The value of scales

GeorgeB

Those of you who learned to play the trumpet in the 40s or in my case, the 50s, could not help but be influenced by the great Rafael Mendez. Although Mendez said, more than once, that all you have to do is scales and more scales, it was somewhat tongue in cheek, but flavored by a whole lot of truth. Of course, Mendez taught us a lot more about playing the trumpet ( check out his tutorial videos sometime ), but one thing he never wavered on was the belief that a foundation based on scales was of the utmost importance in mastering the the trumpet.

Although 6 months in a conservatory of music gave me some grounding, it was a professional trumpet player who did it all, from classical music to jazz, who really taught me how to play the trumpet, and he was a great believer in Mendez so you can be sure that scales became an important part of my practice routines.

When I started playing again at age 79, I hadn't touched the horn in over 50 years. Something I quickly learned was that I was learning to play the trumpet all over again. Some things, like the fingerings, came back to me fairly quickly, but being able to play for hours, rather than minutes, took much longer.

So what did I do to get back my youthful ( that's a laugh ) endurance, well you guessed it, I started playing scales daily. First I started doing one octave major scales in all keys. As the chops began to strengthen I began adding a note or two to the octave until I was up to a full two octave run from low C to high C above the staff in all keys.

Along with the major scales I started adding sets of intervals in all major keys.

This became the foundation of re-developing my ability to play the trumpet with a decent endurance. Oh, there were other things, of course, like long tones, lip slurs from below to above the staff, arpeggios, articulation exercises, etc.

But the foundation was scales. I had started playing in March of 2016 and by September I was playing first chair with the local Horizons band.

Now, going on 6 years later, I am playing with one of the province's top brass and reed bands. And because I sometime still think I can play like I did in my teens and my twenties I will do stupid things like over playing when I should know better. This has led to a few injuries that have caused me to stop playing for awhile ( one time for a
month ) but there is still one thing that always gets me back to where I was...

SCALES, SCALES AND MORE SCALES

Dr GO

Scales are highly influential in providing a foundation in which to build your voice. Those scales stick in your mind as a bridge that helps coordinate phrasing. Scales are a part of the phrasing and where the rest of the phrasing then goes from the scale base, well that becomes your voice, and you own it from that point on.

I still work on scales and rudiment phrases to this day, as that foundation needs to be reinforced so it will not someday crumble.

Trumpetsplus

I have never practiced scales, although I am proficient in all keys. I play music in all keys. Scales are not music. I know a lot of music and the only example that I can think of of a scale being successfully used in music is the Pas de Deux near the end of Nutcracker ballet.

GeorgeB

@trumpetsplus
I play music in all keys, too, Ivan, but I couldn't play them as well as I do if I didn't practice scales regularly. Scales keep my brain nimble and the chops strong and that helps in keeping good coordination of my lips, wind and fingers. That is more important now that I am pushing 85.

administrator

@trumpetsplus said in The value of scales:

I have never practiced scales, although I am proficient in all keys. I play music in all keys. Scales are not music. I know a lot of music and the only example that I can think of of a scale being successfully used in music is the Pas de Deux near the end of Nutcracker ballet.

I'm intrigued to read this. I remember spending countless hours on my 2-octave scales in high school.

Dale Proctor

@administrator said in The value of scales:

@trumpetsplus said in The value of scales:

I have never practiced scales, although I am proficient in all keys. I play music in all keys. Scales are not music. I know a lot of music and the only example that I can think of of a scale being successfully used in music is the Pas de Deux near the end of Nutcracker ballet.

I'm intrigued to read this. I remember spending countless hours on my 2-octave scales in high school.

I never learned all my scales in high school, and there are a few I’m sure I still don’t know...lol

Trumpetsplus

@administrator My cynical trspeonse to this situation (which is very common) is that ir is designed to assist the teachers rather than the students. "Scales" present a wonderful opportunity to "grade" players. Apply a demerit for each wrong note. This is not what I teach at all.
You might be interested in this: https://www.jaegerbrass.com/Blo/Entries/2017/2/homogenization-and-quantification-of-music.html

Dr GO

@trumpetsplus said in The value of scales:

"Scales" present a wonderful opportunity to "grade" players. Apply a demerit for each wrong note. This is not what I teach at all.

I agree and really appreciate your point. This is truly an abuse of their use. I can recall back in Middle School and even High School, this is exactly how they were applied. This is truly a wrong application.

fels

@trumpetsplus

I was asked to help out with a middle school recording session for their jazz band. The lead trumpet had just had braces and was uncomfortable; my job was to double the first part sans solos. He did very well and has a very nice tone even with braces. After the recording I told him that I thought his tone ( sound ) was great and to focus on maintaining his sound. Technique would come. Agreed with Ivan.

I have Ivan's book on trumpet pieces through history. I use it when I need a break of soft playing and as warm ups. Every week, our twin grandchildren (boy-girl 2 year olds) come over on Wednesdays and spend the day while Mommy works in my basement office. They love coming up to my music room, turn on the trumpet light and sit in their rocking chairs and wait for me to "perform." Typically they want "Row Row Row (your boat)". I play it by ear. Then they want another children's song. So I go through the litany: Wheels on the Bus, Old Grey Mare, Insy Weensy Spider Etc. All by ear, usually in B flat concert. It has occurred to me that my grandchildren have inspired a decent warm up routine -- and it involves scales! After going through the first iteration, I start repeating each around the circle of fifths. Great ear training, good middle to low range warm up, and it involves scales. I have made a note in my iPad Notes --- Papi Tom's Warm Ups.

GeorgeB

I agree with Ivan, to a certain degree, that scales are not music, but there are occasions when scales form part of a song. A good example of this is the bridge in the old jazz standard BLUE ROOM where the run exceeds one full octave. And I have heard many versions of how some players improvise it. I've even tried a few things myself.

Here is a take by Chet :

Trumpetsplus

This was the 303rd daily song I posted on January 26

The Blue Room.jpg

Dr GO

Levitating is basically a song composed on scales going down then back up:

Youtube Video

GeorgeB

@dr-go
Heck, yes, that was definitely composed on scales going down and up.

mafields627

I'm a middle & high school band director. I assign scales. I practice them in my own playing. In our state scales are a barrier for district and all-state band auditions. In college scales are a part of juries and various upper level qualifying requirements.

I teach scales because students that are proficient at scales learn new music more easily. I know what when we go for our state music performance assessment I have 7 minutes in the sight reading room before we are adjudicated and we can't play a single note; however, I know before hand that our music will be in concert F, Bb, Eb, or Ab -- having a knowledge of those keys helps.

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe.” Scales are part of sharpening the axe. Playing music can be done without working scales, but IMO, it's a lot harder.

Dr GO

Song based on a minor scale, Joe Henderson's Canyon Lady:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=t-O7ifi6zKE&list=OLAK5uy_lXnOTsHrZsKs4KosVO-7x7LvI77ur4ehs

GeorgeB

@dr-go

Thanks for that interesting piece of music based on a minor scale, Doc. I had never heard it before. It is quite nice.

barliman2001

Trumpet player to antiques dealer: "Can you really tell me the value of scales?" - "Of course. They are not rare - though rarer as they should be. They are usually not in perfect condition - and nobody really, really wants them. No value at all."

Dale Proctor

@barliman2001 said in The value of scales:

Trumpet player to antiques dealer: "Can you really tell me the value of scales?" - "Of course. They are not rare - though rarer as they should be. They are usually not in perfect condition - and nobody really, really wants them. No value at all."

They are of great value to fish, though...

GeorgeB

I had a feeling that this thread would eventually become a victim of humor. And that is fine, but for players who will one day face the fact that old age and injuries can and will happen, the intent of this thread was to let them know that there are solutions, and maybe scales will be one for them as it is for me.

barliman2001

@georgeb Of course. You are quite right. But a bit of fun is never out of place...