Have you ever been to a live show and wondered if the music was actually live or were you listening to a recording and the musicians were only pretending to play? I am constantly asked this question and it brings up a very heated discussion each time. Lip sinking and the use of prerecorded tracks have been discussed for many years. The first time I was exposed to the practice was many years ago while playing a Holiday On Ice show. The band was doing what bands do and the leader bent down to ask if we needed a break.…

To most people, the question of how one should play the rhythms in Ragtime music seldom comes to mind. In my case, I know how it should be played but have doubts that it truly needs to be played correctly. To address this dilemma, I will explain the differences and why I choose to perform Ragtime music incorrectly. A brief history of Ragtime music 00:101 Ben Harney first introduced his style of broken rhythms from Africa to the public in his compositions which he called ragtime songs. These songs were more casual than the European music enjoyed at that time…

And then there is the rest of us………

No explanations is need for this entertaining animation. The question would be, “How many of your trumpet playing friends remind you of the lead player”?

Three Good Reasons Why You Should NOT Practice Long Tones! 1. They are boring. 2. They tend to build stiffness in your chops. 3. No one ever pays to hear long tones. Now that I have angered most of the trumpet players reading this post, I need to explain my thinking on the abolishment of long tones. Long Tones Are Boring- No one in their right mind would argue this statement. Playing long tones is like watching paint dry. Even the non-musician questions one’s mental capacity when they hear someone play twenty minutes on long tones. Usually their comment is,…

The Kids of Cateura and their “Recycled” Orchestra After you have viewed the video, I think you will get their message. And we complain about not being able to get another trumpet.

To most people my age, and there still are a few left, this cry from the masked man mounted on his pure white horse named silver, brings back fond memories of earlier times. To the younger people, it means there is a new motion picture in town and many may wonder if it is worth spending money to see it. My wife and I saw the film and loved it. All reports we read indicated that it was going to be a bomb and we were pleasantly surprised when we saw it. If you are looking for a truly authentic…

Once again I have showcased an exceptional trumpet ensemble from France. Please welcome the wonderfully talented trumpet ensemble “Trombamania”. The following information was translated from their web site…. For nearly 15 years Trombamania has created his own vision of chamber music. As confirmed by all the awards at international competitions, Trombamania cultivates a unique and dynamic style, enriched with various artistic collaborations. After two universally recognized by the public albums, all is needed both in France and on the international scene (Europe, Asia, USA) as a leading group. Trombamania parallel leads many educational activities, meeting, exchanging, sharing his experience with…