarantee that you will have ruined your instrument and for that reason, I…

RainX For Problem Valves

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Some time in every trumpet players life they will run into valves which do not function as they should. They may go down but at times will not come back up. Here is a solution to the problem which I have tried and most recently been reminded. I’m starting to play a new show in Branson and I decided last week to switch to a different trumpet than I have been currently using. For our Branson Trumpet Ensemble concerts, I prefer my Bobby Shew horn but decided to get a little more edge for the new show and brought out…

Are Spitballs in Your Future?

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This product has been around for decades and unfortunately, most players do not know much about them. Spitballs are cheap, easy to use and effective in cleaning brass instruments. When these little projectiles first hit the store shelves, the members of our brass quintet (the University of Northern Iowa Faculty Brass Quintet) thought they were a gimmick until we tried them. Our horn teacher at that time decided to inform a group of middle school students to the value of Spitballs and pushed them heavily in a master class one day. The following week we received a letter from the…