@BigDub said in LONG TONES:
I'm conflicted about long tones.
On the one hand, my mind knows they are good.
On the other hand, I hate doing them.
When I do them for several days in a row, I see tangible improvement...
I don't hate them. Long tones are my friend. If I do not do my long tone exercises before a performance, that performance becomes difficult to make it all the way to the end for a demanding gig.
Long tones... they are my insurance plan.
@ROWUK said in Trumpets Made ONLY by Their Maker:
The time frame needed to make musical decisions precludes „magic“.
I too, don't believe in magic... but rather rely on talent and practice. For me, my Harrelson begs for me to practice, the talent comes from the other end, as your students are also finding out from your devoted teaching.
@ROWUK said in Trumpets Made ONLY by Their Maker:
Even although I own some trumpets that qualify in this thread, I think that the concept is bogus.
Another misconception is the custom horn built for the player... You may get a choice of bell, bore or weight, but what trumpeter really understands how a trumpet works AND how they work? What builder takes the time to really get to know the intimate side of a clients playing.
I have an answer to these questions: Harrelson.
His concepts take personal production to the artist. and any artist that doesn't do this, I guess risks making a bogus purchase.
Harrelson gives you the opportunity to take bogus out of the equation:
Harrelson I agree gives choices of many bell sizes, flairs, and leadpipe configurations. And once again, I agree with the above post, "but what trumpeter really understands [this]." You really don't know what this actually relates to the sound unless you play with these sizes and combine the options.
The concept on intimate: Jason is gifted on this concept. Harrelson first sent a representative into my region of the country to display a wide range or horns, including bell sizes, leadpipe configurations, and models. That is how I first discovered a Harrelson. I played all the horns his representative brought to this meeting of professional players. I found the combination that worked for me during that session, and had the ability to try many. I found the combination that outperformed all of the vintage horns I had ever owned, and in my mind, was never so clear with a purchasing decision. AND ONLY after that experience, did Jason schedule an interview with me (which lasted 15 minutes) to be assured that this was, indeed the horn that was going to deliver my long term performance goals for how I intended to use that horn. I know of no other technical master that goes to that length to serve their customer.
So can purchasing a horn from Harrelson wind up as a bogus decision? Yes it can if you chose not to discuss this with the Master. But does Jason do everything possible to give the opportunity to the customer to get the experience right? From my experience in working with horns, he really does.
I have gone to many trumpet hangs to play on the horns I have purchased to make sure I know what I was getting, but Jason is the only horn maker I know that brings a trumpet hang to you, to give the professional the chance to understand his product.
@flugelgirl said in The new Martin Committee "thread" from a TM emigrant:
@tjveloce it had its pictures taken Thursday - I expect it will be up early next week.
And already it's gone. It was truly a nice looker! Flugelgirl, thanks for keeping us informed. Really appreciate it!
@ROWUK said in RIP Trumpet "Master":
@Dr-GO Yes, I do browse the site from time to time. I do happen to be busy with many things (performances and preparing for a master class) that keep me away from casual computing.
Keep practicing!
Robin
The BEST advice you could give me.... as always! Will do sir!
@BigDub said in If you've got it, flaunt it...:
I don’t think I’d be able to really stretch out in those cramped conditions...
I mean, after just storing your paints, there would be no room left for humans!
@Steve-Davis said in Martin Committee Club:
Greetings everyone!
I see that my original thread from Trumpetmaster for Martin Committee Club has indeed survived.
Great to see you all here.Steve Davis
But Steve, you are the true original and thanks for keeping all your input to the Martin Committee alive! Great to have you here!
@Rapier232 said in Increase high range by 4 notes in 6 weeks?:
Update. While I’m still convinced I won’t gain the G in time to be able to play it well enough, or reliably enough, to perform it in the show, I am making more progress than I expected. I can, at least, hit it occasionally. Something I couldn’t do at all when I made the original post. And when I do get it, it’s a real note that I can hold for 8 or more beats, not just a weak squeak. There’s hope for this old man yet.
I knew you would work toward achieving this goal. I know you will own that G withing the next couple of months. Great Work Rapier232! Proud of you!
By the way, check out the valve action on the Kanstul in this cut:
@administrator said in Buy your horns here, not there!:
@Trumpetsplus said in Buy your horns here, not there!:
People buy Jaeger trumpets from me.
And I have heard many good things.
So why isn't Trumpetsplus a trusted seller? I trust him. And he sells his own horns. QED.
@Vulgano-Brother said in 2019 Jazz Festivals:
Ah, those (in)famous Kanstul valves. Bet your Getzen four-valve doesn't need oiling in the middle of a gig!
Damn I just hate it when you are right!
The Getzen is king when it comes to valve action. Actually I oiled the Kanstul prior to starting the gig, as this picture was taken during our set up. As it was a very humid day, and yes, those Kanstul valves are temperamental, especially with humidity, so I wasn't going to take a chance, and oiled them as a preventative action. It worked as those valves glided flawlessly. Such is the virtue of UltraPure!
@Tobylou8 said in Increase high range by 4 notes in 6 weeks?:
@Vulgano-Brother said
The answer, once again, is long-tones!
AND MY REPLY:
Some pics from the Dayton Music Festival:
Soloing on the Flugel:
The whole band in action:
And none of this would have been possible without Ultra Pure!
@BigDub said in 2019 Jazz Festivals:
@Dr-GO said in 2019 Jazz Festivals:
A little too much coffee, Doc?
Haha, just kidding. SMOKIN'!!
The weather was not my friend. My music was blowing all around and I could not get my clips to work at such short notice (when the sax player told me I was playing the lines). So I just "blew it off" and went without the music. Then the wind took my fingers and the rest is history.
The day after. Here is a post of one of the songs the quintet played backing up the vocalist Brenda Flowers. I decided to bring out my Harrelson on this day as we had a two set with rather challenging ranges to play. This song was to be played by the sax player but at the last minute he punted the song over to me due to the break neck tempo. So here I am, unrehearsed, as it was "Just One of Those Things":
Playing relaxed (softly) as you go up is key. See the following:
@Kehaulani said in Increase high range by 4 notes in 6 weeks?:
I'm not going to say it won't work for someone else, but if I free buzzed an hour a day, my chops would be inflexible, even somewhat hardened, and it would definitely work to my detriment.
Agreed. Not free buzzing with absolutely no resistance, but playing (not buzzing) into a towel. This is a totally different process. Try it. Experience the feeling on your lips when you finish. It feels different, You can feel the tone.
For sure you won't get if if you don't try. I am not going to say it is impossible, but it is improbable. Again, let me reflect that you need muscle tone to do this. It takes 6 weeks to add to tone, and that is if you do it right.
Let me ask this question, would you expect a weight lifter that can press 200 lbs to lift (without a spotter) 300 lbs in 6 weeks? That is quite a demand. And to do this without straining or pulling muscle is the other risk that must be balanced. If the 6 week goal was to get to 225 lb, then a much higher chance of achieving this would be seen.
So can you get a solid D range to an G in 6 weeks? That is an audacious goal. I do believe the E can be achieved, and perhaps the F, but another whole step to G is quite a task to achieve in 6 weeks, based on the training of muscle to support such a demand in such a short time.
To say it is impossible, I cannot go there. Here is what I suggest doing. Try to find the slurring studies of Cat Anderson and start working on these. Also, in between practice, take your mouthpiece and play it into a hand towel. Do this a half hour, twice a day. For the majority of the time (75%), take you mouthpiece towel range to that C. Then the additional time, start working the mouthpiece towel to above the C.
The reason for doing this is to train your lips to perform at a resistance much greater than you will feel when you do this with the horn. In so doing you will not only develop strength, but also the feeling of not having to push so hared once you remove that resistance (going back to the horn). This also trains you to RELAX once you are back to your horn with more muscle strength. RELAXING is just as important to prevent you from intuitively straining to put additional force you really don't need, and will only serve to close off your airflow.
So good luck and do keep us updated.
