Every time you play, consider that you are enclosed in a mistake-free and boredom-free zone! Don't think, oh no! I better not make a mistake! Instead, think, here's my chance to play something exciting and beautiful. The goal is elegance, power, finesse, phrasing, and quality of notes. The audience MUST be interested! Both style AND control are expected. This mindset will start to repel fear, hesitancy and sloppiness as you practice. Every note matters.      Amazing playing is useless if it is badly flawed. Likewise, immaculate control is not as impressive as attention-get ..read more

"Why don't you play like a great musician, and NOT like an average trumpet player?"  Musicianship matters in the practice room, and musicianship matters on the stage.     ..read more

For sure, the professional trumpet player needs to be as aggressive as a highly paid NFL running back. Being able to heroically bulldoze over the rest of the orchestra is not enough however. The opposite is also required. It can be even more challenging to skillfully tiptoe through the daisies!   The well-placed bunt is as important as the grand slam. The gentle lob over the net is as effective as the powerful ace. The three-foot putt is as vital as the long drive. We shouldn't focus on power at the expense of finesse.    The orchestral works of Mahler require not only gre ..read more

  A disaster of monumental proportions was about to happen to me in the summer of 1966 at the Interlochen Music Camp. It was time for our weekly challenges for section placement. By a majority vote it was either "move him up or move him down." I had reigned in the coveted first chair position all summer. On that dark day in July, however, I received the dreaded verdict: "MOVE HIM DOWN." Dethroned in an instant! I felt like the kid in the movie Christmas Story who not only got pummeled by the neighborhood bullies, but also had to endure "awh, what's the matter, kid!"  Not handling the ..read more

The Promenade from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is the trumpet player's signature excerpt and the one usually heard first on every audition. That famous opening solo is expected to sound great, to be in tune, in time, and flawless. Hence, our total focus on polishing every one of those 54 notes!  After recording a recent practice session of this excerpt, I asked for some feedback. I heard this comment. "It sounds like you don't want to be in the art gallery."   Definitely NOT the advice I wanted to hear! Yet that honest assessment was the one-sentence lesson I ..read more

I once asked a veteran oboe player in the Cleveland Orchestra how often he felt good about his playing. I expected a response like, "every time, man!" I was stunned to hear him say, "I feel great only about 10% of the time."  It sure didn't sound that way! His playing was always musical and flawless. I wish I had asked him how he did it, but I suppose the answer is obvious. It's why he had that job.  So, what's the takeaway?  Be encouraged that you can learn to sound great even if your heart isn't always in it.  Fool your listeners. Act the part. Alway ..read more

What does a xylophone have to do with trumpet playing? Not a lot, except when taking a closer look at the mallets.  The "ping" produced by the striking mallet on the toy xylophone is how clear and precise trumpet entrances need to be. The mallet is the tongue. The note is focused, clear, popping, ringing, and pinging.    ..read more

Mel Broiles had just demonstrated how one of those opera arias in Arban's The Art of Phrasing should sound. Then it was my turn. (Yes pressure!) Trying hard to reproduce even some of his elegance and power, I whole-heartedly plowed through one of those famous Verdi arias. I gave it my best but expected a grimace and shrug of disapproval. Instead, he exclaimed, "Spoken like a gentleman!" Later I wondered if it was sarcasm or genuine praise. Praise was hard to get. I took it as a compliment which has served as motivation lasting for years. How important are the words we speak ..read more

"Every piece of music has an important octave in it." (William Vacchiano) That simple statement should launch a search for all the prominant and voluptuous solo octaves on the planet, starting from Over the Rainbow all the way through Mahler 9!  Have a nice octave day!  ..read more