Possibly The Most Difficult Record Copy Ever Made

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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, was a lengthy (6 minutes 28 seconds) number entitled High Society. To an average listener, the extended Clarinet solo which lasts through seven full choruses might seem excessive but to a fellow musician it has the effect of sheer amazement. The traditional Clarinet solo was recorded by Alphonse Picou and…

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…

Living in the Inseparable Worlds of Art, Music and Drama

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Choosing a title for this post was not easy for what I wished to describe is as fluid as an oil painting, as subtle as a string quartet and as emotional as a masterfully delivery text in a play. From a musical composer, transcriber, or arranger’s standpoint, the choice of instruments in a composition is as important as the colors on an artist’s pallet or an actor’s interpretation of a text. In each case, there is only one perfect combination of elements to produce a perfect finished product. This realization was what prompted me to leave my comfortable bed at…

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March 9, 2023, An Evening to Remember

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When thinking back to memorable events in one’s life, some seem to have a special place in the corners of our memories. One such event now holds that special place in mine. The event was the Dallas Blows Cancer Away Concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Allow me to list a few of the names present on stage that evening. Dallas Symphony Orchestra Dallas Symphony trumpet section Stuart Stephensen Russell Campbell Kevin Finamore Elmer Churampi Allen Vizzutti Jose Sibaja The Canadian Brass Quintet The One O’clock Lab Band from the University of North Texas Alan Baylock Jens Lindemann…

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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My Final Challege For The Use Of Artificial Intelligence

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“My first question”-compare the popularity of the cornet in the United States to its popularity in Europe The popularity of the cornet in the United States and Europe can vary depending on the region and musical style. In the United States, the cornet was widely used in traditional jazz, ragtime, and brass bands in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, with the rise of big band and swing music in the 1930s, the trumpet became more popular and the cornet fell out of use. Today, the cornet is still played in some brass bands and in classical music,…

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Let’s See How Artificial Intelligence Handles Trumpet Related Questions

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Question #1 Who are the top 10 trumpet players in the world? Response “It is difficult to definitively rank the top 10 trumpet players in the world, as this is subjective and depends on personal taste and criteria. However, some highly regarded trumpet players who are frequently mentioned in discussions of the best include: 1.Wynton Marsalis 2.Dizzy Gillespie 3.Louis Armstrong 4.Freddie Hubbard 5.Miles Davis 6.Clifford Brown 7.Lee Morgan 8.Arturo Sandoval 9.Roy Hargrove 10.Clark Terry This list is not exhaustive and there are many other talented trumpet players worth mentioning, including Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, and Nicholas Payton. The trumpet world…

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…

Remembering A Few Of The Greats

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Although they have passed on, their contributions to the Trumpet world cannot be fully appreciated. Whether Classical, Jazz, Symphonic or Pop, their artistry will live on through the ages. Al Hirt was a jazz trumpeter and bandleader from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began playing the trumpet at a young age and later studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He made his professional debut in the 1940s and quickly gained fame for his virtuoso trumpet playing and his ability to play in a wide range of styles, including jazz, pop, and classical. In the 1950s, he formed his own band,…

THE VILLAGES TRUMPET ENSEMBLE

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(This is an update-our original article appeared in The Trumpet Blog on March 31, 2019) The group has experienced a number of changes in the past nearly four years. Sadly, in August 2020 our founder, director, teacher, our friend, Gordon Purslow passed away. The daunting challenge-find a qualified replacement. And, good news-we were fortunate to have Mr. Dave Czohara take the director position. Dave is an experienced, professional with an outstanding background. A retired Navy musician, he is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, and studied privately with several notable teachers, Dave has played professionally with more than…

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