Motivation- Where Does It Come From and How Can I Get Some?

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Motivate-verb 1. inspire, drive, stimulate, provoke, lead, move, cause, prompt, stir, trigger, set off, induce, arouse, prod, get going, instigate, impel, actuate, give incentive to, inspirit His hard work was motivated by a need to achieve. 2. stimulate, drive, inspire, stir, arouse, get going, galvanize, incentive How do you motivate people to work hard and efficiently? Most teachers are familiar with this term and are striving daily to prompt this action in their students. Everyone’s life is effected by the amount of motivation they posses. If you are on the low side of this characteristic, you are said to be…

Patching Old Horns For Pennies

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After many years of dedicated service, an instrument can start looking its age. The once bright and shiny surfaces begin to fade and the once shiny silver or polished brass areas where we hold the instrument begins to tarnish. One of your solutions for this situation could be to send it to a repair shop and have the silver redone or have the instrument stripped, polished and covered with a new coat of lacquer ($625). Because of the tight financial conditions of many households as well as the country, I have another solution. Fix it yourself for less than it…

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IN ORDER TO IMPROVING YOUR TONE QUALITY (PART #2)

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I would like to thank all of you who have sent in comments about the first post on Tone Quality. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one interested in this important subject. Now I will continue with Part #2. In the previous post I discussed the difference in sound as well as the visualization of too loose, too tight and the more focused embouchure. Please note that I have intentionally omitted the issue of air in this discussion. When the issue of good tone is brought up, there is always someone wanting to shout “GOOD…

Protecting the Finish of Your Instrument

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In an earlier post I covered the essentials for keeping your brass instrument in good working order. This post will cover the importance of keeping the outer service of your instrument in good shape. Whether you have a silver or gold plated instrument or a lacquered or even bare brass surface, it is important to protect the outside from damage and wear. Bare brass instruments Instruments without plating or lacquer will eventually turn ugly. The reason that bare brass changes with time is the fact that the brass, when exposed to the air over a given period will tarnish and…

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…

Yet Another Toy For Our Trumpet Toy Box

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When will this ever end? There is no question as to the ability of this monumental trumpet player, so when I received an invitation to “Like” a site connected with Arturo Sandoval’s name, I jumped at the opportunity. If you are new to the ever widening trumpet world and have not yet heard of this gifted performer, check him out at this site- Arturo Sandoval For the rest of the trumpet world, we all shudder at the mere mention of his name. So when I heard that the maestro was endorsing a new and revolutionary accessory for trumpet players, I…

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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…

Why Doesn’t The Air Go Out My Nose?

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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 videos.

Practicing In Front of a Computer Screen

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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 sent to them as PDF files. Some may choose to download and print this material so that they are able to practice in the conventional manner, using their music stand to display their material. Some, on the other hand have begun to read their material off the computer screen, thereby…