Concerts Past and Present

written by Bruce Chidester on May 4, 2025

One blessing which I recognize for its importance in my life is the ability to remember many of the concerts I have been involved with. Some are remembered for their success and some for the disaster that incurred. Some are recalled for their importance and some for just the sheer pleasure of their moments in time. In this post I will speak of three ensembles I have had the great pleasure of performing with. The first was from the distant past, the second midway through my life and the third which was performed only a week ago. Earliest Concerts- The…

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Free Sheet Music for Trumpet

written by Bruce Chidester

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Das Flugelhorn

written by Bruce Chidester

The flugelhorn has an interesting history that traces back to military and brass band traditions in Europe, with roots that intertwine with the evolution of other brass instruments. Early Origins The name “flugelhorn” comes from the German word Flügel, meaning “wing” or “flank.” It was originally used in the 18th…

What are the differences between trumpets, cornets, piccolo trumpets and flugelhorns?

written by Bruce Chidester

Trumpets, cornets, piccolo trumpets, and flugelhorns are all part of the brass family and look quite similar at first glance, but they each have unique characteristics that make them suited for different styles, ranges, and tones. Here’s a breakdown of their main differences: 🎺 Trumpet Key: Most commonly in B♭.…

Blog # 1,002- Thank You All for Following thetrumpetblog.com

written by Bruce Chidester

This post has been listed as our 1,002 Post and to all who have followed us through the years, “Thank You”. We would like to thank our readers for their continued support and send a special thank you to these sites who have also supported our postings through the years.…

Clocking Mouthpieces- A Practice from the Past

written by Bruce Chidester

My first introduction to clocking a brass instrument mouthpiece began several decades ago when I was returning home from Willard Elementary School in Moline, Illinois. On the way home I stopped at a local gas station to visit with its owner. That day I happened to be lugging my Olds…

Substantiating Evidence That All Trumpet Mouthpieces are Not Equal (or consistent).

written by Bruce Chidester

In a previous post, I addressed the practice of “Clocking” your mouthpiece (“Clocking” Your Mouthpiece Part #2 – Trumpet Blog (thetrumpetblog.com). At the end of my post, I admitted to the possibility that rotating one’s mouthpiece can and did change the sound as well as a resistance factor. In the…

Musician Humor

written by Bruce Chidester

From time to time I am sent musician jokes from friends and I thought these were worth posting. A seasoned musician will understand clearly what is going on for we have all been there. Enjoy. A very intense, self-absorbed saxophone player is sitting at the bar after playing all night.…

Practicing on the Road

written by Bruce Chidester

Much discussion has been raise over the noise factor when practicing on the road and for that reason I wanted to give just another suggestion for solving this problem. Next week I will be on one of our vacations and because of the luggage limitations, I will not be able…

The Great American Shoot Out Part 5- String Trio vs. Brass Trio

written by Bruce Chidester

In our ever-continuing struggle to gain prominence in the world of instrumental performances, I have now posted the 5th in our series entitled “The Great American Shoot Out” which compares music written for various ensembles and solo instruments to the technical ability of the Trumpet. Vivaldi composed this number (La…

The Best Tongue XRay

written by Bruce Chidester

If you ever wondered what was going on in your mouth while playing your Trumpet….. Check this out …..and Trombone.

Required Listening Assignment

written by Bruce Chidester

As the interest in Trumpet choirs continues to grow, some ensembles seem to occupy the highest level of professionalism. Such is the case for the San Luis Obispo County Trumpet Alliance and their most accomplished director Warren Balfour. I have had the pleasure of knowing and following this remarkable ensemble…

Possibly The Most Difficult Record Copy Ever Made

written by Bruce Chidester

One of my all-time favorite Dixieland groups was Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen. A list of their successes in the early 1960s would include the following- Midnight in Moscow, The Green Leaves of Summer, Sukiyaki, Hello Dolly and When I’m Sixty- Four. But the most impressive recording in my opinion,…

How to Play a Low F in Tune

written by Bruce Chidester

Not often, but enough to learn this trick, we are asked to play a low F. Usually it is required by someone who knows nothing about our instrument or acceptable orchestration practices. Or, in the case recently, where I arranged a number which required the first trumpet to exceed what…