The Returning Trumpet Player Method - July 23
The participants introduced themselves, sharing their backgrounds as trumpet players - some were returning to the instrument after long breaks, while others had played more consistently. They discussed their main challenges and goals, including improving range, endurance, and confidence in improvising.
The importance of sound @ 39:20
The instructor emphasized the critical importance of developing a great trumpet sound as the foundation for achieving one's goals. He discussed the mental and physical approaches to producing a quality sound, including actively listening to great trumpet players, using proper posture and embouchure, and practicing long tones with a tuning drone.
Practicing with tuning drones @ 1:49:17
The instructor demonstrated how to use online tuning drone tools like TuningDrones.com and mobile apps like Tonal Energy to help players tune their long tones and develop a better sense of pitch and intonation. He recommended incorporating drone practice into the participants' weekly routines.
Recap and next steps @ 2:14:16
The instructor summarized the key takeaways and action items for the participants over the next week, including actively listening to trumpet recordings, practicing long tones with tuning drones, and maintaining good posture and embouchure. He scheduled a follow-up coaching session for the group on Friday at 10am Central time.
Introduction to the online community @ 2:18:08
The instructor introduced a private online community he had set up for the group, where participants could share progress, breakthroughs, questions, and resources. He encouraged everyone to actively engage in the community throughout the program.
The Returning Trumpet Player Method - July 30
Introductions and Casual Conversation @ 0:00
The meeting begins with casual conversation between the participants, including Louis Thompson and chrisjohnson discussing moving their sons and dealing with physical fatigue. They also discuss time zone differences and their daily activities.
Preparing for the Lesson @ 3:41
Chris Davis, the instructor, joins the call and checks in with the participants to ensure their audio is working properly. There is some troubleshooting around microphone and audio settings.
Recap of Previous Assignments @ 12:59
Chris reviews the assignments from the previous week, including the "Why Do You Play Trumpet?" reflection, goal setting, active listening, and practicing long tones with a drone. He emphasizes the importance of developing a strong sound concept through active listening.
The Importance of Flexibility @ 15:13
Chris explains that the key to trumpet playing is flexibility, which he defines as the ability to move smoothly between notes without breaking the air flow. He discusses the difference between slurs and bends, and how to coordinate the tongue and air support for effective slurring.
Practicing Slurs and Pedal Tones @ 21:33
Chris leads the group through a series of slur and pedal tone exercises, emphasizing the importance of relaxation and using the tongue effectively. He provides guidance on how to approach these techniques, including the use of the lower back muscles to support the air flow.
Practicing Articulation @ 1:43:05
Chris introduces exercises focused on developing articulation skills, particularly through the use of different tonguing patterns and models. He recommends practicing these exercises as part of a daily routine.
Recap and Next Steps @ 1:47:27
Chris summarizes the key concepts covered in the lesson and encourages the participants to continue practicing the techniques discussed, including long tones, flexibility exercises, and articulation. He also invites the participants to post videos of themselves playing for feedback and comparison.
The Returning Trumpet Player Method - August 06
Introductions and background @ 0:00
The meeting begins with Tony and Louis Thompson, two retired pharmacists, reminiscing about their careers and where they worked. They discuss their backgrounds, education, and when they retired.
Importance of fundamentals @ 7:54
Chris Davis emphasizes the importance of consistently practicing the fundamentals of trumpet playing, such as breathing exercises, buzzing, long tones, and flexibility studies. He stresses that even advanced players should never stop doing these basic exercises, as they are the foundation for developing and maintaining good technique.
Developing a practice routine @ 19:33
Chris provides sample practice routines for players at different levels, outlining the key components to include such as breathing, buzzing, long tones, flexibility, tonguing, and finger dexterity exercises. He encourages the group to create their own personalized routines and share them for feedback.
Modifying routines for time constraints @ 1:20:33
Eric Roethe shares that due to other commitments, he has been unable to complete his full 2-hour practice routine. Chris provides suggestions on how to modify the routine to focus on the most essential elements within a 45-minute timeframe.
Recap and next steps @ 1:33:22
Chris reminds the group to post their practice routines in the community for feedback, and to come prepared on Friday to play a short excerpt so he can provide guidance. He also requests feedback from the group to help improve the program for future participants.
The Returning Trumpet Player Method - August 13
The group reviewed the progress made in the previous lessons, including completing worksheets on why they play trumpet, goal setting, active listening, and developing a practice routine. The instructor emphasized the importance of continuing to work through these foundational exercises.
Understanding endurance @ 24:24
The instructor defined endurance as the ability to withstand hardship or adversity, and explained that playing trumpet does involve some fatigue, but not pain. He discussed different types of endurance required for various playing situations, such as jazz improvisation versus horn section work. The instructor provided tips for recovering after demanding performances, including warming down, icing the face, staying hydrated, and getting sufficient rest.
Practicing for endurance @ 38:17
The instructor presented two opposing approaches to practicing for endurance - one focused on ample rest between exercises, and the other using the Caruso method which is designed to quickly fatigue the player. He explained the specific rules of the Caruso method and how to incorporate it into a practice routine, cautioning against overusing it. The group then practiced the "Caruso Magic Six Notes" exercise together.
Transitioning to jazz improvisation @ 1:32:00
The instructor began a new section on jazz improvisation, first addressing common misconceptions about the process. He emphasized the importance of understanding musical form, highlighting the blues form, AABA form, and 32-bar form. The group listened to examples of these forms and discussed how identifying the structure can help with improvising. The instructor also provided a "crash course" on authentic jazz articulation, introducing syllables like "did", "dot", and "dah" to use when practicing.
Recap and next steps @ 2:06:46
The instructor summarized the key points covered in the lesson and indicated they would continue the jazz improvisation discussion in the next meeting. He reminded the group about the upcoming weekly office hours call and asked who would be attending.
Call To ActionThe Returning Trumpet Player Method - August 20
Reviewing articulation concepts @ 0:00
The group reviewed the key concepts of jazz articulation, including short notes (dit, dot, dat), long notes (due, day, die), and the rule of the rest (notes before a rest are short). They practiced applying these articulations through rhythmic exercises.
Internalizing the swing feel @ 9:27
The instructor emphasized the importance of internalizing the underlying triplet subdivision of swing rhythm. The group practiced feeling and expressing this through heel tapping, clapping, and saying "doodle" and "triplet" over the beat.
The benefits of transcribing @ 22:41
The instructor discussed the value of transcribing jazz solos, including internalizing the sound, learning authentic articulations and styles, developing technical skills, and gaining a deeper understanding of harmony and improvisation.
Exploring the circle of fourths/fifths @ 30:14
The group learned about intervals and the cycle of fourths and fifths, which is foundational to jazz harmony. They practiced playing scales and chord progressions through the cycle to develop familiarity with these harmonic patterns.
The importance of the blues @ 1:29:00
The instructor explained why the blues is an essential starting point for learning to improvise, highlighting its rhythmic flexibility, harmonic versatility, and deep connection to the origins of jazz. The group listened to examples of blues-influenced gospel and spiritual music.
Homework and next steps @ 1:51:57
The instructor assigned three key homework tasks: 1) identify the forms of standard jazz tunes, 2) practice playing through the cycle of fourths/fifths, and 3) transcribe a blues melody. He encouraged the group to share their progress in the community.
The Returning Trumpet Player Method - August 27
Clarifying previous lesson points @ 10:41
Chris Davis takes time to clarify and correct a couple points he had made in the previous class, regarding jazz articulation and the use of the blues scale.
Student progress updates and reflections @ 15:08
Josh Hardison shares that he has started playing with a community band, which has presented new challenges but also been a positive experience. The group discusses the value of performing publicly, even when it is uncomfortable at first.
Reviewing and practicing articulation concepts @ 21:36
Chris Davis leads the group through a detailed review and practice session on using specific articulation syllables (e.g. "dit", "dot", "do") to achieve an authentic jazz feel, having them sing, play, and analyze the differences.
Analyzing a Miles Davis solo @ 1:06:57
Chris Davis reveals that the transcription they had been working on is actually a Miles Davis solo on the tune "Trains Blues". He plays the recording, has the group analyze the melodic and rhythmic elements, and discusses how to use this type of analysis to inform one's own improvisation.
Recap and next steps @ 2:10:21
Chris Davis summarizes the key takeaways from the session, encourages the group to continue transcribing solos, and answers any final questions before concluding the meeting.
The Returning Trumpet Player Method - September 03
Continuous scale exercise @ 6:49
Chris introduces the concept of the "continuous scale exercise" as a way to fluidly move between chords and keys. He demonstrates how to use this technique, incorporating chromatic notes and leaps, to create a smooth, jazz-like sound. Participants take turns practicing the exercise.
Understanding the five chord @ 11:37
Chris explains the importance and flexibility of the five chord, noting that it often borrows notes from the key of the one chord. He covers different ways to approach a five chord, including Lydian dominant, whole tone, and diminished scales.
Chord extensions and alterations @ 26:38
Chris delves into more advanced chord concepts, discussing the use of extensions like the flat 9, sharp 11, and flat 13. He explains how these altered tones can create tension and interest in the music.
Melody-based improvisation @ 1:58:08
Chris briefly introduces the idea of using melodies to guide improvisation, using the song "Happy Birthday" as an example. However, due to time constraints, he decides to save this topic for the next session.
Recap and homework @ 2:08:09
Chris summarizes the key concepts covered in the lesson, including the continuous scale exercise, understanding five chords, and chord extensions. He assigns homework for participants to practice these techniques on a piano or keyboard.
The Returning Trumpet Player Method - September 10
Lesson recap and progress @ 14:08
Chris expressed his appreciation for the group's participation over the past 8 weeks and encouraged them to continue making progress on their trumpet playing. He also tested some technical features of the video call to ensure the lesson could be recorded effectively.
Chromatic scale and whole-tone scales @ 16:52
Chris explained the concept of the chromatic scale, consisting of all 12 notes in music, and how this leads to the whole-tone scale, which divides the chromatic scale in half using only whole steps.
Diminished chords and scales @ 23:21
Chris discussed the diminished sound, which can be derived by stacking minor thirds on top of each other within the 12-note chromatic scale, resulting in three distinct diminished chords and scales.
Minor scale types and their chord structures @ 32:27
Chris introduced the three main types of minor scales - natural, melodic, and harmonic - and explored the unique chord structures that can be derived from each, highlighting the differences in the fifth-degree chord.
Secondary dominant chords @ 47:14
Chris explained the concept of secondary dominant chords, where a dominant chord is borrowed from another key and placed before the original chord to create a more interesting harmonic progression and temporarily establish a new tonal center.
Practicing techniques and resources @ 1:36:29
Chris provided suggestions for practicing the concepts covered, including using the circle of fifths, playing chord shells, and transcribing solos to integrate the new knowledge into one's playing. He also recommended a book by Phil Degreg on jazz keyboard harmony.
Recap and next steps @ 2:11:22
Chris summarized the key learnings and progress the group has made over the past 8 weeks, congratulating them on their achievements. He also discussed plans to edit the recordings, add new content, and keep the community open for ongoing support and learning.
