Some readers may find this statement strange due to the fact that I am 80 years old and hosting a popular trumpet blog. At this age, shouldn’t I know enough about playing the horn to be self-sustaining in my approach to the instrument? Many would find this assumption plausible but when a person believes that they know it all about anything is when that person ceases to improve.
My first contact with the name Nick Drozdoff was by accident while searching Youtube for material for our blog. The first video I encountered was this one….On Breathing For Trumpet – YouTube
After viewing this demonstration on the actual amount air utilized when playing a high C, my trumpet world was turned inside out for I was told many times that to play a high C, it required around 32 pounds of air pressure. If that were true, I should be able to produce enough air pressure to inflate my car tires! That ain’t going to happen.
With further investigation, I found several other instructional videos by Mr. Drozdoff which piqued my interest and I was completely convinced that this person has much to offer the trumpet world, including yours truly.
After communicating through Email, we both agreed that more information was need to improve some of my short comings and in particular my upper register. Although I have been able in the past to fulfill my responsibilities in a second chair position, I was always just short of the lead chair because of this limitation.
Once I received my copy of Mr. Drozdoff’s Manual “How To Practice The Drozdoff Method”, his insight into how and what to practice began to show substantial results.
Whoever said “You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks” has lost all credibility in the Chidester household.
In our following posts, we will be sharing information about this gifted musician and teacher so that his experience and knowledge as a high school physics teacher and exceptional trumpet player/teacher can benefit you all.
