@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.
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
Yeah, none of those gadgets for me. I know a lot a people will disagree with me, but I don't even buzz. I found the time is better spent with the horn on my face.
Well at 85 I wouldn't mind having an app that played the dang trumpet for me. I just play for the applause anyway.
Gee, Doc, I would have liked to see that but I don't like Facebook.
Play 24 hours flat out ? What kind of chops do you Austrians have and how do you get that way ? Even in my younger playing days 3 hours flat out was the limit of my endurance.
Sounds like a lot of fun, but......................
I don't play many late gigs these days (before Covid, anyway) but when I had my 5 piece band back in the 50s/60s I did a lot of late gigs, mostly weddings where we played overtime and by the time I would get home it would be 1 or 2 in the morning and man, I'd be so wound up it was near impossible to get to sleep.
I've always rested pinky on top of the pinky hook and the thumb between the first and second valve casing. I tried resting on the first valve casing only but found that my fingers tended to wander a bit, so I am back with thumb between first and second valve. This still works best for me, so regardless of what the experts say, you have to use what works for you.
I still think he should go with the mouthpiece that allowed him to play a two octave scale. He never did say which mp he used.
" The Circle Of Breath " was a great help to me during my comeback. I go back to it when the need is evident, and that is often.
@walter-sk
Hi, Walter. I am almost 85 and started playing in 2016 after a 50 year hiatus. I played between 1953 and 1965 before quitting and used a Bach 10.5C. I thought it would work for me when I came back but it didn't. I had to safari my way through several mp makes and sizes. Today I use both an Austin Custom Brass 3CS mp and a MD65 Wedge. The most reliable is the Wedge and is my " go to " mouthpiece for most of my playing.
I guess I am trying to say to you that what worked 50 years ago will not necessarily work now. Are your teeth different now ? I have a full upper denture now and that was likely one of the reasons why the smaller 10.5 no longer worked. The Wedge I am using is a bit large with an ID at .650 inches, so perhaps a larger piece would work for you without having to play to the side of the lips rather than dead center.
It was quite an accomplishment for you to suddenly get from Low C below the staff to high C above the staff all because of a shift in mp placement on the chops. You didn't say what mp you were using but if the shift in placement and whatever the mp was that got you a 2 octave scale ( providing it was not a one time fluke ) then perhaps it would be smart to stick with them.
Good luck on your come back.
George
If you are playing a new piece, and if you have the time, scanning it is number one on my list. I'll sing it to myself while making mental notes.
Unfortunately you don't always have the time to scan, Sometimes it's just a quick peek and away you go.
@dr-go said in Traits that make a great sight reader?:
I believe the hardest part of sight reading is being able to count. What really trips me up the most is reading where NOT to play (the rests) more so than were TO play (the notes). It all comes down to the rhythm, the feel of the song. That is what I find most challenging regarding sight reading.
I would have to agree with Doc on this part of sight reading, especially the rhythm. I don't realize how wrong I sometime get this in new pieces until I am playing with others. Then it all falls into place.
@dr-go
Me, too, Doc. He used to post a lot at TH but haven't seen anything from him there in quite some time. I always found Kehaulani an interesting character, and a fighter who really wanted to play the trumpet the way he had before those series of strokes. He had a short fuse, but I probably would have one too if I had to go through what he had. I really respect the guy.
@bigdub
I know what you are saying, Wayne. Back in the days of the big bands you went to an audition and had to play a piece of music you had never seen before, yet play it as if you played it every day of your life. If you couldn't do that back then, you wouldn't last long in the business. So the pros have to be able to sight read flawlessly. I am certainly no pro...
@trumpetlearner
I am more comfortable in leaving the cleaning of my horns to experienced techs like Flugel Girl. They know their stuff.
@bigdub
My sight reading skills were not so great at the beginning of my comeback at age 79. Those skills were sharper when I was a younger player. I never had trouble reading those songs I was familiar with, just those that were not.
So I spend a lot of time learning to play new songs. I figure them out by hearing the notes and then singing them if the piece has lyrics.
The band I play with is always adding new material and that has helped me in sharpening my sight reading ability.
Nice looking horn. Some trumpets are more responsive than others, making them easier to play. The King may be better than your Yamaha in this case.
As far as rubber O-rings go, they are sometimes added by owners. The purpose of the rings is to remove any clicking sounds when using the 1st and 3rd valves. I was advised to not use rubber rings on my two silver horns.
@rowuk said [ If things get congested (tonguing, breathing, chops, brain), it is amazing how much a sip of water helps. ]
That is so true. I get up, sip some water, walk up and down the hall, then go back and face the music and things start working again.