jamesmblackwell@gmail.com

Gettin’ My Jazz On with Rogers and Hart’s “Falling in Love with Love”

March 31, 2021 / Leave a Comment / Random Nonsense / By

btb singing

For those of you who know me, you probably know me as a lead trumpet player.

However, learning to improvise in a jazz style is something that’s becoming increasingly more important to me as a musician. Here’s a video me practicing along with Carmen Mcrea’s rendition of Rogers and Hart’s, “Falling in Love with Love.”  Nothing too fancy, just a fair take on where I’m currently at with my jazz playing. …

Gettin’ My Jazz On with Rogers and Hart’s “Falling in Love with Love”Read More »

Arnie Chycoski Lead Trumpet “The Waltz I Blew for You” (Video and Playing Analysis)

April 7, 2021 / 2 Comments / Lead Trumpet, Trumpet Tributes / By

waltz

Last night after everyone had gone to bed, I was laying on the couch listening to jazz. After checking out the normal stuff I dig these days, I got a little bored and asked myself, “what do I really want to listen to?”

Two tunes instantly popped into my head, and the second of which I was able to find online using my phone, so I went with that.

It was Rob McConnell’s recording of “The Waltz I Blew for You,” from the 1980 album “Present Perfect.” Now, if you don’t know about this record, check it out. It’s awesome. This particular chart is fantastic with great solos by Eugene Amaro on flute, Sam Noto on trumpet, and of course, our man Arnie Chykoski is playing his *ss off on lead trumpet. I had this side on LP in college, and listened to it until it melted. Seriously. Those Texas summers are hot. …

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Trumpet Foundations: Video Lessons for Beginning Trumpet Players is Live!!!

March 31, 2021 / Leave a Comment / Random Nonsense / By

Hey Everyone,

I’m excited to announce that “Trumpet Foundations,” a free video course for beginning trumpet players is up and running!

The idea behind “Trumpet Foundations” is to set beginning students on a positive path to grow as trumpet players. I know many of you have been playing for awhile, but if you’d like a refresher on the basics, or if you have any students/educator friends that you think would like to check it out, please pass it along. I hope the lessons will be very useful to lot’s and lot’s of beginning trumpet players for a long time to come.

The course requires a membership (it’s free), so after clicking the link, you will need to create a username and password to login.

Check it out here – TRUMPET FOUNDATIONS or just click the link on the menu above.

Hope all is well!

PS – Thanks for bearing with the technical difficulties the last few days. The plugin I’m using is new for me and there are some bugs to work out on my end.

Mistakes I’ve Made and What Really Worked in 2015

March 31, 2021 / Leave a Comment / BTB Practice Journals / By

red jazz hat

(Was this hat a mistake? You decide)

Hello friends of BTB,

Happy New Year to you, and congratulations on another year successfully completed. I hope it was a good one, and this next even better.

As per tradition, here’s the 2nd annual BTB Year in Review.

Feel free to learn from my mistakes. …

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How to Play More Confidently on Gigs / Dealing with Nerves

November 7, 2021 / Leave a Comment / Performance Psychology / By

Many of us are familiar with the feeling of getting nervous both during, and before an upcoming performance. This can start as soon as we get the call, and what would otherwise be a very good thing, becomes a source of agony.

Long before the show begins, we start getting self-conscious as to how we’ll sound. When we start playing, our hands get all sweaty, and our heart starts pumping. Maybe we crack a note right off the bat. Then another a few bars later. Soon we’re freaking out. Excess tension grips the body, and in an ill-fated attempt to compensate, we start pushing. Of course, this doesn’t work for long, and soon we’ve completely run out of gas…with half a show to go.

We’ve all been there, and it blows.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. So let’s learn how to let some of that worrying go, better enjoy the moment, and play our butts off. …

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The “Ins and Outs” of Breathing for Trumpet Playing

March 31, 2021 / 3 Comments / Playing Tips / Videos / By

breathing for trumpet playing

Breathing for Trumpet Playing

Since the trumpet is a wind instrument, and controlled by the breath, learning to breathe more efficiently will make trumpet playing easier, and help you sound better.

Now while all you have to do is breath in, and then breathe out (through the horn) to produce a tone, the quality of the breath does have a direct effect on your results. …

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June 2015 Trumpet Practice Update

November 7, 2021 / Leave a Comment / BTB Practice Journals / By

Studio Eins

(Studio Eins)

Hi all, just wanted to keep you updated on what’s happening out here in the practice garage.

First off, I have dubbed my practice space “Studio Eins.” I think that means “Studio One” in German. Any German speakers out there that can confirm this?

Podcast!

I had the wonderful opportunity of hanging with my good trumpet-playing, composer friend …

June 2015 Trumpet Practice UpdateRead More »