Weekly Trumpet Tips 12/29/10
The Shadow
Welcome to Weekly Trumpet Tips,
UPDATE: We are pleased to announce that our newest book, “About Face” will be available for purchase on Wednesday of this week! I’m extremely thrilled to have this book finished and available!
You’ll enjoy information that deals with lip muscles, ways to get stronger, recovery from injury as well as exciting interviews with Arturo Sandoval, Wayne Bergeron, and Chad Shoopman. They discuss the varying road blocks and things they’ve experienced as players!
CHOPS REHAB SPECIAL ENDING 1/1/11! Chops Rehab will be going to $97 on the first, hurry to get your price of $77.00 for this great valued course!
Please always feel free to respond / comment on any of the tips listed in these weekly posts. Your input may help clarify details for someone else!
Check out the Chops Rehab and Jazz Improv courses. These are designed to be 4 weeks worth of lessons to help the student gain insights and skills in each specific area. We now also have t-shirts! Check out our new t-shirt design! We have the “adult version and the school friendly “student version!”
Here are your weekly Tips!
Tip #1 – One Day Off Can Lead into 2, 3 into 4, etc.
This tip comes after a conversation with Tom Lovece… he had a great suggestion for a tip that I just had to use because I too have felt this dilemma in my playing life!
When gigs are down (like January) or your motivation slips due to a personal loss or just a bad run of practice / gigs, it’s easy to think I’ll just take some time off. Now – don’t get me wrong – taking a day off here and there can be REALLY good for the chops and the soul. BUT – letting one day turn into two, etc. can cause us to pull away from the horn and go back into a dormant state.
The only true pathway to failure is to give up or quit. No one who ever kept trying truly failed!
So this first tip is to set aside your frustrations, lift up your playing spirits and remember that music expresses that which cannot be put into words, but cannot remain silent! (Victor Hugo).
There is something inside of us that wants us to play – perhaps it’s the 10 year old child who looked at a horn for the very first time and it made your pulse race with excitement! What ever age, and what ever it was that drew you to trumpet playing, I invite you to dig deep and stay in touch with that connection…
Tip #2 – The New Year Should Include New Goals!
I’m not talking weight loss or increasing range… I’m talking about taking a huge step outside of your comfort zone and challenging yourself to get out and perform, start a new group, produce a CD, or something that excites you and scares you at the very same time! Music tends to turn into some sort of competition all too often, and that can stifle us as musicians and people because we don’t want to ever “sound bad” or look like a fool. This can spiral us into a tail spin and keep us from stepping out and doing what we really truly want to do.
I was once told something that first offended me, but then made me realize how right on it was (funny how that works sometimes, huh?) It was, “how selfish are you to be so concerned about yourself that you won’t give the world your talent and voice because you’re afraid of a criticism or two?”
So – go out and do great things, and stop worrying about doing things great!
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Thomas Edison
1847-1931, Inventor and Entrepreneur
Have a GREAT Week and a Prosperous 2011!
Sincerely,
Keith
Comments
3 Responses to “Weekly Trumpet Tips 12/29/10”
Got something to say?
I was once told something that first offended me, but then made me realize how right on it was (funny how that works sometimes, huh?) It was, “how selfish are you to be so concerned about yourself that you won’t give the world your talent and voice because you’re afraid of a criticism or two?”
Great Advice and Tips — I was thinking about my gig on Jan. 29th. It is just a variety show/fundraiser for church, but I wanted to play a song in 3 octaves. (ie. Rocky theme, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, etc.) — I’m not sure the upper register is “musical” quality — but the other 2 octaves will still be “good” music. —I was going to JUST CUT OUT THE 3RD OCTAVE — but who knows —- maybe in that supportive environment — a 3rd octave, (perhaps even softly and weakly) could inspire someone else to Dig Deeper — to practice more — to take their talent –UP A NOTCH — we will see how the lips feel that day.
thanks
Keith:
Your advice has been phenomenal for my comeback attempt. My range now extends to a G below AA, something I used to dream of doing when I would listen to Maynard. Even at 54, I feel the sky is the limit, and I become more excited with each practice. I don’t feel badly when a practice doesn’t go well because I accept this is a natural part of the process. I do enjoy the process!!
I look forward to purchasing your book About Face!
Jeff
Excellent advice! Especially for the soul. Sometimes we need to lift up our spirits and take that leap of faith.
Thanks Keith.