A More Interesting Way to Learn New Music

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When setting into the task of learning new music, we usually put the sheet music on the stand and continue to bang out the notes until we learn it or start bleeding from the chops. Next time you are faced with this sometimes boring task, try this approach and see if it works for you. I have selected this exercise as our example for it is an exercise one of my beloved grandsons needs to learn for his school; but the concept can be applied to any new music you undertake. Printed sheet music- #102 – Trumpet in Bb Practice…

How to Solve Your Hinge Problems

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Now that you have downloaded your new arrangement for your ensemble, which comes in separate pages (25 to be exact), how do you plan on connecting each part and score? PDF files are great for downloading but when trying to keep page 1 of trumpet 2 with the other trumpet 2 pages can be a problem. Some librarians use plastic binding tape which can get stuck to itself and make a big mess. Some use masking tape stretched from the top to the bottom on one side of the page and still others may try to tape both sides which…

Vladislav Blazhevich 13 Russian Etudes- Free

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This is your lucky week! Now take a look at another outstanding etude collection for trumpet and this time we feature Vladislav Blazhevich’s 13 Russian Etudes. In a tight economy and high unemployment, I will continue to try to find other materials which are available to all on the Internet. Download here- Vladislav Blazhevich 13 Russian Etudes

36 Etudes Trascendantes- Free

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36 Etudes Trascendantes is one of the most often required collection of etudes for trumpet and to find this tremendous collection offered free is an outstanding occasion. I found this downloadable book on line today and am very pleased to share it with my readers. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran, you should have a copy of this fine collection in your library. Download here- 36_Etudes_Trascendantes_-_Theo_Charlier

Match your Tools to the Job

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Some younger players may have questions about the use of instruments other than their normal Bb trumpet or cornet and for that reason I will try to sort out the many trumpets and their primary use in our trumpet world. Bb trumpet By far the most often purchased and used trumpet in this country is the Bb trumpet. Almost all of the trumpet sheet music written today is for the Bb trumpet (cornet). Seldom do music stores handle any trumpet other than the Bb. The Bb trumpet has an easily recognized sound which tends to be mellow in the low…

Last Post From The Dark Side

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I have had a couple inquiries about my PBone and how it has worked out for me and because of these unrelated to trumpet questions, I was hesitant to address any more trombone questions. But, because of the hundreds (actually only a couple) of requests, I have decided to offer some final information on the PBone. Question #1- “Do you like the horn”. Answer- Yes Question #2- “How does the slide work”? Answer- Push it out and pull it in. Question #3- “What do you like best about the horn”? Answer- It’s cheap ($159.00) and weighs only 1.8 lbs. Question…

Music Business Definitions‏

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No explanations needed…. AGENT: a character who resents performers getting 90% of his salary. ARRANGER: a guy who writes to support a drinking habit. BALLET: an art form for people with eating disorders. BANDSTAND: the area furthest away from an electrical outlet. BIG BAND: nowadays, an aggregation consisting of two musicians. BROADWAY PIT JOB: a prison sentence disguised as a gig. CABARET: a venue where singers do songs from shows that closed out of town. CATERER: a man whose hatred for musicians is unrivaled. CHANTEUSE: a singer with an accent and no time. CLASSICAL COMPOSER: a man ahead of his…

Can I Play Cornet Solos On My Trumpet?

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Of course you can. And you could hunt elephants with a 22 caliber rifle also, but I wouldn’t recommend either. How are cornet solos different from trumpet solos? Literature which has been written especially to be performed on a cornet usually follows these characteristics- • Melodies are most often very lyrical and smooth. • Traditionally more vibrato is used in cornet solos. • Cornet solos many times have drastic tempo changes with grandiose retards and sudden accelerandi. • The cornet solo gives more liberties in the musical interpretation than in the trumpet literature. • Most cornet solos draw from a…

Can you cope with quarter tones?

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Our harmonic and melodic system is based on half steps and other systems are based on quarter tones. When we listen to the quarter step system, we are uncomfortable because of this unusual pitch relationship. Our instruments are not capable of playing quarter tones. So why am I posting information on how to perform the imposable? I think you might find the exercise interesting, or even mind altering. Our brass instruments are based on an overtone system which overlaps each fingering series, i.e. open fingering followed by 2, 1, 12, 23, 13, and 123. If you think of each series…