An Alternate Fix for Low D and C# We all know that low D and its neighboring C# are sharp and we all know that to play in tune, we are told to push either or both the third slide and or the first slide out in order to solve this intonation dilemma. At least we are supposed to. What if there was another less gymnastic way to correct the problem. But wait, someone has found a better way and due to the fact that I am responsible for this simple solution, I will tell you how it works. Try…

Many trumpet players find it difficult to perform upward slurs smoothly without catching all the notes between the bottom and top note. Most feel it necessary to crescendo into the top note when in fact, “it is easier to slur up using a decrescendo”. This seems contrary to nature and for that reason I have included exercises to help you with the problem. The first time I was shown this easier way to smoothly slur up was during a lesson I had with a great trumpet teacher and good friend, Mr. John Beer at the University of Iowa in Iowa…

Becoming excellent in any field requires a great deal of time and effort and becoming a great trumpet player is no exception. Contrary to many opinions found today in the media; to only have the desire to succeed is many times not enough to accomplish your goal. I will address the several technical areas of trumpet playing and make suggestions as to how you may be able to gain skills in each and thus become a better musician. The Lip Trumpet players depend on lip and facial muscles to perform their art and for that reason; they must develop both…

Errors in Sight Reading Sight reading can frighten players due to the uncertainty of the unknown. I tend to enjoy sight reading new shows live because of the rush of adrenaline and the uncertainty of what might happen. You should also know that I enjoy catching five foot long snakes, racing motor cycles and photographing bears close up. To a younger performer the only opportunity one has in school to sight read is usually during a band contest where each band is expected to read new music for the first time. The amount of pressure on each player in this…

Nervousness I would list nervousness as the most difficult condition to overcome when striving for perfection in your performances. Some people thrive on the added excitement while others fold under the pressure. Between these two extremes we find most of us constantly testing our limits. Playing in a nervous condition can be the result of many factors including the conditions listed in the first post in this series. Let me reintroduce those situations now- 1. Lack of preparation. 2. Lack of concentration. 3. Physical limitations. 4. Distractions 5. Fatigue 6. Equipment failure. 7. Environment changes Each of these factors can…

Environmental changes-Conditions and changes in conditions many times will lead to playing errors which we had not considered or prepared for. You might ask what kind of environmental changes could occur and I will list a few. Environmental changes- 1. Weather This is a true story. The names have been included in order to illustrate how stupid some trumpet players can be. I accepted a playing job which was scheduled the day before I was to perform the Joseph Haydn Trumpet Concerto on campus. As it turned out the gig was outside in subzero weather where the mouthpiece stuck to…

Physical limitations “Not all horses are race horses” This was one of the many comments given to me by a former boss while teaching at UNI. This came from my first employer by the name of Dr. Myron Russell. I respected this older gentleman in many ways. He was intelligent, kind, honest, and fair in all he did. I miss his conversations and his wit and this statement was one of those simple comments which could change a person’s outlook on everything. The statement “not every horse is a race horse” can apply to trumpet players also. Not every trumpet…

Concentration We have all been there when at a moment of weakness, our mind wanders to something other than what we are doing and disaster strikes. This could be while driving a car, installing a new light switch or it could be in the middle of a perfectly good solo. The lack of concentration can be caused from many reasons but the most common is shear laziness. Concentrating on anything takes practice and concentration. To become more proficient, we need to spend some time practicing it as much as any other ability. What do the Yoga’s say? Yoga is a…

Learn Your Material Too often we think that we know our solo or orchestral passage and wonder why we made an error on the concert. A wonderful measurement of how well you are prepared for a solo or exposed part in a concert is to use this test. Are you able to play your material ten times in a row without making a mistake? Most of us are content to play the passage one time without error. This is not an example of being prepared. Being able to play it correct one time means that you are now ready to…