Archive for November, 2007
Which is worse: Over Conducting or Under Conducting.
All musicians have been here.
Each conductor brings his or her own unique style to the music. But the main problems that conductors give musicians are the way that they bring you in or keep the beat.
So is it worse being given too much information or too little.
To Little:
“Where exactly do you come in and are [...]
Trumpet Gadgets… No!
Do you struggle with aspects of playing the trumpet?
That new piece of kit not solving your problems no matter how much money you spend and how the fat guy in the local music shop swears by it??
There is a simple solution to your problem that will save your money and actually improve your playing. [...]
Double Flats and Double Sharps… Why?
I don’t know if I’m the only musician who suffers from this (please leave comments and let me know) but when I’m reading music and someone throws in one of these double monsters my brain slows like a PC trying to open 2 applications at once… well … an application.
What is their use apart from [...]
Trumpet Technique (No.1)
Trumpet Technique (No.1)
Hold the instrument up!!!!
Why do so many trumpet players lack the ability to hold the damn thing properly!!!
The answer; young trumpeters are taught by non-specialised teachers such as trombonists and French horn players.
This is a subject that I could write pages about and am sure that one day I will. However, for today [...]
ME and GR
In 2004 I was picked out from my lead chair at one of the conservatoires Big Bands by Eddie Severn and asked if I’d be interested in some private lessons. This transpired to be one of my most valuable experiences that I had at college.
Eddie played a GR mouthpiece that he had a hand in [...]
My Favourite Year (Last Night @ LIPA -That’s All Folks!)
That’s it then. We did our final show last night to a sold out Paul McCartney Auditorium.
It’s a shame there were only 3 performances, but that’s the way things go.
It’s been a great couple of weeks being involved with the guys from LIPA and I’ve made some great contacts and mates.
Here’s a picture of me [...]
My Favourite Year (2nd Night @ LIPA)
One more to go.
It’s been a fun show and it’s a shame that there are only 3 performances!!
I’ve managed to meet some great contacts and feel I’ve made a bit of an impact at LIPA with some great comments from Matt Baker and Graham Hubbard.
In fact in his notes from the first performance he said [...]
My Favourite Year (1st Night @ LIPA & The Morning After)
1st Night
Well after a shakey dress rehearsal prior to the show (on the technical side) last night’s performance went pretty well.
The audience responded well and the word in the bar after was it was really enjoyed.
Again, if you’re in the Liverpool area check out My Favourite Year @ LIPA tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 pm.
Morning [...]
My Phone’s Coming Home
I have had a mobile phone for nearly half of my life now and I’ve been through a fair few.
As of a couple of years ago I started getting quite nice phones since I’ve been using it more and more. However over a year I’ve managed to get the worst and best phones I’ve [...]
Thoughts of a Beginner Trumpet
I have a couple of days of teaching in a private school in south Birmingham with some of the nicest primary school kids you can imagine.
I have 15 trumpet students ranging from 7 year olds starting out to my top student who is to take his grade 8 next year at the age of 12!!! [...]
