Jazz Is Alive and Well in Sherman, Texas…

written by Bruce Chidester on January 7, 2025

If you have not spent some time in Sherman, Texas, you have missed an event that you would have remembered for the rest of your life. If you are a Jazz fan and have not experienced the amazing collection of Jazz memorabilia in Sherman, Texas, you are not a true Jazz fan! If you think you know a lot about the history of Jazz, you are delusional! I encourage you to experience a true transformation back to the time of the big bands, tight Jazz combos and the legacy, history and “feel” of America’s only true art form. You need…

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Is There A God and Can He Perform Miracles? Part 2

written by Bruce Chidester

After reading our first post, Is There A God and Can He Perform Miracles? Part 1 – Trumpet Blog , some may ask why these miraculous changes occurred? Were they simple coincidences or is there actually power in prayer? Only each individual will be able to answer this question. But,…

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Is There A God and Can He Perform Miracles? Part 1

written by Bruce Chidester

The past year has had many unexpected turns which can test one’s faith and understanding of life. April of last year began unexpectedly when it was discovered that my wife had developed cancer in her right eye. After its extraction we were faced with the saddening fact that the cancer…

Pounding Pain In The Back Of The Brain Continued

written by Bruce Chidester

Read first…. Pounding Pain In The Back Of The Brain – Trumpet Blog Today was a very productive day with a specialist responsible for CT scanning my complete circulatory system. While spending three hours on an examination table in my local Dr’s. Office, I gained additional information on why high,…

Big Mouthpiece or Small Mouthpiece? That Is The Question. Part 3

written by Bruce Chidester

What advantage is there for the use of two mouthpieces? This is a question which comes up often for many times we are faced with contrasting performance styles, i.e. Classical music and Jazz compositions. Generally the Classical music requires a darker, more “legit” timbre and the Jazz music requires a…

Trumpet Equipment

Big Mouthpiece or Small Mouthpiece? That Is The Question. Part 2

written by Bruce Chidester

What constitutes a big or small mouthpiece? There are several areas which can be described as parts of a big or small mouthpiece. • Cup diameter- The distance between inner edge or bite of a cup is described as the cup diameter. • Cup depth- The distance from the top…

Big Mouthpiece or Small Mouthpiece? That Is The Question.

written by Bruce Chidester

This has been a constant decision for all trumpet players. The large mouthpiece gives you a big, dark, rich sound but on the other hand, the small mouthpiece makes the upper register easier to play. I will try to illustrate the advantages as well as the disadvantages when trying to…

Are Spitballs In Your Future?

written by Bruce Chidester

This product has been on the market for many years and my first contact is worth sharing. When first introduced to the brass playing world, the ease of cleaning my instrument with these objects was very appealing to my ears. So, I purchased a jar and ran one or two…

Christmas Special !!!!

written by Bruce Chidester

If you are expecting to program some Christmas songs in the near future, you need to check this special offer out at trumpetensemblemusic.com. We are offering the “Ultimate Christmas Collection” for the special price of $20. This collection will increase in price once the Christmas season is over. In this…

How To Play A Flugel Horn

written by Bruce Chidester

Most trumpet players approach the flugel in the same way they approach their trumpet- put it to your face and blow! Although this works, it might not be the best way to get the most out of your instrument. As I covered in a previous post, the two instruments are…

Who is Jim Morrison?

written by Bruce Chidester

When we speak of great trumpet players, names such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Wynton Marsalis roll from our lips. But how familiar is the name Jim Morrison, and I am not speaking of the member of the famous rock band of the ‘60s; the Doors? If you…

Trumpet Equipment

25 Of the Best Christmas Suggestions For Your Favorite Trumpet Player

written by Bruce Chidester

Christmas is just around the corner and to make your shopping easier for your favorite trumpet player, here are just a few suggestions. $3.00 > $3.99 $5.00 $9.49 $9.99 $10.00 > $10.99 $11.50 .$12.09 $16.99 $19.53 23.99 $24.99 $24.98 $24.99 $24.99 $25.00 Humes & Berg 102 Stonelined Trumpet Cup Mute…

How To Become A Better “Second Chair” Trumpet Player

written by Bruce Chidester

Many years ago I visited with a great trumpet player at North Texas State. His name was Larry Ford. Larry, unfortunately past away at a very early age and we who knew him, miss him greatly. During our visit, I mentioned that I preferred playing second parts over lead parts…

How Old Should Your Child Be When Starting to Play A Brass Instrument? Part 2

written by Bruce Chidester

What mental requirements are necessary before the child should start playing an instrument? When speaking of mental requirements, I am not referring to a mentally challenged or impaired child. I am speaking of the average child with the usual mental capacity. To succeed at any musical instrument, the student must…