A More Interesting Way to Learn New Music

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When setting into the task of learning new music, we usually put the sheet music on the stand and continue to bang out the notes until we learn it or start bleeding from the chops. Next time you are faced with this sometimes boring task, try this approach and see if it works for you. I have selected this exercise as our example for it is an exercise one of my beloved grandsons needs to learn for his school; but the concept can be applied to any new music you undertake. Printed sheet music- #102 – Trumpet in Bb Practice…

Looking back On the Last Five Years- Our top 3 Most Popular Topics.

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To celebrate our 5th anniversary of our site, we have decided to post the top three most popular topics. Today we are featuring our second most popular post- HI-R-BY-A-THIRD stands for How to Increase Your Range By A Third This is a new support group just for high note wimps like me and it begins Today! • If you are tired of having other trumpet players laugh at you when you miss the high note at the end of your solo, join our group. • If you have lost jobs because of your limited range and want to play in…

Your assignment for today will be…..

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Your assignment for today will be….. Ear Training Exercise Check it out and for those of you who have perfect pitch, don’t be too boisterous after completing your test. It’s difficult, but we need to be more considerate of others. Enjoy!

How and When To Use A Plunger…..”and which one”?

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Obviously most people know the “When” and “How” use of the common sewer plunger but many trumpet players are not familiar with its use as a trumpet mute. Commercial plungers are available in most well equipped music stores and the offerings on line are numerous. Examples and instruction of the plungers use is available on YouTube as well. The design and cost of such plungers can be confusing and to help you decide on which one to buy or upgrade to is the purpose of this post. The common sewer plunger (small size) is the most widely used. The cost…

EVERYBODY’S A CRITIC!

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Warning! This video contains foul language and intense personal anguish. If you are offended by aggressive, confrontational behavior, do not view this video. If you are underage, do not view this video. If you have ever been attacked by a small man (woman?)on the street when practicing your horn, do not view this video.

The Pros and Cons of Perfect Pitch

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Before we get into the advantages and disadvantages of having perfect pitch, we first need to establish what perfect pitch is. Reprinted from Wikipedia: Absolute pitch (AP), widely referred to as perfect pitch, is a rare auditory phenomenon characterized by the ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of a reference tone. AP can be demonstrated via linguistic labeling (“naming” a note), auditory imagery, or sensorimotor responses. For example, an AP possessor can accurately reproduce a heard tone on their musical instrument without “hunting” for the correct pitch. Researchers estimate the occurrence…

Man’s Obsession for High Notes

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Why are high notes revered by most humans? Dogs run from them and hide. No matter how these tension building noises are generated, most people stand in amazement at their execution. Even when a vocalist sings the Star Spangled Banner, no one listens until they hear the last note screamed an octave higher. What ever happened to good musical taste? This enamorment for the shrill has a long history. Even during the Baroque era, the trumpet players who were able to traverse the upper range of their instrument were admired and well compensated for this ability. Some would say that…

Music Business Definitions‏

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No explanations needed…. AGENT: a character who resents performers getting 90% of his salary. ARRANGER: a guy who writes to support a drinking habit. BALLET: an art form for people with eating disorders. BANDSTAND: the area furthest away from an electrical outlet. BIG BAND: nowadays, an aggregation consisting of two musicians. BROADWAY PIT JOB: a prison sentence disguised as a gig. CABARET: a venue where singers do songs from shows that closed out of town. CATERER: a man whose hatred for musicians is unrivaled. CHANTEUSE: a singer with an accent and no time. CLASSICAL COMPOSER: a man ahead of his…

Practice- What?

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As I mentioned in our previous post, several areas need to be addressed during your daily practice sessions. Download- 60 Minute Practice Routine Warm-up Your warm-up will begin your lip development and I strongly recommend that the first portion should be done on the mouthpiece alone. I have included a short warm-up which includes buzzing on only your mouthpiece (5 minutes). Be sure to produce a full, rich sound on every note. Fill your lungs completely and begin each note with just the air. Do not tongue any of these notes. Arpeggio Exercises Begin these exercises slowly and as you…

Practice- When?

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What difference does it make when you practice? That is a very good question for little has been written on this subject. I will share some of my feelings on this in hopes that you can gain some insight into the affects of practicing at various times throughout the day. What is the best time of the day to start practicing? The best time of the day to start practicing is early in the morning. Your schedule will dictate if this is possible but if scheduling is not an issue and you could plan out your whole day around practicing,…