Haydn Student Trumpets Blog - Trumpet News and Tips

Playing With Braces

Damian — 2008-01-25T09:46:40-08:00

Many student trumpet players are confronted with the problem of having to play with braces. Adjusting to playing with braces can be difficult. A music professor at South Dakota State University has written a book called Braces & Brass to help brass players overcome the problem of playing with braces. In the book, he describes techniques for protecting the lips as well as playing techniques to help players adapt to braces and exercises that help the player return to ordinary playing after braces are removed.

The Amazing Slow Downer

Damian — 2007-05-18T09:43:55-08:00

A great piece of software called The Amazing Slow Downer is now available that allows a user to slow down a song without changing the pitch. This is a great tool for any trumpet player working on very fast parts. With this software, any digital audio file can be slowed down to allow the player to learn fast parts at a pace that is comfortable before attempting them at full speed. A great addition to any player's tools.

Vincent Bach Mouthpieces

Damian — 2007-02-15T16:06:12-08:00

We're pleased to announce that we are now including a Vincent Bach 7c mouthpiece with our HTR-335 student trumpet outfit. Vincent Bach has a long history as a mouthpiece manufacturer in the Unites States. We're sure that Bach mouthpieces will be a great addition for all of our student trumpet players.

Solo Competitions

Damian — 2007-01-30T15:14:31-08:00

Many springtime competitions are coming up soon. Most schools participate in local and regional solo and ensemble competitions, but there are also a few national competitions to consider. The International Trumpet Guild has compiled a listing of trumpet competitions for 2007, some including thousands of dollars in prizes.

Christmas Deliveries

Damian — 2006-12-08T10:09:19-08:00

If you are ordering after December 13, you should consider selecting either Priority Mail or Express Mail as your shipping option. The USPS deadline for Priority Mail for delivery before Christmas is December 20, and the deadline for USPS Express Mail is December 22 for areas near a major airport, December 21 for more rural areas. We cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas on orders placed after December 13 with our free shipping option.

PRO TEC Cases and Accessories

Damian — 2006-10-18T14:30:46-08:00

We are pleased to announce that we are now carrying PRO TEC trumpet cases. These great cases make a terrific choice if you're looking for a larger case with room for mutes and accessories. We've also added a new mutes and accessories section to our store with Manhattan Mutes (both straight mutes and Wa-Wa Mutes) as well as folding music stands, trumpet stands and trumpet care products.

Two Great Bands

Damian — 2006-10-09T10:40:02-08:00

Two fantastic big bands have recently come to our attention. Every student trumpet player should listen to these bands with their amazing horn sections.

The first is Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. The Big Phat Band is an amzaing collection of Los Angeles studio Musicians that take Goodwin's songs and bring them to life with incredible energy and precision. Wayne Bergeron leads the trumpet section.

Another terrific band is The Ed Palermo Big Band. Palermo has taken many original Frank Zappa tunes and made new arrangements of them for his big band.

Check out both of these great bands!

Better Understanding Practice

Damian — 2006-08-09T10:17:31-08:00

Most student trumpet players think of practice as something to be measured by time. 30 minutes a day is often the assigned practice session. Author Philip Johnston disagrees with this method, and outlines a different approach in his book The Practice Revolution.

In The Practice Revolution, Johnston discusses the idea of focusing on mastery of a particular skill in a practice session rather than time and suggests that teachers can help their students progress faster by assigning a task to master each day rather than the usual 30 minutes of practice time.

There are many other excellent tips in Johnston's book which is a great read for both students and teachers alike.

Summer Music Camps

Damian — 2006-06-08T09:04:42-08:00

As the school year comes to an end, many summer music camps around the country are just beginning. The International Trumpet Guild maintains a list of camps that may be of interest.

Many of the camps are geared to older students, but several are designed for very young musicians as well. Music camp is a great way to keep your playing skills sharp over the summer break. Find one in your area and give it a try!

Beginning Student Tips

Damian — 2006-04-13T13:16:23-08:00

Almost all beginning trumpet players focus a great deal of attention on playing high notes, often to the detriment of their overall playing. Professional trumpet player Don Stinson, has written a great article on how student trumpet players should focus on building range the correct way by using airflow rather than pressure to reach high notes. Every student looking to hit the high notes should read this article first.

Summer Camps

Damian — 2006-02-23T10:40:35-08:00

Although it may seem early to be thinking about Summer Camp, now is a good time to begin looking into Summer Band Camps. The International Trumpet Guild maintains a good list of camps for trumpet players. Camps are often a great way for students to get a chance to learn from and play with professional players that they otherwise would never get a chance to meet.

More on Buzzing

Damian — 2006-01-20T09:51:23-08:00

As discussed previously, mouthpiece buzzing is a great way to identify and correct pitch problems. The BERP device is a really valuable buzzing aid for any student trumpet player.

Buzzing allows the player to hear the actual pitch that he or she is playing, before it is altered by the instrument. In many cases, a player may be playing the wrong pitch into the mouthpiece, but the trumpet is "moving" that wrong pitch to play the "right" note. The pitch will not be centered however, and the sound will not be good.

Buzzing should be part of every student trumpet player's practice routine. It will make a big difference in a player's overall tone.

First and Third Valve Slides

Damian — 2005-12-13T10:07:36-08:00

Beginning student trumpet players are often confused about the use of the first and third slides. Why are they important and when should they be used?

The Texas School Music Project has a great article on their site about playing the trumpet in tune. It describes the pitch tendencies of the different valve combinations and when to push out each slide. It also discusses the effects of temperature on pitch. This information should be taught to students early on so that they make a habit of controlling their intonation whenever they play.

Allen Vizzutti Article

Damian — 2005-11-01T09:33:47-08:00

The International Trumpet Guild has published a wonderful article by the accomplished soloist, composer, and session player, Allen Vizzutti. In his masterclass article he discusses his experience recording a soundtrack for an upcoming Sony Playstation Game.

He goes on to discuss video games, trumpet practice and how difficult it is for today's student trumpet players to turn off the electronics and pick up their horns.

Using A Tuner

Damian — 2005-10-10T11:25:29-08:00

One of the most difficult things for a student trumpet player to master is the concept of playing in tune. Unless a student has a well trained ear from experience with another instrument or singing, the student may have no idea whether they are playing in tune or not.

One of the best ways to get students on track is through the use of a digital tuner. To use a digital tuner, the student simply turns it on and plays. The tuner is able to determine what the note is that is being played and whether it is sharp, flat, or right on. The student can then adjust the trumpet and/or his or her own embouchure.

There are a number of good models available such as the Korg Chromatic Tuner or the Boss Chromatic Tuner.

It's important to remember though, that the ultimate goal is for the student to play in tune with the band, not the tuner. Working with a digital tuner will provide a great foundation for the player to build on with his or her own band.