ABC

Final Trumpet Clinic

(Matzen)
Attack, Gear, Pedagogical Materials,
Inner Game of Tennis and Physical
Instruction, Conclusion
Attack Practice

Hakan Hardenberger
 General Observations
•  The very beginning of the
sound is one of the most
treacherous areas for all
trumpeters (and all brass
players)
•  Most students have a
tendency to change the
momentum of air during
the intake … especially right
as they are about to play**
•  Momentum of air intake
should always be even and
consistent (ideally)
Michael Sachs
Some possibilities (72 BPM)
 Goals with attack
•  Breath is completely
rounded. This is
typically a more
proactive feeling when
approaching a note.
•  “Diving into the note.”
•  For extra practice, try
breath attacks, poo
attacks, then too
attacks – “Whoo-poo-
too.”
Chris Martin
 Further Refinement
•  The student breathes
through the corners
only.
•  The air coming in is
conversational.
•  The air leaving is
conversational.

James Thompson
Braces
 Instant Challenge
•  When a student gets
braces, drastic changes
to their trumpet playing
occur instantly
•  range decreases
•  endurance decreases
•  pain
•  articulation changes

 Adjusting
•  Be sure they are mentally
prepared for what’s
coming
•  Practice habits must
change in order not to
damage their lips
•  Try smaller increments
(10 to 15 minutes per
sitting)
•  Relative success can still
be achieved with braces
 Alternative “Solutions”
•  To help trumpet players cope with braces,
several devices have been introduced:

•  Jet –Tone Lip Protector: Plastic shield
that clips to the front side of the teeth.
•  Braceguard: A reusable putty – like shield
•  The Morgan Bumper: C – Shaped shield
made of pliable medical – grade
polyvinylchloride
(www.morganbumper.com)
•  Ezo Denture Cushion:
(www.prestigebrandsinc.com/ezo.htm)
•  Orthowax: Medical – grade silicon that
can be applied to braces to cover sharp
edges and fill – in spaces

Jet-Tone Lip Protector

The Vortex
Equipment
 Recommended Bb Trumpets
•  Bach Stradivarius (37,
42 and 72 bell)
•  Bach Artisan
•  Yamaha Xeno
•  Yamaha Artist Models
(Chicago, New York)
•  Shires
•  Stomvi (S3, Titan)

Bach Stradivarius Anniversary 37 Bb Trumpet

 Mouthpieces
•  Truth: There are
thousands of shapes/
sizes of mouthpieces.
•  Truth: A great
mouthpiece range for
most young trumpeters
is a 7c to a 3c.
•  False: As students
develop, they must
move to something
larger.
Jens Lindemann (5c mouthpiece)
 Some Guidelines
•  Mouthpieces are not all
made the same (all 3C
mouthpieces are not be the
same.)
•  Bach sizes are the standard
of the industry.
•  Mouthpiece rims must be in
great shape (scratches will
alter playability)
•  Not all players and horns
will respond the same to a
particular mouthpiece.
•  One player’s trash is
another player’s treasure**
 Suggested Mouthpiece Brands
•  Bach*
•  Pickett
•  Marcinkiewicz
•  Stomvi Flex
•  Gary Radtke (GR)
•  Denis Wick*
•  Greg Black*
•  Schilke
•  Stork*
•  Curry*
*Relatively inexpensive
Clocking the Mouthpiece
 Clocking Notes ..
•  No horn, or mouthpiece is
made perfectly.
•  Small twists of the
mouthpiece (while in the
receiver) can alter how
the horn responds.
•  Finding the appropriate
“clocking” can help
players lock into their
equipment’s best setting,
while helping to eliminate
“bad” or “off” days.
Young Lead Players and Mouthpieces
 Some notes
•  Many young players will
begin to explore different
mouthpieces to help make
the upper register easier.
•  This is perfectly ok, but
certain rules must be
followed to keep the
student form going astray.
•  When (or if) it’s time for
this, its critical that the rim
of the new mouthpiece
remain similar to the rim
that they traditionally
perform with.
 Some Suggestions
•  Bach 3C players could try
a Bach 3D or 3E, Schilke
14, or a Warburton 4.
•  Bach 7C players could try
a Bach 7D or 7E.
•  Bach 1.5 C players could
try a Curry 70M, or a
Marcinkiewicz Bobby
Shew 1.5.
•  Note: Charley Davis
(Buddy Rich Band) played
lead on a 3C for years.
Embouchure

Maurice Andre
 Andre Quote …

“Never have I visited a country where players where so concerned with embouchure”
 Keeping it simple
•  Try to avoid extremes
•  Playing “in the red”
•  Should have a natural
look
•  Allow students to place
mouthpiece where it
feels comfortable
•  Embouchure changes
only when absolutely
necessary
 Good vs. Bad?

Denver Dill (West Point Band) Jon Faddis (Celebrated Lead/Jazz Soloist)
 Embouchure Concluded
•  Some may look good,
but struggle
•  Some may look bad but
excel
•  Try to avoid “playing in
the red”
•  Embouchure changes
only when absolutely
necessary
Books/Etudes
 Primary Books
•  Getchell: First and
Second Book of
Practical Studies
(Intermediate)
•  H.L. Clarke: Technical
Studies for Cornet
(Intermediate to
Advanced)
•  Rubank: Advanced
Method for Trumpet
Vol.I
 Advanced*
•  Arban: Complete
Conservatory Method
for Trumpet
•  Schlossberg: Daily Drills
and Technical Studies
for Trumpet
•  Charlier: 36
Transcendental Etudes*
 More Advanced Book Info ..
•  Bordogni: 24 Vocalises
(transposition)
•  Smith: Top Tones for
the Trumpeter (range
and endurance)
•  Snedecor: Low Note
Etudes (Mid-to-low
range lyrical work)
Final Session Review

American Brass Quintet

 Attack Review
•  Breath is completely
rounded with same
momentum throughout

•  Diving into the note

•  Whoo-poo-too

Chris Martin
 Braces
•  When a student gets
braces, drastic changes
to their trumpet playing
occur instantly
•  Smaller increment
practice
•  Experiment with other
options (wax, etc.)
Equipment
Clocking the Mouthpiece
Embouchure

Maurice Andre
Books/Etudes
Late Entries
Air Pockets

Nicolas Payton
More Air Pockets …

Ryan Kisor
 Solution …
•  Lip buzzing (one to two
minutes per day)
•  Roll in …

 Quick Warm Up for Youngsters
•  Lip slur patterns (down
the harmonic series)
followed with articulation
of same pattern
•  C up to G down to C
•  C-G-C-G-C (then tongue
3X)
•  C-G-C-E (then tongue 3X)
•  C-G-C-E-G (then tongue
3x)
•  If ready (and time
allowing) go for Bb and C
Vowel Shapes
 Keep it Simple
•  In general, a flat
tongue, or ahhh syllable
•  When ascending, and if
necessary, the student
can slowly move to
eeee
•  The longer the tongue
can stay flat, the better

MRI of Syllables
 List of Professional Players
Classical Jazz
•  Wynton Marsalis •  Wynton Marsalis
(soloist) •  Nicolas Payton
•  Alison Balsom (soloist) •  Clifford Brown
•  Hakan Hardenberger •  Chet Baker (early)
(soloist) •  Louis Armstrong
•  Philip Smith (New York •  Roy Hargrove
Phil)
•  Miles Davis*
•  Chris Martin (New York
Phil)


Conclusion: The Inner Game of Tennis
 Two Major Points from the Book
•  “Natural Learning”:
Observation and Careful
Effort to Recreate
•  “Non-Judgemental
Awareness:” Being aware
of what is, without
labeling it as good or bad.
•  Non-emotional
attachment to the
results: These results are
desirable, or not
desirable.

 Observation …
•  Observation, Followed
by Careful Recreation
•  For trumpeters (and all
brass) this implies
careful aural and visual
observation of
professional sounds .. .
Then attempting to
recreate …
Sound Familiar?
Chicago School of Brass Pedagogy
Help Them Find Their “Inner Gabriel”

Phil Smith
 Questions?
•  Dr. Max Matzen (Utah
State University)
•  Email:
max.matzen@usu.edu
•  Phone: (435) 797-9117