Equipment failure
Fortunately the number of equipment failures can be listed on one hand so solving these issues can be easy to cover.
List of possible equipment failures-
1. Valves will stick, period (THIS IS A RECENTLY USED WORD REVIVED FROM OBSQURITY BY YOUR PRESIDENT).
The number of times a valve has hung up a trumpet player would be hard to estimate but I’m sure it is in the tens of thousands when you consider the number of trumpet players performing. A stuck or “hung-up” valve can not only produce the wrong note but will also hang on the players mind as to when it will happen again. The solution to this problem is not as easy as it might sound for even when oiling your valves before entering the stage, it does not mean that a stuck valve will not happen. Sometimes dirt, lint, grunge or other material can work loose from tubing and lodge in a valve while you are playing.
Do not clean your instrument the night before you are to perform. It is better to clean your instrument several days before your performance to prevent the possibility that you may dislodge dirt which may get into your valves. The act of cleaning your instrument will improve your chances of things working their way into your slides and it will also make a difference in how your horn will perform. I remember a student when asked the last time he had cleaned his horn and his response was, “last week”. I knew this was not true and marched him down to the instrument repair room to run a cleaner through his horn. The amount of garbage which exited his instrument would make a horse regurgitate. After returning to my studio to continue his lesson we found that his upper register had been lowered by a fifth and his tone had greatly improved. Take my advice and clean several days before unless you enjoy finding that your range has been decreased by a fifth.
2. Water key accidents.
Seldom do we ever think about our water key for what could go wrong? Play a note on your instrument and while playing, open your water key. I’m that sure in some obscure “1960 New Art Music” someone could find this affect written in a part but for the average listener, it’s not something one looks forward to hearing. In a situation of a failed water key, you will not have time to whip out a new one and repair the spring during a four bar rest. My advice would be to keep a rubber band handy where you could quickly rap one around your water key and continue with your material.
3. The music stand from hell.
Manhasset music stands are the stands of choice by most musicians and are famous for dependability and versatility as well as split lips, dented foreheads and audience laughter during concerts. As you decide to raise your stand just a smidgen (THIS IS A RECENTLY USED WORD REVIVED FROM OBSQURITY BY YOUR PRESIDENT DURING THE BILL O’REILLY INTERVIEW), the top of the stand comes loose and your music and stand shoot into the air. It’s not the stand’s fault. Every stand needs to be maintained but few receive such care. Before you perform, check to make sure the stand you will be using goes up as well as down easily and the upper part is tightly secured to the adjusting pole.
Another use of a music stand is to support the assortment of mutes you will be using while you perform. My advice to this misguided habit is this, “DON’T”. If the stand fails you and dumps all of your mutes on the floor during a recital, I guarantee you the only thing people will remember about the evening will be the mutes. It is much safer to barrow a percussionist’s table to support your mutes for they will be much more secure than if placed on a music stand.
4. Check the lighting before starting your program.
This is an important issue which should be one of your first priorities before you begin your program. All the work you have put into your recital means nothing if you are unable to read your music because of an ill positioned spotlight.
5. Check your chair position when performing with an orchestra.
Last Summer I had the good fortune to perform in a wonderful orchestra and had the chance to play a few solo measures on cornet. All went well on every rehearsal and I was looking forward to the concert. At least until I was re-positioned behind an overly squirmy bassoon player. Each time I re-positioned my chair to more easily view the conductor, the %#@*$# bassoon player would anticipate my move and repeatedly move to a new blocking position. Even as I played my little cornet solo I was still ducking and bobbing to see our conductor. The best advice I can give you in this scenario is to include super glue in your trumpet case for problems such as this.
6. Don’t forget to select a comfortable chair.
A dear friend of mine who played and taught trombone at our university would spend several minutes before every rehearsal, trying every chair on stage until he found one which had the correct angle to the back of chair. When one was not acceptable to his liking, he would set his trombone down on the floor and begin to pound the chairs back into submission. After several poundings, the chair would finally give up and agree to the angle my fellow musician liked.
Some chairs can be a real problem so do not minimize the importance of your comfort as you perform.
7. Tape your pages together.
I have seen too often a musician turn a page of their music and find that they are on the wrong page because their pages were out of order. It only takes a few minutes to prepare each page in the proper order and those few minutes may save all the work you have done in preparation for your performance.
8. Back to the %#@&*^+#$@ music stands.
“NEVER PLACE AN INSTRUMENT ON A MUSIC STAND”. Don’t even think about it. And don’t place an instrument on a piano. Piano players usually scold you by saying “This is an instrument not a table”. To which you are not supposed to respond with “That’s funny, you play it like one”. The response to that comment is a silent one where the pianist quickly lifts the lid and smiles as your instruments slide to the floor. ADVICE: Do not anger a piano player, they have ways………
I have personally experienced all of the above situations and this last entry will be left open for anyone else to contribute. Let me know what equipment failure you have experienced which led to mistakes in your performance.
