Howdy trumpet-folks,
I hope everyone is staying safe, healthy and making the most of a world with no gigs. With summer starting…tomorrow, I figure it’s about time to release BTB’s RoutineTracker for the Spring of 2020. Inside you’ll find all the usual stuff along with a couple of fun videos.
Technical Routine and Playing Fundamentals
For the past nine years I have obsessed over the mechanics of trumpet playing.
The general process has been one of reading, thinking, experimenting and dedicating a lot of time, physical and emotional energy to boring and repetitive exercises aimed at the fundamentals. As far as my trumpet playing goes, most of this effort was probably in vain. Although, each wrong direction brought it’s lessons.
While I undoubtedly learned a ton about trumpet playing, in many ways I was pretty much just beating myself up for a handful of years trying to figure this thing out. And to be completely honest, it made me more aware of my mortality than anything else. The overall pattern seemed to go a little something like this:
Practice, practice, practice. Some sort of repetitive strain injury. Deep, darkened hole of depression – then a wake-up call and rehab. Finally, I’d have a good chop day. This would begin a hyper-motivated practice streak headed straight toward the next injury.
Even though I knew this was happening, I couldn’t pull myself away from the routine. Remember, I was obsessed. But recently, after taking a lesson with one certified trumpet-stud, he instilled in me the courage to set the fundamentals aside and spend the bulk of practice time exploring the instrument musically.
Since then, the majority of my practice time – which all-in-all hasn’t been much – is spent either improvising with the metronome or playing along with records (see below). This is helping me to regain the ‘singing’ quality of playing that I lose from time to time by getting caught up in the details.
I’m also making it a point to focus on the feeling of my whole body while playing, rather than micro-managing the chops. That, and reminding myself to look and play out front. Like I said, focusing on the embouchure did garner a huge amount of awareness, but I finally feel ready to come back out to the big picture and play. Along those line, this YouTube clip of the great Chuck Findley has been hugely motivating. He’ amazing.
–
Chuck Findley tearing it up.
–
There are a few things about this video that strike me:
First, that I love every second of it and am enamored with Chuck’s playing.
Second, his tone. Chuck’s tone sounds remarkable both as a soloist and soaring over the band. I find it very inspiring and something to move toward. As such, Chuck is my new ‘tonal model’ while practicing improvisation. Not only his sound, but also the general feeling I get about how he plays. Basically, he hits the horn hard and I love it.
New Embouchure and Lead Trumpet Lesson
Something else new – and that I’ve been able to dedicate to and take massive advantage of during this Covid bullshit – is my third *new* playing embouchure. I ended up here after essentially destroying my face with the Cat Anderson teeth-closed playing. It feels like there’s a lot of potential to this set, I just don’t have much range on it yet.
If you’re curious, check out the video below where I demonstrate the differences and give a brief intro to teeth-closed trumpet playing. This video is also a lead trumpet ‘lesson’ where I basically just have some fun playing along with a Terry Gibbs Dream Band recording – all on the new chops.
Obligatory Finley (No relation to Chuck)
That’s it on this end. I hope you are doing well and enjoying some down-time. I’ll send you off with this gem. Feast your eyes and ears on young trumpet-man Finley Blackwell. He’s killing the game playing along with one of his favorite Maynard recordings.
Take care and feel free to drop a line in the comments below.
–
James,
Thanks for all of your posts! Hope you’re hanging in there during these crazy times.
I can definitely relate to much of what you have said. I felt like I went through heavy analytical thinking through high school and college. I became obsessed with excersizes to the point that I wouldn’t ever have time, or energy, to practice actual repertoire/music. All of my teachers at UNT said contrasting things, and by the end of my time at school, I felt like I couldn’t even play simple songs. Like you, I would go through spurts of success, but it was always a roller coaster emotionally and physically.
I eventually studied with Bobby Burns, a student of Bill Adam, and started to practice with a more musical approach. In fact, I eventually stopped playing excersizes all together, and just played through simple etudes and gig repertoire. I scheduled heavier practice days and lighter ones. My goal everyday was to not focus on how so much on how I sounded, but how I wanted to sound. To make a long story short, Im still going through this process with much success and more joy. However, to be honest I find myself going back to excersizes, but not because I feel like they help me, but because I’ll end up on social media watching all these great trumpet players talk about their routine, and I feel like I might be missing out.
When I find myself struggling to stay course, I like to remind myself of how I think kids learn best. I feel that they learn by having fun, engaging experiences that are meaningful. Therefore, I try and improve my trumpet technique by practicing through music that is fun and challenging. On the days the chops are tired, I play through “easier” music.
Anywho, just some food for thought. I encourage you to keep posting. I looked up to you alot in college, and now. It’s nice to know even someone as great as you is still figuring things out. Stay safe!
– David
Hey David, great to hear from you. Thanks for posting this and sharing your experience. Been awhile, eh? That’s great you hooked up with Bobby – he’s a total beast. Insane chops and sound. Anyways, take care man and stay in touch. You still in TX?
James,
Yes, Bobby is awesome! He had lived in Texas for a bit, so I got lucky to cross paths with him. Yep, still here in Texas!