Last season, (2010) the Madison Symphony played a concert featuring trumpeter Chris Botti.  We were basically his back-up band and to be very honest I was not really looking forward to the event.  I know that Chris is probably one of the top five most popular trumpet players in the world right now, along with Wynton Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval and perhaps Doc Severinsen.  I’ve performed with these other three and can attest that they...

Here’s a little tip that many of us already know but can really be helpful especially when sight reading. I think we can all agree that it is essential to create and maintain a pulse to use as an internal metronome while playing.  We were taught to tap our foot to the beat and play along with the pulse created by our foot tapping.* (I have a problem with this but will get into that in a minute.)  My suggestion is to use BOTH feet when...

I was recently teaching at a music camp and heard a fellow faculty discuss the value of practicing scales.  This is something I feel very strongly about and it was encouraging to hear someone else, (from a different instrument even!) feel the same way.  It somehow gave me comfort knowing that I’m not alone in my obsessive behavior toward scale work. Robert Spring is the clarinet instructor at this camp and at Arizona State University...

Title Aria con Variazioni For Bb trumpet/cornet and piano By G. F. Handel (trans. Bernard Fitzgerald) Biographical Info Aria con Variazioni began life as one of Handel’s many works for solo keyboard; specifically his 5th Harpsichord Suite.  Bernard Fitzgerald was a pioneer in transcribing music for brass instruments, primarily trumpet.  Our repertoire has increased tremendously thanks to his work.  This piece is no exception.  It...

I am someone that tries to maintain as high a level of classical trumpet playing as jazz playing.  Call me obsessive-compulsive but I can’t “dabble” at anything.  If I can’t dive in and do something 100% I lose interest and would usually rather not do it at all.  There are a number of trumpet players out there like me “crossover players”, and this article is for you.  Actually, you will find a number of articles on this blog...

I have come to believe that the warm-up is the single most critical element to improving on the trumpet.  I have talked about this concept with every student that I have ever met with.  I have also been talked to about this concept from the many different trumpet teachers I have studied with over the years.  Everyone has their own take on this but I think the main thing is to develop your own take on a good, thorough warm-up routine that...

Title The Burden of Destiny For Bb or C trumpet and piano By James Stephenson Biographical Info Burden of Destiny was written for Chris Martin, the principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony.  James Stephenson relocated to Chicago about the same time as Chris’ appointment and wanted to write a relatively serious piece that would represent the new Chicago ties both of them now have.  Much inspiration was drawn from Carl Sandburg’s poem,...

The Hypothesis Have you ever felt like your progress in learning jazz improvisation is stagnant, rambling, directionless or going nowhere?  It’s easy to feel that way because there is so much to learn in this art form and too many possible directions to go at once.  Looking at a blank page and writing, or blank canvas and painting, without an objective is sometimes too unstructured for a young artist.  If you approach your learning in...

Here’s a quick post that I am sure is common sense to some of you but will hopefully save the rest of you some money.  I had a friend ask me the other day where I take my horns to get cleaned.  (The deep chemical flush cleaning.)  I used to get my horns dipped at the local music repair shop but now I do it myself.  You can do this in your bath tub but it is far better to use a wash basin or turkey roasting pan.  You want a pan or...

Title Prayer of St. Gregory By Alan Hovhaness, op. 62b Peer International Ed. Biographical Info Alan Hovhaness, of Armenian and Scottish descent, was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 8, 1911. He began composing as soon as he could read music, at the age of four – a spontaneous act which seems to have had about it the inevitability of an unquestioned law of nature.  His output is vast as indeed are the giant melodies which...

This analogy is an old one, and I don’t like it very much.  Onions are used for a bunch of different scenarios, but when I said this to a student the other day I decided I had to sit down and try to better figure out what this means to me.  Layers, I guess, and how to deal with them.  Let’s get in to this. Prioritize (Onionize) your Sight Reading It is a very important concept to prioritize your goals when sight reading; especially...

Title Rustiques for Cornet in Bb or Trumpet in C or Bb and Piano by Eugène Bozza Biographical Info Eugène Bozza (1905-1991) has been for many decades not only one of France’s most prolific composers but, like Hindemith and Stevens, a great boon to woodwind and brass players.  His hundreds of solo and recital works have involved virtually every known instrument and instrumental combination, from consort pieces for three bassoons, six...

The following is an exerpt from my book, “Recycling in Jazz Improvisation” which can be downloaded as a pdf in my Books section of DavidCooperMusic.com. The core concept for this book started a while ago when I began teaching my younger trumpet students to practice major scales in what I call “scale fragments”.  I have found that this can be a more efficient means to work on major, diminished, whole-tone, and...

I found this article on Phil Rinaldi’s site and he has graciously allowed me to duplicate it here for you.  It was written by the great trumpet player/designer Mark Van Cleave.  Interestingly, I have never met Mark or know his teaching but I COMPLETELY agree with what he has to say in his article.  In fact, if you take the time to read both of our articles, you will find a lot of similarities!  Enjoy! How to Choose a Trumpet...

Over the years I have had a number of people ask me what horns I play.  Instruments are a very personal decision and my thoughts are only my opinion, so here goes.  I am very proud to own and play Eclipse trumpets and Flugel horn.  I own a LHY Bb and C trumpet in gold plate, a Red Brass Flugel in raw, and the most recent addition to the family is an Eclipse piccolo in polished gold plate.  The piccolo is so amazing I am posting a...

A Trend In Trumpet Playing I have found that in recent years there seems to be a trend for music students, in particular, students of the trumpet, to strive for music careers that encompass and embrace a wider variety of musical styles. Perhaps this is due in part to the fact that the freelancing musical climate has changed from one where a player could more easily make a living doing just studio work or symphonic work or playing in a big...

Martial Arts study taught me to be aware of different spheres of influence that are always present; a safe or un-reachable distance from my opponent, the distance of my initial contact, the preferred distance of greatest control, and too close.  I had a musical experience that got me thinking about these spheres not in a physical context but from a musical performance perspective.  As a performer, we are taught to listen, react and...

The last week of May, 2010, I played a recital with my tuba-playing friend and UWP colleague, Mike Forbes at ITEC.  (International Tuba Euphonium Conference) It was held in Tucson at the University of Arizona, a truly beautiful campus.  I’ve been to many International Trumpet Guild (ITG) conferences and this was my first Tuba Conference. There were of course many similarities; recitals, clinics, master classes, and evening concerts. ...

Those of you that know me know that I am perhaps the biggest trumpet equipment geek out there.  (With the possible exception of my dear friend, Trent Austin who is one of my favorite players and has recently opened his own music store in the Boston area.  I can’t think of anyone that I would rather talk with about buying a trumpet.  Trent has either played or owned every trumpet ever made!  Check out Austin Custom Brass here.) ...

This article appeared in a 2009 ITG journal.  (Unfortunately, the picture that accompanied the ITG article was of a young Terence Blanchard, not Freddie.   My pic is the real deal.) I’d like to share a few of my thoughts about Freddie Hubbard, who died at the age of 70, on December 30, 2008.  The perspective that I will offer is my own, as a trumpet player that has been greatly influenced by the power of Freddie’s music. ...

I have been asked at clinics about mouthpieces and how many are the right amount to play or if you should play everything on one mouthpiece.  I have read that Miles Davis played the same mouthpiece he got in junior high his entire career.  I have also played with the magnificent lead, jazz, commercial player, Lew Soloff who actually had a mouthpiece belt so he could easily grab a different mouthpiece for almost every other phrase!  At...

The following article is an excerpt from my book, “Recycling in Jazz Improvisation” which can be downloaded as a pdf in my Books section of www.DavidCooperMusic.com. There has been a lot of great information written about the use of the pentatonic scale in jazz. My intention here is not to detract from any of it but hopefully through the use of recycling, simplify how one thinks about applying these scales. Instead of...

The following article is an excerpt from my book, “Recycling in Jazz Improvisation” which can be downloaded as a pdf in my Books section of www.DavidCooperMusic.com. Can you Play the Phone Book?  Here is an exercise that should test that knowledge, expand your ear, strengthen your interval recognition and further develop your facility in all keys.  When working on patterns or licks in all keys I have found it very helpful to think of...