If you would like more information about Keith Fiala's book, or online trumpet lessons please visit: Brass Player Solution
There have been books written about all facets of playing the trumpet. Whether you want to learn better technique, better range, jazz improvisation, flexibility, or tonal control, you can find it.
What makes the choices difficult for the student is how clearly does the author speak to you? Many of the books are written in vague terms that may be clear to the author but not to the reader. And when it comes to trumpet playing, there is tons of confusion already involved for most players.
By reading about the author, you may be able to get a better idea of how they communicate. Is what they say clear, or do they go in to extreme boring detail? Do they use confusing terms, explanations, or say things that logically just don't make sense?
For instance - in the H.L. Clarke Book there is a statement that says "You will not need to strain on the high notes if you keep your lips flexible and avoid playing too loudly." What does that statement say to you? Does it tell you to not tighten your lips and use your air? Is it clear? It wasn't clear to me for over 20 years... This does NOT mean that the Clarke Studies isn't a great book, because it's one of the best written trumpet books that's ever been published. But it does mean that the reader will have to read the writing very carefully and find a teacher who understands what that statement is saying.
Is the author available? What I do is make myself readily available for any purchasers to be able to ask questions.
Take a good look in to "Secrets to Efficient Brass Playing" if you really want clarity on playing high range notes on trumpet!
Go to Brass Player Solution
Keith Fiala / Anna Romano
Showing posts with label online trumpet lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online trumpet lessons. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Trumpet - The Heroes That Inspired Us
As far back as I can remember, trumpet playing was something that I wanted to do. My Uncle and his son both played, so by age 4, I was hooked! Not being allowed to start until I was between my 3rd and 4th grade year, it was something that I wanted more than words could say. But who really listens to a child that young...
As I got a bit older, I was introduced to trumpet players that became my hero's. Growing up in that era (70's & 80's), the internet was science fiction to most everyone, so these artists still had that certain untouchable / super star quality to them. I could listen to them on purchased records and tapes, but would have to wait for them to come through or at least close to my home town.
Trumpet players these days are literally a click away... even the super hero's of the past are readily available through the advent of the internet and You Tube. So resources to these players are very close by, and yet, are a fading memory. I was fortunate to grow up in the era that I did, as I got to hear many great artists live.
In 2004, I received the chance to tour with my ultimate super hero, Maynard Ferguson. I had followed him since as far back as I could remember. His name was always flying around both at home and at school because of his trumpet playing abilities. His command of the upper register and of the music were captivating! Sadly, we lost Maynard in 2006 to cancer... leaving a huge hole in the universe of trumpet players!
Today's heros such as Wayne Bergeron, Eric Miyashiro, Roger Ingram, Bobby Shew and countless others really need to be recognized and celebrated. Music and the arts have been morphed into something that is commercialized and less about the art itself. Jazz trumpet players sell less albums, and have fewer and fewer opportunities to play because of this. Find a trumpet super hero!
If you are a driven trumpeter and want to improve your trumpet playing, go to Brass Player Solution to find resources that are both honest, and simplified.
Keith Fiala
As I got a bit older, I was introduced to trumpet players that became my hero's. Growing up in that era (70's & 80's), the internet was science fiction to most everyone, so these artists still had that certain untouchable / super star quality to them. I could listen to them on purchased records and tapes, but would have to wait for them to come through or at least close to my home town.
Trumpet players these days are literally a click away... even the super hero's of the past are readily available through the advent of the internet and You Tube. So resources to these players are very close by, and yet, are a fading memory. I was fortunate to grow up in the era that I did, as I got to hear many great artists live.
In 2004, I received the chance to tour with my ultimate super hero, Maynard Ferguson. I had followed him since as far back as I could remember. His name was always flying around both at home and at school because of his trumpet playing abilities. His command of the upper register and of the music were captivating! Sadly, we lost Maynard in 2006 to cancer... leaving a huge hole in the universe of trumpet players!
Today's heros such as Wayne Bergeron, Eric Miyashiro, Roger Ingram, Bobby Shew and countless others really need to be recognized and celebrated. Music and the arts have been morphed into something that is commercialized and less about the art itself. Jazz trumpet players sell less albums, and have fewer and fewer opportunities to play because of this. Find a trumpet super hero!
If you are a driven trumpeter and want to improve your trumpet playing, go to Brass Player Solution to find resources that are both honest, and simplified.
Keith Fiala
Friday, August 28, 2009
Trumpet Lessons - Quick Ways to Improve
Trumpet - One of the more challenging instruments to play if the trumpeter doesn't have guidance early on in their developmental years. There are a lot of myths, confusion, and misinformation surrounding playing trumpet high notes. I've heard (and have been told) stay away from the high notes because it will wreck your sound, wreck your lip, give you a jazz tone (what ever that is), or will make you lose flexibility and control.
There is nothing further from the truth if the trumpet player approaches trumpet high notes with logic and not impatience. What gets most trumpeters into trouble is either when they venture into this territory alone, or start taking advice from those that really don't understand what makes the trumpet upper register happen in the first place.
I for one, was a player who was left to their own devices in the beginning, and then getting advice from all the wrong voices! I was 25 years in before I finally started receiving information that was a bit clearer and helped me on my path to success. By doing it "wrong" for so many years, I had to force myself to learn what was causing me to miss... some of the things that I've learned were as follows...
Smiling thins the lips - causing ANY amount of mouthpiece pressure to stop the vibration
Most players pinch or roll their lips in vs. using the airstream to speed up the air
It is FAST air that creates a high note - there is no reason to strain
Playing too loudly (or attempting to play higher notes too loud too soon) will nearly guarantee failure!
Keeping the lips in a small aperture setting (see above) like playing softly will greatly aid in high notes!
If you are a trumpet player who is really frustrated with attempting upper register notes, please visit BRASS PLAYER SOLUTION for more information that can help resolve these issues!
Keith Fiala / Anna Romano
There is nothing further from the truth if the trumpet player approaches trumpet high notes with logic and not impatience. What gets most trumpeters into trouble is either when they venture into this territory alone, or start taking advice from those that really don't understand what makes the trumpet upper register happen in the first place.
I for one, was a player who was left to their own devices in the beginning, and then getting advice from all the wrong voices! I was 25 years in before I finally started receiving information that was a bit clearer and helped me on my path to success. By doing it "wrong" for so many years, I had to force myself to learn what was causing me to miss... some of the things that I've learned were as follows...
Smiling thins the lips - causing ANY amount of mouthpiece pressure to stop the vibration
Most players pinch or roll their lips in vs. using the airstream to speed up the air
It is FAST air that creates a high note - there is no reason to strain
Playing too loudly (or attempting to play higher notes too loud too soon) will nearly guarantee failure!
Keeping the lips in a small aperture setting (see above) like playing softly will greatly aid in high notes!
If you are a trumpet player who is really frustrated with attempting upper register notes, please visit BRASS PLAYER SOLUTION for more information that can help resolve these issues!
Keith Fiala / Anna Romano
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Trumpet Rentals Vs Trumpet Ownership!
When a young student or an individual gains an interest in playing trumpet or cornet, they are faced with renting or buying. New trumpets and cornets are quite expensive these days, and require quite a commitment from the player. So purchasing (or buying) new can be quite an expensive undertaking, and if you're not sure that your young student (or you) will stick with playing the trumpet, probably not the first choice.
Most usually, the horns see some abuse because they are prone to dents and dings, and require some care. They are not as fragile as a woodwind (such as flute, clarinet or saxophones). With dents, dings, and wear, they horns lose some value, so reselling the instrument will not gain back the initial investment.
With renting, upfront it seems like a better plan, but it has its drawbacks as well. For students that take to playing and enjoy it, you are paying what seems to be a small amount each month, but adds up over time. Most have a "buy out" plan so you can own the instrument, but some are tricky with they way they word their contracts... be sure to read the fine print as you may only be credited "some" of your monthly fees toward the purchase of that instrument or toward a trade up program.
Some retailers have a trade up offer that makes it sound like what you pay for your rental will be put toward a pro level horn... in a few cases, this is not exactly true... again, only a portion of what you pay will go toward your "credit". And at $24.95 per month for 24 months, you'll get a percentage of the $598.80 that you've put in.
A simple solution is to rent for a short term (2 to 4 months) and see how your young student likes playing trumpet or cornet. If they seem to enjoy it, look for a used horn and buy it outright. You can ask questions about purchasing the rental outright... if it's a used horn, you can usually get a better deal... so instead of paying $598 for 2 years, you can buy one for $250 - $350.
If your student doesn't seem to enjoy it or have the tendency to want to stay with it, then you can take the horn back at the end of the semester or school year and not be stuck with a horn in your closet!
If you'd like a FREE beginning trumpet lesson, please visit Brass Player Solution!
Keith Fiala
Professional Trumpeter
Austin, TX
Former Maynard Ferguson Trumpeter
Most usually, the horns see some abuse because they are prone to dents and dings, and require some care. They are not as fragile as a woodwind (such as flute, clarinet or saxophones). With dents, dings, and wear, they horns lose some value, so reselling the instrument will not gain back the initial investment.
With renting, upfront it seems like a better plan, but it has its drawbacks as well. For students that take to playing and enjoy it, you are paying what seems to be a small amount each month, but adds up over time. Most have a "buy out" plan so you can own the instrument, but some are tricky with they way they word their contracts... be sure to read the fine print as you may only be credited "some" of your monthly fees toward the purchase of that instrument or toward a trade up program.
Some retailers have a trade up offer that makes it sound like what you pay for your rental will be put toward a pro level horn... in a few cases, this is not exactly true... again, only a portion of what you pay will go toward your "credit". And at $24.95 per month for 24 months, you'll get a percentage of the $598.80 that you've put in.
A simple solution is to rent for a short term (2 to 4 months) and see how your young student likes playing trumpet or cornet. If they seem to enjoy it, look for a used horn and buy it outright. You can ask questions about purchasing the rental outright... if it's a used horn, you can usually get a better deal... so instead of paying $598 for 2 years, you can buy one for $250 - $350.
If your student doesn't seem to enjoy it or have the tendency to want to stay with it, then you can take the horn back at the end of the semester or school year and not be stuck with a horn in your closet!
If you'd like a FREE beginning trumpet lesson, please visit Brass Player Solution!
Keith Fiala
Professional Trumpeter
Austin, TX
Former Maynard Ferguson Trumpeter
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Trumpet & The Tired Chops Syndrome
As a professional trumpeter, I often run in to times that I play for extended periods of time, have strenuous shows, or just push too hard. Recovering from this is more than just not playing, or taking time off. For me in particular, if I take time off after a strenuous day, I come back struggling even more.
After a hard day, I really can't say I warm down at all. I will free buzz a bit depending on how tired I am, but that is about the extent of a warm down. The next day, I extend my warm up (see Trumpet, Trumpeter, & Warm Up Woes) by playing very softly for extended periods of time... if I am still feeling a bit spent, I will usually limit my playing sessions to a few minutes and will not play anything above a High C.
What I've found through the years, is that it takes time to let the lips heal. I saw times with Maynard Ferguson where he would be extremely beat up from a long run of performances. He too would extend his warm ups, but also could take time away and come back strong.
What tends to happen to our lips is exactly what happens to a tired runner, exhausted athlete, etc. Our muscles need time to rebuild... if done properly, we can bounce back stronger... if we ignore the tired feeling or soreness, we can actually do more damage by staying in a tired or "torn down" state.
If you find yourself in a situation where your chops just don't respond, and you've played hard the previous day, give your muscles the day to be relaxed by playing softly in short practice segments.
For more information that can help you in your quest as a trumpeter, please visit Brass Player Solution!
Keith Fiala
After a hard day, I really can't say I warm down at all. I will free buzz a bit depending on how tired I am, but that is about the extent of a warm down. The next day, I extend my warm up (see Trumpet, Trumpeter, & Warm Up Woes) by playing very softly for extended periods of time... if I am still feeling a bit spent, I will usually limit my playing sessions to a few minutes and will not play anything above a High C.
What I've found through the years, is that it takes time to let the lips heal. I saw times with Maynard Ferguson where he would be extremely beat up from a long run of performances. He too would extend his warm ups, but also could take time away and come back strong.
What tends to happen to our lips is exactly what happens to a tired runner, exhausted athlete, etc. Our muscles need time to rebuild... if done properly, we can bounce back stronger... if we ignore the tired feeling or soreness, we can actually do more damage by staying in a tired or "torn down" state.
If you find yourself in a situation where your chops just don't respond, and you've played hard the previous day, give your muscles the day to be relaxed by playing softly in short practice segments.
For more information that can help you in your quest as a trumpeter, please visit Brass Player Solution!
Keith Fiala
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Trumpet - Natural Ability Vs. Tenacity!
Trumpet and cornet players are typical artists that are victims of misinformation and misleading necessities to be successful at their craft. All too often, trumpet teachers during the students trumpet lessons tell the trumpet players that they are lacking in natural ability and will have to work harder at this that or the other. Most often comments surround such skills as playing trumpet high notes, improvisation in jazz idioms, and musical style and approach.
I am one that does NOT believe that it requires a trumpet / cornet player (or any other artist for that matter) to be born with an extraordinary skill or "natural ability" that just needs refining. I am a trumpeter that has heard both sides of that idea! As a young player, I was really enjoying my instrument and my teachers and family would tell me that I had a "gift", etc. As I got into High School and started getting more interested in cars and girls, my practicing became more about trying to hit high notes with NO guidance as to proper technique vs. practicing skills that would help me grow as a trumpet player... that brought on comments about how you have to be "born with a skill", etc. Now that I'm older and have worked VERY hard on my current skill set, I've had people tell me that I have a natural ability once again... I can tell you that I don't! It comes down to absolute tenacity!
Maynard Ferguson was one that I got to spend a lot of time with in 2004 that was ALWAYS tagged as having a gift... he told me that it wasn't a gift, but rather a desire. Saying that his trumpet was his favorite toy as a kid!
So if you're reading this and feeling discouraged, step back a moment. Your lacking skill just requires more patience and tenacity from you... if you truly focus on your goal and practice slowly and deliberately, you can't fail! Proper guidance is a must!
That's why I wrote "Secrets to Efficient Brass Playing!"
Keep studying!
I am one that does NOT believe that it requires a trumpet / cornet player (or any other artist for that matter) to be born with an extraordinary skill or "natural ability" that just needs refining. I am a trumpeter that has heard both sides of that idea! As a young player, I was really enjoying my instrument and my teachers and family would tell me that I had a "gift", etc. As I got into High School and started getting more interested in cars and girls, my practicing became more about trying to hit high notes with NO guidance as to proper technique vs. practicing skills that would help me grow as a trumpet player... that brought on comments about how you have to be "born with a skill", etc. Now that I'm older and have worked VERY hard on my current skill set, I've had people tell me that I have a natural ability once again... I can tell you that I don't! It comes down to absolute tenacity!
Maynard Ferguson was one that I got to spend a lot of time with in 2004 that was ALWAYS tagged as having a gift... he told me that it wasn't a gift, but rather a desire. Saying that his trumpet was his favorite toy as a kid!
So if you're reading this and feeling discouraged, step back a moment. Your lacking skill just requires more patience and tenacity from you... if you truly focus on your goal and practice slowly and deliberately, you can't fail! Proper guidance is a must!
That's why I wrote "Secrets to Efficient Brass Playing!"
Keep studying!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Trumpet / Cornet - Working Through The Frustration
Trumpet / Cornet players all tend to hit very frustrating times during their playing / practice life. Some of those frustrations are short lived, while others can be what feels like forever.
The term "take it one day at a time" doesn't sound like it would help and a bit cliche', but it's true. Each day is a new practice session for every trumpeter! Some players let the feeling of being overwhelmed and frustrated get to the boiling point. So all they focus on IS the frustration and they stop looking for the solution.
If this sounds like you, I suggest taking a step back and allow yourself to forget about the frustrating problem... start looking for a simple answer. Most problems only get larger or stay in our paths because we try to find overly complicated solutions. Break down in your mind the movements that should be in the action and the movements that should not! Such as - articulation. Your tongue should be moving in a Dah - Gah pattern for double tonguing... if when you're playing, your tongue feels as though it's in a different position from when you're speaking it, make it feel the same. With range, the simple answer is keep the air speed up and the aperture small without pinching the lips together.
Hope this gives some insight to simple ways of over coming the frustration!
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The term "take it one day at a time" doesn't sound like it would help and a bit cliche', but it's true. Each day is a new practice session for every trumpeter! Some players let the feeling of being overwhelmed and frustrated get to the boiling point. So all they focus on IS the frustration and they stop looking for the solution.
If this sounds like you, I suggest taking a step back and allow yourself to forget about the frustrating problem... start looking for a simple answer. Most problems only get larger or stay in our paths because we try to find overly complicated solutions. Break down in your mind the movements that should be in the action and the movements that should not! Such as - articulation. Your tongue should be moving in a Dah - Gah pattern for double tonguing... if when you're playing, your tongue feels as though it's in a different position from when you're speaking it, make it feel the same. With range, the simple answer is keep the air speed up and the aperture small without pinching the lips together.
Hope this gives some insight to simple ways of over coming the frustration!
Follow Me On Twitter
Visit My Website
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Trumpet - Lessons in Etiquette!
As a professional trumpet player, educator, and self published author of "Secrets to Efficient Brass Playing," I have been very fortunate that the "critical crowd" has been far and few between. But what strikes me as interesting is that the truly great players never seem to brag, talk about, or have to put down other players. The ones that are busy putting down others are the ones who seem to have the least amount of talent, skill or honor to defend.
One such comment posted to one of my recent youtube videos was extremely condescending, negative, and just down right snide. My first instinct was to get angry, but then I remembered the biggest lesson that Maynard Ferguson taught me while touring with him. And that is that too many players that wish they were are too busy to improve because they are wrapped up in criticizing others... that statement alone set my heart at ease. So I got the best revenge that I could - by ignoring this comment, deleting the post, and blocking the user.
Trumpet players in general tend to compete with each other to the bitter end. I don't see this a lot with other instrument players or groups of instrumentalists. Perhaps that's why they call the trumpet players the Neanderthals of the musical world. Once a player ascends to feeling comfortable in his or her own musical skin, this feeling of inadequacy tends to fade away like a bad memory.
My best advice to aspiring trumpet players out there - don't buy in to the negativity, and if you're attacked by one of those typical "lunk heads" remember what Maynard said!!! A player that wishes they were will spend more time attacking than improving!
Check out Brass Player Solution for more helpful insight and tips!
Keith Fiala / Anna Romano
One such comment posted to one of my recent youtube videos was extremely condescending, negative, and just down right snide. My first instinct was to get angry, but then I remembered the biggest lesson that Maynard Ferguson taught me while touring with him. And that is that too many players that wish they were are too busy to improve because they are wrapped up in criticizing others... that statement alone set my heart at ease. So I got the best revenge that I could - by ignoring this comment, deleting the post, and blocking the user.
Trumpet players in general tend to compete with each other to the bitter end. I don't see this a lot with other instrument players or groups of instrumentalists. Perhaps that's why they call the trumpet players the Neanderthals of the musical world. Once a player ascends to feeling comfortable in his or her own musical skin, this feeling of inadequacy tends to fade away like a bad memory.
My best advice to aspiring trumpet players out there - don't buy in to the negativity, and if you're attacked by one of those typical "lunk heads" remember what Maynard said!!! A player that wishes they were will spend more time attacking than improving!
Check out Brass Player Solution for more helpful insight and tips!
Keith Fiala / Anna Romano
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