The Complete Trumpet Player Challenge - August 2025
The Complete Trumpet Player Challenge - August 11
VIEW RECORDING - 71 mins
Introductions and Warm-Up @ 0:00
The meeting began with participants introducing themselves and sharing their trumpet playing backgrounds and goals for the week-long "Complete Trumpet Player Challenge". Chris Davis, the instructor, led the group through a warm-up exercise of lead pipe buzzing to help participants focus on producing a resonant, steady tone.
Identifying Common Trumpet Player Mistakes @ 1:35
Chris outlined three common mistakes trumpet players make: ignoring sound quality, lacking a structured practice routine, and having an unhealthy mindset. He emphasized the importance of developing a consistent practice routine and listening to great trumpet players to build a strong sound concept.
Exploring Dynamic Range Through Long Tones @ 11:49
Chris led the group through an exercise of playing long tones, starting softly, crescendoing to loud, and then diminishing back to soft. The goal was to expand their dynamic range and understand the physical sensations at the extremes of their volume capabilities.
Feedback and Troubleshooting @ 24:05
Participants shared their experiences and challenges with the long tone exercise. Chris provided individualized feedback and suggestions, such as maintaining an open, upright posture and experimenting with different approaches to buzzing to find what works best for each player.
Homework and Next Steps @ 1:09:24
To conclude the session, Chris assigned the group homework to listen to at least three professional trumpet players and describe their sound using descriptive words. He also encouraged them to continue practicing the buzzing and long tone exercises covered during the meeting.
The Complete Trumpet Player Challenge - August 12
VIEW RECORDING - 84 mins (No highlights)
Discussing trumpet sound concepts @ 0:00
The group discussed their experiences listening to and describing the sounds of various trumpet players like Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, and Clifford Brown. They shared descriptive words like "fragile", "delicate", "bluesy", "brassy", and "breathy" to capture the unique qualities of each player's tone.
Importance of intentional listening @ 5:41
Chris emphasized the importance of being intentional and specific when listening to and describing trumpet sounds. He encouraged the group to identify what they like and don't like about different players' sounds, as this will help them develop their own personal sound concept.
The seven core elements of trumpet playing @ 11:51
Chris introduced the seven core elements of trumpet playing as outlined by Claude Gordon: wind power, the lips, control of the air, the tongue, the muscles of the lips and face, the fingers of the right hand, and the left hand. He explained that mastering these fundamentals is crucial for developing as a trumpet player.
Flexibility as the "master key" to trumpet playing @ 13:36
Chris identified flexibility as the "master key" to trumpet playing, as it directly impacts range, endurance, and other important skills. He explained the benefits of practicing slurs, bends, and pedal tones to develop flexibility.
Common mistakes and tips for improving flexibility @ 26:25
Chris addressed common mistakes he observed, such as a "lazy tongue" and over-blowing, and provided tips for improving flexibility, including using a metronome, focusing on the coordination of wind and tongue, and practicing between just two notes to develop intentional tongue movement.
Practicing flexibility and exploring pedal tones @ 34:55
The group practiced slurs, bends, and pedal tones together, with Chris providing feedback and guidance. He challenged the participants to spend 15-30 minutes per day practicing flexibility exercises to develop their personal sound concept and range.
Mouthpiece considerations and personal sound development @ 54:32
Joe raised a question about finding the right mouthpiece to support his range and sound, and Chris provided advice, suggesting he work with a professional mouthpiece fitter to find the best fit. The discussion highlighted the importance of developing a personal sound that feels comfortable and consistent.
Recap and closing thoughts @ 1:14:19
Chris summarized the key takeaways from the session, reiterating the importance of practicing flexibility and intentionally developing one's personal sound. He encouraged the group to continue exploring these concepts and provided resources for further study.
The Complete Trumpet Player Challenge - August 13
70 mins (No highlights)
Breathing exercises and their benefits @ 0:00
The group practiced a series of breathing exercises focused on maintaining good posture and form. Chris explained that these exercises help train the body for proper trumpet playing technique and can expand lung capacity over time.
Overcoming mental blocks and fear @ 1:22
Gregory Kimble shared that one of the key insights he gained was the importance of not "bowing down to the trumpet" and overcoming the mental fear factor. Chris reinforced the idea of taking control of the instrument rather than letting it control you.
Importance of consistent practice @ 6:13
Brian Reilly emphasized the need for a consistent practice routine, which Chris agreed is crucial for growth as a trumpet player. Chris shared his own experience of applying this lesson from his college weightlifting class to his trumpet playing.
Developing embouchure and breath support @ 13:27
Several participants, including Gregory Kimble and Dagfinn Garnes-Johnsen, noted feeling sore or tight in their embouchure and needing to work on improving their breath support and air capacity through the breathing exercises.
Recap and next steps @ 1:07:34
Chris reminded the group that tomorrow's session would be the last in the challenge, and that the focus would be on mindset and addressing participants' questions. He encouraged everyone to come prepared with at least one question.
The Complete Trumpet Player Challenge - August 14
VIEW RECORDING - 69 mins (No highlights)
Introductions and warm-up @ 0:18
The meeting begins with casual greetings and a brief musical warm-up, with the participants playing some blues-inspired improvisation together.
Positive experiences from the week @ 3:00
Chris asks the participants to share any positive results or experiences they've had so far from attending the week's sessions. The participants discuss increased confidence, better technique, and a clearer sense of how to approach practicing.
The importance of a growth mindset @ 10:48
Chris emphasizes the importance of having a growth mindset when facing challenges in trumpet playing. He shares stories of students who overcame significant obstacles through consistent practice and a positive attitude.
Visualization and mental practice @ 31:36
Chris discusses the power of visualization and mental practice, using the example of a bowling coach who had students practice "shadow bowling" to improve their technique without the physical ball.
Dealing with mistakes and maintaining focus @ 37:49
Chris shares a story about a veteran trumpet player who made a rare mistake during a performance, highlighting the importance of having a short memory and quickly refocusing after an error.
The Returning Trumpet Player method @ 50:55
Chris introduces his "Returning Trumpet Player" program, which provides on-demand lessons, a supportive community, and weekly office hours to help players improve their endurance, range, and confidence.
Wrap-up and next steps @ 1:07:42
Chris thanks the participants for their time and engagement, and invites them to provide feedback on their experience through a survey. He also expresses interest in interviewing a couple of the participants further.
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