A shofar (pron. /ʃoʊˈfɑːr/, from Hebrew: is an ancient musical horn typically made of a ram‘s horn, used for Jewish religious purposes. Like the modern bugle, the shofar lacks pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player’s embouchure. The shofar is blown in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and at the very end of Yom Kippur, and is also blown every weekday morning in the month of Elul running up to Rosh Hashanah. Shofars come in a…
With the support of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, this ensemble took part in the 1988 International Competition for Brass Quintets in Narbonne, France, where it won first prize. The quintet has played a major role in expanding the modern repertoire of brass quintets. Since its founding, it has…
My response to the discussion posted on TPIN There seems to be a flurry of excitement on the TPIN site about the comfort of your lip or the “rest as much as you play” discussion, and for that reason, I would like to add to the discussion. Everyone would like…
Musical employment can take many forms. Some musicians spend their careers in symphony orchestras. Some make a living performing in theaters in New York and Las Vegas, and some may find employment on the road with big bands. In each case, the thrill and sometimes disappointment is worth all of…
For those who have not had much music theory, I hope this may answer some of your questions. If you still have questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section and I will try to answer them. Basic Music Theory
I was reminded of something I observed several decades ago, but unfortunately I forgot it until this past week. “The more condensation you generate, the better you are playing”. To many of you this statement makes no sense at all. To some, this statement will generate some questions and to…
You might ask why I was so bold to make that statement and I will defend my words with this observation which began more than three decades ago in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 1. Chromatic scales are the most gradual intervals on any instrument. 2. Equal amounts of playing and resting…
Today I was scheduled for a nuclear stress test by my heart doctor. This is common for anyone having a heart attack but today did not go as well as I had hoped. For those who have not had the pleasure of this life changing experience, let me share with…
From time to time I will post recordings of live concerts which need to be shared. This is one of them. Charles City, Iowa has always been one of the very best music programs in Iowa and possibly in the country. I hope you can appreciate the level of music…
As a Transcendental Meditation practitioner, I ran across something very helpful while trying to improve your musical ear training. Hearing, recognizing and duplicating a pitch on your instrument is what we will be demonstrating. Step 1. Bring up this YouTube site-tep 1.
12 Best Flugelhorn Reviews and the Best Flugel horn Brands And now for my review of this instrument. Based on a 5* rating Materials- **** Workmanship- **** Finish- ***** Mechanics- *** Valves- *** Weight- *** Feel- *** Response- *** Intonation- **** Threading on Valves and Valve caps- * Original Mouthpiece-…
In order to keep our readers up to date on new products and new ideas, we try to get our hands on products for review and evaluation and this is one of those cases. A good friend and fellow musician recently purchased a new Hawk Flugelhorn and I asked to…
