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!

Why Brass Players Struggle With Range

Being one of the many brass players who was confused, frustrated, and just simply lost when it came to real range and high note efficiency, I decided to not only fix my problems but bust the myths behind equipment, tactics, as well as technique.

I spent the majority of my playing life on larger mouthpieces (5c, 3c, etc.). I was able to work my range up enough to "touch" the coveted Double C, but never enough to own it. Once every so often I could eek it out... but had no power, control, or guarantee of "hitting" one if called to do so. When I toured with Maynard, I had multiple opportunities to talk with Boss about this very subject. His solution was air usage, but when there was a mass confusion with chops, equipment, and everything else on the dark quest was a mystery, that just didn't make sense to me.

Do you feel the same way? Are you so confused by all the information out there that nothing is making sense (no matter how logical it may sound) that it's just not allowing progress? That's where my book comes in. I try to relay to the reader my confusion, misunderstanding, and then the discovery of what really made things improve. Pretty simple answers - and helped me see where Maynard was coming from.

Visit www.brassplayersolution.com