Trumpet Matters

Here's a non brilliant idea for your practicing during these summer dog days. You might find it useful. Close your eyes and just play....

The orchestra has tuned.  The maestro bows, and the baton slowly descends. The music says pianissimo.  It's time for drama, not trauma...

A full bow is our full blow.  Often a good picture is our best instructor.  The violinist's fully extended bow arm reminds us that a f...

Which is worse, physical pain or mental anguish?  Many would say the latter? Smooth sailing is occasionally met with sudden and unexpected...

Thoughts matter.  As the brain dictates, the body responds. What are you feeding your brain?  If we are constantly downloading the negativ...

When asked how he would like posterity to remember him, Bud Herseth replied, “as a fairly decent guy who gave it his best every time he ...

So many fine musicians share one huge problem, they play the trumpet. Oh to be able to perform all that the brain and the heart intends wi...

Hey, Doc, it's happened again, another nasty case of the goo, trumpet doldrums big time.  I need help now!  Seriously, this is the w...

Why do we get so easily discouraged in the practice room?  Not long after those first notes are sounded we find a reason to think, "T...

Vacchiano used to say, "nowadays, trumpet players know too much to make a mistake."  We have been trained with all the informat...

In auditions winners are usually noticed quickly, like from their first notes!  So why tiptoe into the music?  Why not jump right in and m...

CSO Principal Trumpet Robert Sullivan led an excellent master class last week at CCM.  It was all quality with not a wasted minute, an esp...

There you are, all set to go, and now this !!  Oh, those unexpected and unplanned for bumps in the road that effectively stifle anything p...

Wow, what a dream house! There it is in its impressive location, high, mighty, and seemingly impervious to the ravages of nature.  But wha...

"What happened?  I could play last night, but now nothing works!  I've been playing up a storm all week, but now this! What's...

What good is a very flashy line of music if the sound of most of the notes stinks?  If sound matters, why not try for the same sound quali...

What constitutes a great lesson?  Is it one that leaves you really impressed with your teacher, or one that gets you totally pumped, or is...

Three things ought to be your focus as you prepare for a performance.  Your audience wants to hear a message , a line , and a pulse . Be ...

Imagine a fine restaurant that had no menus.  There would simply be no balanced or nutritious suggestions ever offered. You just pull up a ...

The word for today is fluster-proof !  It is that skill or temperament that marks you as incapable of being flustered.  Look at you!  No ...