Advice · Education · Gear · Interview · Mouthpieces · Playing techniques · Teaching techniques

Design Innovations : BuzzBuddy

Designed in Australia by Lisa Holownia, BuzzBuddy provides a lip cushion to make it more comfortable to play. It has revolutionised trumpet playing for students with braces or dental work and is also great for outdoor playing. Lisa talks to us here about the process of design and what brought her to create BuzzBuddy in the first place.

Advice · Education · Playing techniques · Teaching techniques

NEW : Educational Resources

This new page has a variety of resources that I hope that you will find useful. Fellow teachers will find these to be easily accessible and understandable. These are all concepts and exercises that I have used with my own pre-college students over the past 25 years, and have also found lots of these to… Continue reading NEW : Educational Resources

Education

What’s the story behind Trump Street?

Visitors to the City of London (London's main financial district) will be accustomed to the glass-fronted homes of high finance and over-priced coffee. They may well have also come across the interestingly named 'Trump Street' and thought it to be a nod to our friends over the pond. They would however be wrong! I recently… Continue reading What’s the story behind Trump Street?

Advice · Gear · Playing techniques

Using Guitar Pedals for an Innovative Trumpet Sound

The widespread use of the trumpet in music dates back to jazz in the early 20s, but we hear it in so much more music today. Aside from blending in classic orchestral pieces, trumpets can elevate a piece's melody because of their distinct sound. But how do we further innovate the sound of the trumpet?Trumpets… Continue reading Using Guitar Pedals for an Innovative Trumpet Sound

Advice · Education · Playing techniques · Teaching techniques

Arban Variations

Arban's 'Cornet Method' is often referred to as the brass players' bible. It addresses many aspects of brass playing, both technically and musically, and with the right guidance is a superb tool for any player's development. However, many young players struggle with HOW to practise the exercises within this book, and many a copy is… Continue reading Arban Variations

Advice · Education · Interview

The Carmine Caruso Legacy

I think that the concept of a saxophonist and former violinist becoming one of the most well-respected and well-known trumpet (and brass) teachers is a fascinating one. His callisthenic approach will be well-known to many readers through his publications, but in addition to this concentration on the physical synchronisation of different muscle groups, he also… Continue reading The Carmine Caruso Legacy

Advice · Education

Claude Gordon Practice Routines

This article was originally written by Jeff Purtle and published in The Brass herald in 2009. Jeff Purtle is a private teacher, clinician, and trumpet player with international clientele. As a protégé of Claude Gordon he continues the traditions of Claude Gordon and Herbert L. Clarke with effortless playing and productive practice. Please visit purtle.com for a fabulous range of educational content.

Advice · Education

So You or Your Kid Wants to Play the Trumpet

An article by Estela Aragon, CEO/Founder at TrumpetHeadquarters.com Ahhhh the trumpet. So many of all ages fall in love with the instrument due to its age- less sound and versatility. The trumpet plays nice with classical, jazz, pop, mariachi, latin jazz, bluegrass, dixieland and many eastern music forms. It’s no wonder that the world is… Continue reading So You or Your Kid Wants to Play the Trumpet

Advice · Education · Gear Review

Do Bell Covers help prevent the spread of COVID-19?

OK, so I need to say right off the bat that I have no intention of actually answering this question! I am certainly not qualified. This past year (plus change) has seen it become ok for us all to express ‘opinions’ on science, and for us to have the choice to either agree or disagree, sometimes depending on our political leanings. This confusion has been confusing!

Advice · Education

Tone Without Tension

Marcus Reynolds is a clinician and lecturer for the British Association of Performing Arts, and the British Trombone Society. Also the creator of Stratos embouchure system, in this feature article (originally published in 'Brass Band World') he unravels more mysteries of the embouchure. "In my last article [click here to read 'Power over Pressure'], I explained… Continue reading Tone Without Tension