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…
If I have offended any of my politically correct readers, I apologize and now on with my post. I recently attended one of the most unforgettable jazz concerts of my lifetime. I have had the pleasure of being in attendance at some of the great jazz band concerts including Duke…
Some may remember my first post (How to place your mouthpiece in your horn) which was written to disprove a practice which stresses the importance of placing your mouthpiece in the proper position to benefit your consistency in playing. This practice is called “Clocking” and the reference to positioning your…
One of the more difficult requirements of trumpet players is coming in on a note with very little reference points. To become more accurate, I have found that isolating notes and playing them short tends to make the player more conscious of where the note must be played. In this…
The name Vaughn Nark may not be on everyone’s list as an outstanding trumpet player but he should be. Here is a short background from Wikipedia on this remarkable player; Originally from Mt. Carmel, Penn. Nark began playing the trumpet at the age of six. His father Leon, also…
Trumpet players seldom admit to failure mainly because of their inflated egos. It truly takes a big man to actually admit to an occasional faux pas on their instrument. So to lighten my soul and get it out in the open, I will share with the world my two…
If you think you know your scales, you might want to reconsider! Enjoy…. IMSLP187790-WIMA.90ef-JazzModes
Now that question does not come up often but if and when it does, you need to be prepared. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia- “A shofar (pron. pronounced (Sho-far) is an ancient musical horn typically made of a rams’s horn, used for Jewish religious purposes. Like the modern bugle, the shofar lacks …
Definition of the term “Comeback Player”; A return by a well-known person, especially an entertainer or sports player, to the activity in which they have formerly been successful. We are all aware of the application of the term “comeback player” when speaking of sports, but are you also aware that…
Many of us have dabbled with Pedal Tones during our stint as trumpet players so this post may be an eye opener for many of you. It was for me when I discovered this anomaly. During a return to Claude Gordon’s wonderful collection of trumpet lessons, Systematic Approach to Daily…
