In my years teaching the trumpet I’ve had many students who pick up the instrument with many beliefs, one of them being that it will be easier than instruments with 17 or more keys. We only have 3 valves, what could possibly go wrong?! Well, we get only 3 valves to play at least 31 notes. This means that…
Range on the trumpet is widely known to be a hot topic and a difficult, for most, skill to master. But why is it so elusive? Why do some new players “just know how to how to do it”? Let’s dive in and see where you may be going wrong.
There are so many more Black female brass players, covering the full spectrum of musical demand from classical, to jazz, composition and more. It is our duty as musicians to collectively point the spotlight where it is deserved, to inspire young Black women, to help them see the possibilities, so that in due time we may stand together as one.
It’s so frustrating to have the will to play and no face left to do it. However, over time and with correct practice you can develop the ability to play for one, two and even three hours a day, or more! Let’s get into it.
Let’s face it, developing sight-reading skills is tough and this is why most people ignore working on the skill. Most beginner and intermediate players see it as an “extra” skill that can be cast aside since they don’t really need it right at this moment. Let me tell why you should be sight-reading daily.
Sometimes you’ve been doing something for so long and you’ve dug a hole so big, that you have to work 20 times harder to get out and never fall back in. But like an old teacher once told me, do something everyday for 3 weeks and you will be on the right track. Avoid these bad habits and watch your playing grow.
