Trumpet Matters

Mel Broiles once claimed at my trumpet lesson that there is only one thing that separates a good student from a pro.  Any Juilliard trumpet...

Does your playing need a good tuneup?  How's your tone, intonation, accuracy? Has it gotten a bit shabby over the summer? Well, there...

How would listeners to your daily practice sessions describe what they hear? Would they say you are insanely amazing, or amaz...

One phrase can be better than a thousand words, and more memorable! Years ago an orchestra colleague was commenting on Maurice Andre...

"You have two trumpets, one in your hand, and one in your brain."  Train the one in your brain first. (Arnold Jacobs)  The aud...

Which is best, rhythm from your mind or rhythm from your gut? Answer: both, but one is preferable! Is your rhythm mental or instinctive? ...

JUNK-ELIMINATORS: 1. My first notes of the day will be pure quality.  2. I will play slow enough to be accurate and clean. 3. I...

You have arguably only one goal when practicing or performing, and that is quality control. Whether the notes are long or short, low or hi...

An audition can be like a snarling bear who seeks to maul each contestant daring to step onto the stage.  All it takes to get him provoked...

What does this little guy have in common with a principal trumpet player getting ready for rehearsal number #18 in Zarathustra ? Or how ab...

"Ladies and gentlemen: Thank you for your participation in today's orchestra audition. Unfortunately the committee informs me tha...

Musicians must have an impressive wardrobe ready for all occasions.  Their back stage lockers are crammed with all manor of snazzy outfi...

Clogged pipes? Call ROTO-ROOTER! Clogged arteries? Call for an angioplasty! Clogged notes? Same strategy.  Clear out the pipes, and fill...

"So, how did your audition go?"   "Pretty well, in my opinion. I hardly missed a note, but the committee wasn't impre...

What does a pizza have in common with a practice session?  Both should be cut up into many manageable slices, and gorging should be avoided....

There they sit, that great and powerful audition committee lurking behind that huge screen.  Each judge wields with great authority his or...

Winning an audition is not about staying calm and avoiding mistakes.  It's about presenting an impressive musical product, one that wi...

Got an audition coming up?  Tired of fretting and wondering what the committee will think of you?  You know what?  Who cares! Try injectin...

Does your practice room feel like a prison cell?  Is your espressivo about as exciting as Buster Keaton's deadpan stare?  Need a get-...

Too much thinking about your playing can be just as bad as too little. Both can end poorly. A performance can be crippled by over-thinking...