Posts made by Dr GO

@Dr-Mark said in Tone Centering for Trumpet (Centering & Tuning) Part III:
...Music is very subjective so with that said, for me, a good sound is paramount. The first thing that draws me toward a trumpet player is their sound.

And so is the audience. As you noted, the fist thing that draws you to a trumpet player is their sound. And that is true of other members of the audience. So a good sound to one individual may not be a good sound to another (hence the subjectivity you so appropriately noted). However with all of this said, it would be of interest to me, Dr. Mark, if you could provide me the name of a trumpet player that conveys a good sound to you.

Let me start since I feel the person making such a request should lead by example. For me a great sound for the trumpet as I like to hear it is represented by Till Bronner. His tone is clear, and yet he can whisper with it to drive the ear of the listener in. Very effective and this is what distinguishes his sound from others.

@Bob-Pixley said in How Do You Give the Audience a Sonic Experience?:

Dynamics. Make the soft sections really soft and the loud parts really LOUD! Contrast is your ally for keeping the music interesting. Of course, playing well is a given, and yes, if you look like you're glad to be there and are having fun, the audience will respond.

I so agree. This is essential. The power of dynamics (especially playing softer) really brings the audiences' ears into understanding the musicality behind the performance.

I do believe the types of metals has some real contribution to the perceived quality of sound. An example is the general impression that the sound quality of the Martin Committee began to falter during the mid-1950's. The US Government in 1952 put restrictions on the lead content of metal alloys. Prior to this, the Committee did have a lead alloy component to there earlier model horns.

@grune said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

@Dr-GO said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

@grune said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

I can produce an amplitude from a small m/p equal to a large m/p. But the resultant tone from that small m/p will be very different from the larger one.

What is your experience?

One must be careful because a small m/p can pinch the sound. Especially as fatigue sets in. I have used a Jettone Studio B for lead playing and in prior experience began to fatigue 2 hours into a gig. However, I had Jason Harrelson make me a Studio B exact rim/cup copy, but he put a larger throat into it with his 5mm assembly. That small change really opened up the performance of that small rim/cup combination. So if you can diminish the resistance behind the mouthpiece, from my experience, you can open up the sound of small cup sizes.

@Dr-Mark said in How Do You Give the Audience a Sonic Experience?:
Finally, when I'm finished, I always take time to talk to the audience that hung around to see me and sign autographs...

For me, I like to hang around to rap with the audience. And to prove the point, this is me at the last gig that demonstrates my function in the band as the "w-rapper" which is always good to get some snickers from the audience!

@grune said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

Beyond the intrinsic properties, I have found the mouthpiece to be the most critical factor for me, for all aspects... With my horn, particularly, the differences in "colour" are amazing between small and large mouthpieces... Its shank has been honed down to fit into the lead pipe without a gap. I know "gap" is a very contentious issue, but no-gap definitely plays best for horn and me.

I agree completely. But my experience is less with the cup size and more with the backbore. That is what most influences how the mouthpiece delivers the sound wave to the lead pipe. Getting the sound wave to hit at the peak of amplitude as it "hits" the leadpipe is key. This is less a function of cup size, and more a function of the brand of mouthpiece and the make of the trumpet.

@Dr-Mark said in How Do You Give the Audience a Sonic Experience?:
...the only way I leave without greeting everyone is if I have to shoot out of there because I have another show to do which requires a quick rinse off in their restroom and a change of shirts before I get to the next venue.

Dr. Mark on his way to his next Sonic Gig:

@grune said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

@Niner said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

Long ago, I sampled a variety of horns of various metals, when Yamaha was breaking into the market. It was a fascinating experience. Yamaha made horns with alloys and pure metals. Cost them a fortune to do. A pure lead metal horn created a nearly pure sine wave on the oscilloscope: too pure, no overtones, the sound was terrible. A pure copper horn was so mellow and soft, it could not be heard against even a clarinet! A pure silver horn was very bright, tending to shrill. The solid metal horns were extremely fragile. Then came the alloys; gold, silver, copper, tin, aluminium, nickel, yellow brass, and others I cannot recall. When all was tried, said and done, the horns that were considered the best for sound, projection, and playability were yellow brass!

Here is rare footage of two horns, one made of silver and one made of copper, found burred with King Tut, with interesting tone variance from metallurgy dating back to about 3,000 years ago:

Trying to understand this, are overtones more a function of lip placement or the qualities of the horn?

Thomas Moore at Department of Physics Rollins College Winter Park, Florida states: "However, brass instruments that are primarily conical still have a flaring bell so the mouthpiece, bell flare, and tubing all must work in concert to keep the overtones harmonically related."

Randy Adams even suggests this relationship in another article he has written: "When we buzz into the trumpet the instrument picks up these vibrations and amplifies them providing its own characteristic tone color. If the information being supplied (airflow and vibration frequency) fits the length and shape of the tubing receiving it, we have achieved what the instrument was designed to produce – a beautiful, resonant, clear sound. Voila! If only it were that simple! But having a better understanding of overtones, resonance and acoustics will give us a clearer picture of what we are looking for in tone quality and a better idea of how to accomplish this physically."
https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/tone-centering-for-trumpet-part-i-overtones/

So I do think Randy Adams in the original post is addressing one side of the overtone function. Matching the lip vibration style to the horn characteristics generates a combined effect on the spectrum of overtone production.

@grune said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

@Dr-GO

And you still need oxygen, glucose and ATP to "light the flame" provided more naturally, by lips directing the air flow "exciting" the column of air in the horn. Did you notice the lecturer light the torch in air... not in a vacuum. Thanks for posting this video to help support my position.

sonic.
[ˈsänik]
ADJECTIVE
denoting, relating to, or of the nature of sound or sound waves.

For the non-musician the nature of the sound or sound wave may be more tolerated when not providing excessive energy (loudness).

How many times have we musicians been told by an audience member that the music is too loud and to play softer?
THEN
How many times have we musicians been told by an audience member that the music is to soft and to play louder?

@Shepherds_Crook said in How Do You Give the Audience a Sonic Experience?:

One of my favorite sonic moments involving me plying was when I gathered some friends to play a wedding reception for one of my best friends. Everyone was just having a great time and the guests were just having more and more fun with every song. Just a magic night that everyone there remembers as something special ... perhaps even sonic.

But the scientist in me asks, could the more and more fun be related to alcohol consumption (after all this IS a wedding). Relaxing the inhibition of mind may make the sound coming in a less complex function and therefore a more relaxing, enjoyable "sonic" experience...

@Kehaulani said in Does a large bore horn take more air?:

ROWUK said "Moving air is ONLY necessary to get the lips vibrating . . "

Well, how do you get the lips to continue vibrating? Don't you need air for that, too?

No. You need oxygen, glucose and ATP to do this.

That it sounds, feels good and is free blowing. I have the business provide several mouthpiece brands to interchange to assure a best match is first found before setting the horn through a real test run. What I play is various jazz tunes by memory. I recommend a ballad to play with tone and control, a be-bop tune to test valves and responsiveness and horn flexibility. Play in several ranges to assure intonation issues that may come out at different ranges for the horn.

Here is one of my Freddie favorites, his into is so sensual, than his solo later is so just amazingly lyrical:

A couple memories:

1. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and talking with Freddie when I lived in NYC. I saw him play at Fat Tuesday's in midtown Manhattan and was lucky I had a bit to drink, that and the persistence of girl friend at the time to add the courage to alcoholic inhibition to actually approach Mr. Hubbard on a break. We had an amazing discussion which ended in my asking him for a lesson. He said yes. He let me know he was leaving the next day on a tour of Europe, but then wrote on a napkin and gave me his number to call when he got back to the states. I lost that number. I lost a tremendous opportunity.

2. A couple of years ago, the quintet I play with was asked to play an "after concert party" for George Benson's band when they came to town. When Mr. Benson walked into Gilly's, I turned to Eddie (our leader) and asked him to play this song. I was so touched to watch Mr. Benson to sit down immediately at a table to watch as we played this song. In total concentration he watched. The smile on his face hearing us play this peace was so warm and touching.

Thank you Freddie, as somehow from listening to your albums, you did get the chance to teach me.

@Bay-Area-Brass said in The mastery of Freddie Hubbard:

This is a 9:37 minute long journey into the musical genius of Freddie Hubbard...

Bill... What a wonderful example. This version puts tears in my eyes. He can but the emotions of many in through his horn, and we are all better people for it. Thanks so much for this beautiful post!

@Dr-Mark said in How To Play Trumpet With Less Tension:

@Dr-GO said in How To Play Trumpet With Less Tension:

I play in the stratosphere without antics using the vertical smile (phwooo technique). It can be done without the theatrics by many such methods.

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Sounds great! Here's a Maynard Ferguson play along minus Maynard doing McArthur Park. The sheet music is provided on the video. If you would, please record yourself as you've done in the recent past playing this piece so we can watch what you're talking about when you say "vertical smile (phwooo technique)."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DluQRNV-S1k&list=RDDluQRNV-S1k&start_radio=1&t=37&t=37
Thank you

Mark, I posted my video now three times, and while it may be near the range of this example, you can see the technique in action. The day that someone video's my performance in that range, I will post it.

And by the way: The lack of professionalism and insulting degradation of the individual posting this "challenge" is below the standards of TrumpetBoards. As a moderator, you should be better than this. I ask that you stop publicly demoralizing members on this forum just because you do not agree with their methods. Your innuendo of equating the vertical smile to that of a vagina crosses another moral line.

Dr Mark, Please do not take your bias into the realm of obscene and insulting banter. You are better than this. I know, as I have met you, and I believe I know the real Dr. Mark.

@Dr-Mark said in How To Play Trumpet With Less Tension:

@Kehaulani said in How To Play Trumpet With Less Tension:

I used the antics from Maynard as the gospel on how you should do it. Not very productive in the long run.

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Yep, been there, done that and then, I had to learn how to play correctly. Jon Ruff's video on Jaw Placement and the Upper Register shows Jon playing in the stratosphere without the antics and is a good study about how to play in the upper register.

I play in the stratosphere without antics using the vertical smile (phwooo technique). It can be done without the theatrics by many such methods.

@Dr-GO said in How To Play Trumpet With Less Tension:

I am detecting some tension in your reply Dr. Mark. Something that a good Bombay Sapphire and Fever Tree could easily remedy.

I'm Buying!

@Dr-Mark said in How To Play Trumpet With Less Tension:

@Dr-GO said in How To Play Trumpet With Less Tension:

I have always found a good Gin and Tonic lowers trumpet playing tension for me... Yep, that's the solution.

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Yuck!

I am detecting some tension in your reply Dr. Mark. Something that a good Bombay Sapphire and Fever Tree could easily remedy.