How To Become A Better “Second Chair” Trumpet Player
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
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…
How Old Should Your Child Be When Starting To Play A Brass Instrument? Part 1
This seems to be a hot topic on the national trumpet bulletin boards and I’m not sure there is a definitive answer to the question. Each individual will have to make his/her own decision on this one. Some young players have been very successful while others have failed miserably at…
High Range Methods- Traditional
I will group the “Old School” approach to improving high range as any method using traditional methods which would include improvement one half-step at a time over a period with constant repetition. The highest note in the entire Arban Method is only a high C. Did you ever wonder why…
High Range Methods- Pedal Tones
The use of pedal tones is like eating Chinese food; you either love it or hate it. I’m not sure who should be given credit for the use of pedal tones but my guess would be that it had something to do with playing the Circus. If you have ever…
High Range Trumpet Methods- Introduction
One of the most asked questions from students is this, “How can I learn to play high notes?” Seldom do players ask how they can improve their tone, endurance or any of the equally important areas of development. While giving clinics both with the faculty brass quintet as well as…
Old Trumpet Players
For those concerned about my current ability on the horn, let me assure you that even at the ripe old age of 78, I still have a few high C’s in my bag of tricks as illustrated by the following recording I did a few years ago shortly after my…
Why Do We Have To Practice?
In two words……we don’t. Why do we have to brush our teeth? In two words……we don’t. But, if we want to play well just as we may want to keep our teeth, we have to do things if we want a favorable outcome. As a young aspiring musician, I spent…
Trick or Treat at the Robson Ranch
Thanks for the photo Corky……
The North Texas Shuffle
While a student at North Texas, I was shown a very helpful trick which I still use every day in my playing. I called it the “North Texas Shuffle” and it goes like this. As we tap out feet, (when allowed by the director) most use one foot to complete…