Tips for Practice and Performance

CHECK LIST FOR PRACTICING

• Warm up properly.
• Take in a full breath with some energy.
• Support your sound at all times.
• Listen to your sound.
• High notes are not higher; they are farther out in front of you. Always think about PROJECTION.
• Use a metronome. Time is of the essence!
• Don’t lose concentration every time you make a little mistake or a “flurp.”
• Practice slower and speed up gradually.
• Don’t learn mistakes by practicing too fast.
• Build confidence in your abilities.
• Work for consistency and control.
• Horn up and KEEP it there.  Always play with a good posture.
• Think about the way you look to others when you are playing – always have a confident demeanor.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF AIR AND BREATHING EXERCISES

The most important aspect of playing any wind instrument is getting air through that instrument. I believe that one of the best ways to practice proper use of the air is to do it away from the instrument. When you are practicing with your instrument there are too many other things to do, therefore you don’t concentrate enough on your air.

I have some exercises that I really believe will improve the student’s conception and use of the muscles of the diaphragmatic area. These exercises are designed to make the student completely aware of how to obtain the best use of the air column.   

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BASICS OF LEAD TRUMPET PLAYING

To be an effective lead player, one must have good sound, projection, stylistic concept and time.  Being a lead player means a lot more than just having a good upper register.  A lead player’s main job is to lead the section and to set up interpretation and phrasing for the whole ensemble.  The lead trumpet player is the “concert master” of a big band.  I feel that a great lead player should be the least creative person in the band.  He or she must play everything exactly the same every time the band performs the tune.  Changing the interpretation to fit one’s whim that night takes away from the confidence of the rest of the band.  They all rely on the consistency of a good lead player.

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TEACHING JAZZ PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVISATION CONCEPTS
THROUGH THE USE OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

Knowledge of jazz history as it relates to accomplishment in lead, section work and improvisation, is a key element to student success in jazz.  Teaching from within a chronological order in the development of jazz music proves to be an excellent and enjoyable way to impart understanding about jazz performance.

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THE ROLE OF THE TRUMPET IN TRADITIONAL JAZZ STYLES

The trumpet has always been the “lead” instrument in both New Orleans and Chicago styles of traditional jazz playing.  It is the instrument that carries the melody of most tunes, whether it is a written out arrangement or a tune that everyone knows and is “faking.”  This is largely because the trumpet is a loud and cutting instrument. It allows for the melody to be heard, regardless of what the other “front line” instruments are doing.

Most music in the more traditional or Dixieland idiom has the clarinet playing an “obbligato” part over the trumpet melody, or playing a parallel second part to the trumpet.  The trombone is playing in a “tail-gate” style that in many cases combines part of a bass line and part of a counter melody to the trumpet.

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