STACCATO STUDIES: FUNDAMENTALS CHECKLIST
Before diving in briefly review evergreen, cornerstone annotations.
CHECKLIST
#1 "PRACTICE REST" (re: Maurice Andre also via Arturo Sandoval)
Never make your lips angry; they'll always remind you of it later...
NEVER OVERPRACTICE -> more damage than good Taylor & Herrman razor blade p. 100
getting back can take e.g. 48 hours (David Hickman)
gentle wake up gentle prodding nudging
see Shuebruk razor blade p. 10 "Rest the lips when they are tired, all forcing is harmful."
See Sandoval page 008
See Stacy Blair
#2 LIP FORMATION-> The little volcano, the little crater ...
Lip formation (whistling versus dated smiling/stretching school)
Say June (July's NOT the same!)
Pucker up
Lower lip like a drawer, tray, or wheelbarrow that protrudes and moves into the mouthpiece or in/out as needed
Maggio Cardoso Pinto Pedrito Walter Smith
"Pedal tones 'force' the correct formation" (something like indicating that the formation of [both] lips is appropriate)
Like blowing a candle or making soap bubbles
#3 PLACEMENT
Either land mpce above lips and slide down or land mpce below lips and slide up until you get the knack "w/o thinking"/second nature internalize
Maggio's Carl Macbeth photo -> right below the nose, then slide down until "we feel it has reached" the "correct point"
"Everything is relative" but
lip split "lower lip does the job" Shuebruk p.011 for me 1/3 upper 2/3 lower lip
Schlossberg Introductory Notes …
"One-third of the mouthpiece should be placed in the upper lip and Two-thirds on the lower lip.
Arban agrees with 1/3 upper, 2/3 lower lip (p.xxx), but it's somewhat of a personal "case-by-case" approach.
#4 SOUND QUALITY
Sound quality: warm sound (rapier), also vizzutti. The only thing that matters is sound quality.
For example, 10 minutes of broken notes only add up to 3 minutes of "training."
3 minutes of awesome sound. Bad sound is bad practice. Bad practice is bad practice -> stop. "As soon as" it happens. Stick to practice, rest as needed, and retry.
#5 HOW TO HOLD THE INSTRUMENT
How to hold the instrument -> Sam Krauss
#6 WARM-UP
Warm-up: always soft/pp/ppp (Adel Sanchez). Practice in general: also soft/pp, warm sound (rapier).
Warming Up, Daily Work and Practice
https://www.facebook.com/reel/175510329896896
#7 TONGUE MOVEMENT
Tongue movement/control/attack ("staccato/marcato/…")
Pinto whip.
Whipping Jerry
lightning/sudden Shuebruk
pronounces A E I (Spanish)
initially TIJ but better TÜJ (German!) -> ALWAYS remember "June"
#8 MOUTHPIECES
All of them sound great the first time you try them. Next day/later on it may be a different story.
Size -> largest diameter you can!
cup -> most cases C is OK ("ideally" C for C trumpets; B for Bb trumpets …)
V shape Cardozo Pinto
the instrument is you..
#9 LIP FLEXIBILITY
"lip" flexibility in the long run via "the pronunciation" (A E I O U)
lower lip "moveable tray" lower in/o "curved" sometimes on and off depending on
Shuebruk.011: "Never neglect Slurring, whatever else you may overlook."
My favorite is Walter Smith's Lip Flexibility on the Trumpet
See also Schlossberg T/D Ta/Tu/Tee… etc.
See Sandoval p.034
#10 INTERVALS/STRIKING NOTES/ATTACK/SLOTTING
Always practice attack/intervals very slowly at first. Anticipate the second note (basically internalizing the leap/interval) "in your mind/ear." With or without time signatures. Remove horn on and off, varying the frequency (Shuebruk). This can help with familiar melodies. See Sandoval.009.
#11 METRONOME/VISUALISERS/XYLOPHONE/BELLS
A metronome always helps (any amount online). Even a small wooden xylophone is fine for tuning or slotting. (Piano is also okay.)
#12 SINGING APPROACH
"Singing approach" vocalises/warm-up/melodious open-up sound. Jerry Herseth: "This is how I play drop yor" stick..."
Eslava helps Sandoval
sing in a choir…
Frank Sinatra didn't know how to read music
Many of Duke Ellington's musicians didn't either (Tizol helped them)
see Sandoval…
Charles Colin (Melodious Fundamentals Foreword): "The present trend is Teaching Through Melody"
Herseth's Promenade lyrics
#13 HANGING THE HORN... (but to keep going!)
hanging horns from "the roof/some support" w/o holding the instrument and playing
See Jim Morrison on pressure.
#14 CLEANING MAINTENANCE
rinse w/water free tap (even as you practice)
glass of water
blow water through horn - all valves down e.g. 3 - 4 glasses or break
now and then a little oil drop from leadpipe (Nagel)
and some little drops for valves (3rd in particular…)
nail enamel/polish "helps" sometimes to protect chipped silver
when the silver comes out -> a little bit of feminine enamel...
#15 Nasal Sound
Most likely a very small opening, often used when the lips are still weak.
#16 Relaxed Shoulders
Relaxed shoulders
#17 Internalization
All of these "mechanisms" later become second nature (100% internalized; it just comes naturally).
#18 No Air Play
Practice attacks without air (Jerry).
#19 Top Shape
If possible, swim every day (Rafael Mendez, Einstein, etc.).
#20 Air Charge
A deep, full air charge before playing (see Sam Krauss). Note: Compare with #18 -> drills of both types! "Practice" the "air load" by alternating or rotating "frequently" with flugelhorn, C & Bb horns.
The pros will do it with D or Eb and piccolo, I suppose.
#22 PERSEVERANCE -> PATIENCE = PEACE (INNER PEACE TO DECIDE) + SCIENCE (KEEP BUSY) = "Drilling is not boring."
Doc Severinsen (the relative "ingratitude" of brass...)
If I skip practice for 1 day, I notice.
If I skip practice for 2 days, the guys in the band notice.
If I skip practice for 3 days, everyone notices.
Gilbert Johnson vs. Bud Herseth vs. Jim Morrison (24/7/366)
#23 GOOD ROLE MODELS (VERY BIASED) Good role models:
Graham Breedlove, Tony Scodwell,
Jim Morrison,
Mnozil Brass
#24 RENOLD OTTO SCHILKE
Schilke the mezzoforte horn
#25 BUZZING
Some say Yes, some say not so but wouldn't harm as drill/control.
Buzzing Schlossberg.IntroNotes
#26 "DEAF" ROOMS VS. CHURCH ACOUSTICS
"Deaf/unpleasant" rooms versus church/bathroom acoustics
If "the lips are well/trained," one context or the other is irrelevant
See also Sandoval…
#27 PEDAL TONES
Pedal tones
See MacBeth/Maggio
See Getzen Clinician Paper by Kenneth Bloomquist
See Sandoval
#28 CONDENSATION PURGE
Now and then you will have to purge condensation.
#29 NEVER TAP MOUTHPIECE INTO LEADPIPE
If it gets stuck you'll need a mouthpiece remover.
Philosopher's Tip of The Week (Irvin Yalom): "No rose without a thorn. But many a thorn without a rose!!!"
When you're asked how much you want to get paid just answer ..." The tree will be as tall as the church!" (but you know you will overdeliver)
The World's Top Performers Use TheTrumpetBible.com Every Day!
Symphony Orchestra Players!
Jazz Ensemble Artists!
Baroque Repertoire & Chamber Music Soloists!
