The use of an audio recorder may seem common place for most for we all have been or have recorded ourselves at one or more times in our lives. Usually we are not happy with the playbacks but that’s life and even what we dislike can be helpful to our development. A straight record and playback is normal but what I would like to suggest are a few tricks which will enhance your playing ability far beyond the simple, record/ play back level. Your recording can be done with various pieces of equipment. I’m sure many of you would not…

Some might ask why video recording is important when preparing a performance and to that I say “Your audience not only has to hear you play but also see you perform”. The video recorder can be a great tool when preparing your recital or any other solo performance for after reviewing your video recording, you will be amazed at how much you really don’t know about your up coming performance. A video recorder will show you how you enter the stage, how you present yourself to the audience as well as let you know what visual bad habits you are…

Ensemble playing has many benefits including attention to pitch, better concept of time and a more musical environment. The problem arises when, at 10:00 PM at night, you decide to call a friend to come over and play duets with you and your only response is a loud click at the other end of the line. Recording yourself playing one or two parts of duets or trios can be very helpful for it forces you to keep time and play in tune. I have used this practice routine for many years and have found it to be very beneficial. Below…

Trumpet players are famous for loud playing and a few are capable of playing soft. But what is loud and what is soft when trying to improve your control of your instrument. If you have ever had the good fortune or misfortune of playing trumpet in a rock band, you may have experienced the high end of the decibel meter. If you have ever played trumpet in a small chamber ensemble, you will have participated in the other end of the scale. The loud volumes usually can be found in the Music Building at the University of North Texas and…

Everyone knows how to use a tuner- “play a note and watch the dial”. There are more efficient ways to check your pitch and I will try to list a couple which I have found helpful through the years (decades). Download free work sheet here- Exercises for Tuning Your Instrument In order to play your tuning note accurately, you first need a reference point and this is what I will first address. How to center your tuning note more accurately. Before you start, you need to know why we use the third space C as the standard tuning note. The…

We are all familiar with the advancements made in technology, but do we take full advantage of the many devices we have? In this first offering, I will list some that I have been able to utilize which have made a difference in my playing ability and with the following post I will describe the methods used to take full advantage of these devices. Video Recording Many might question the importance of video recording your playing, but you must realize that every performance you do is both a visual as well as an audible performance. In my next post, I…