More Interesting Assumptions Proven and Disproven

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In our never ending quest for truths and the American dream, I came across this assertion which sounded very plausible, yet questionable. On one of the more popular trumpet bulletin boards I found a reference to a trick which apparently Mr. Armando Ghitalla was given credit. The writer mentioned in passing that “Ghitalla did a lot of experimenting with paper clips, and various hand fashioned doodads, placing them in the backbore of the mouthpiece and other places”. Now I am not a strong fan of placing paper clips in my instrument but the name Ghitalla raised my interest. If this…

Trumpet Mouthpiece Placement

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“Where should I place my mouthpiece when I play my trumpet/cornet?” The placement of your mouthpiece can be affected in many ways. If you have scare tissue as I do, (a friend through a brick and hit me square on the chops) you will notice that the affected area does not vibrate as other tissues does. If your dental facial structure is less than ideal, (front teeth protrude or are highly irregular) you may encounter more comfortable or less comfortable areas to place the mouthpiece. The position of your jaw will also affect your mouthpiece placement. If the world was perfect…

Features to Consider when Buying a Trumpet- Reprinted from Earlier Post

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When deciding on which trumpet/cornet to buy, there are a few guidelines that need to be addressed. The bottom line cost is one of the most obvious questions for most people. Unless you are interested in the ultimate, hand fitted, custom made, work of art, one of a kind horn, you should expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,500 for a quality instrument. When I speak of the ultimate, one of a kind trumpet, I am reminded of a situation many years ago when a college first told me about  his friend who was making truly one of a kind,…

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Advanced Interval Studies

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The market is inundated with educational material, all guaranteed to improve your trumpet playing ability. And here’s one more to consider. Through many decades of teaching and practicing myself, there have been many methods, etudes and exercises which have been helpful to me and my students. Previous exercises on interval study have centered around the melodic approach to interval study which I feel is not the most effective direction. The reason I took a different approach was to isolate the intervals and in doing so, make the practice much more difficult and at the same time create a more productive…

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What Are The Five Most Often Asked Questions By Beginning Trumpet Players?

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Young Trumpet players seem to ask the same questions on how to improve their playing. Below are some suggestions and consistent in each of the answers are a common thread; Practice and Listen. How can I produce a clear and consistent sound? A trumpet player can produce a clear and consistent tone by focusing on proper embouchure formation, using correct air support, and maintaining a consistent blowing angle. Additionally, proper care and maintenance of the instrument, such as regularly cleaning the trumpet and keeping it in proper playing condition, can also help produce a clear and consistent tone. Practicing regularly…

Current Listing of 38 “Two Minute Trumpet Tricks”

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We began posting our Two Minute Trumpet Tricks on Dec 28, 2021 and our most recent addition numbers #39 (Replacing Valve Corks). During this period, we have had many visitors to our sites and one request was to list all of our Trumpet Tricks in one location so that our readers would have an easier time choosing the trick that interest them the most. Because of that request, we have listed below all of our Trumpet Tricks to make your selection much easier. If you find this listing helpful, please share it with your friends for we are all here…

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Product Review- “flowStick” and “flowDisk” Part 2

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A full week has passed since I began evaluating this product and I have posted my findings below. Advertised claims- True …..“Tool for Brass Instruments- Trumpet, trombone, cornet, French horn airflow and sound True …..airflow training with music and the instrument- The flowStick makes it possible! True …..an airflow you can hear and feel Possible…..The bore of the flowStick is a sophisticated system with blowing edges inside for optimal feedback on the air intensity. True …..flexible for everybody True …..The air consumption with the flowStick can be adjusted individually by turning the screw”.  True …..The air resistance or air consumption can…

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Product Review- “flowStick” and “flowDisk” for Trumpet

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When I first came across this product, I was eager to find out what this item was promoting. After a couple Emails, my questions were to be answered; shortly after its (their) arrival. The following Claims has been recently posted on their Web site. 1.“Tool for Brass Instruments- Trumpet, trombone, cornet, french horn airflow and sound 2.Airflow training with music and the instrument- The flowStick makes it possible! 3.An airflow you can hear and feel 4.The bore of the flowStick is a sophisticated system with blowing edges inside for optimal feedback on the air intensity. 5.Flexible for everybody 6.The air consumption…

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