Wlfgng

If everything is working right and I am plaing well particularly during a performance......someting is going to go wrong at the worst time. Slide falling out of my Harmon mute, "bleeting'" the horn while emptying the water key etc.

Whatever happens it is always a humbling expierence.

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Olds Ambassador(only one left, need more)
King Silver Flair - main horn
Selmer Cornet

Amatuers practice till they get it right, Professionals practice till they can't get it wrong.

MrClean

If you are doing the same things and getting the same (unsatisfactory) results, maybe it is time to change what you're doing. Be creative in your problem-solving. Don't be afraid to go against "conventional wisdom" in finding your own way.

Stop concentrating your practice on the things you already do well - confront your weaknesses instead. It's OK to sound like crap in the practice room, because that's the only way you're going to work out those weaknesses.

ecarroll

Amen, Brother J, and thank you for your contributions to this thread. It's important for all of our assorted trumpet masters that assemble here to hear from the real pros...

Best, as always,
EC

cobragamer

I try to listen to myself breath properly, focus, focus on air fingers and theory and to combine it the best I can while sounding good

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Bach Sradivarius Trumpet
Yamaha Xeno Cornet
Bobby Shew Artist model Flugelhorn

scottcgr

This morning, I learned that I really, really, really like playing the trumpet.

Which I learned the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that...

It's sometimes hard to start practicing, but it easily and quickly becomes hard to stop.

Uniquetrumpet

Take a lesson or two from a great player every once in a while .......for some reason its those initial lessons that seem to make the biggest differance in my playing.

ecarroll

Scott,

Great to hear and your comments don't surprise me in the least.

Unique,

I agree that a lesson can "prime the pump" or "put fresh wind in your sails" (insert metaphor here), but it's what you learn about yourself via your practice that I'm looking for. If you're being mindful in your practice I bet you can come up with something special for this discussion. . .

Best,
EC

Huggy Bear

Hi Mr. Ed,

I know that Huggy's know for sometimes putting up some silly posts, but your question here got me thinking. I really like this type of thing! I'm obsessed with the way my idol, Mr. Michael Sachs, does everything. I try to think how he would practice. This isn't just being funny. I think that when I'm practicing and I get stuck I like to think about how a "master musician" would solve this problem. Often it's spelled out for me in Michael Sachs' book "Daily Fundamentals for Trumpet". But I learned a lot from Andy -Mac as well. I now keep a practice journal and look at what's giving me success and what leads to failure. I am finding more and more that I have to keep steering myself onto the right path. This takes courage and a bit of arrogance.....as well as a lack of need to feed my growing ego. In other words the more I flex my "trumpet personality" the better I get because my mind is right for getting better. It's leading me to get more confident and to be mroe and more comfortable with myself.

That's what I'm learning from my practicing right now. I rule.....Fo' Shizzle!

Love,
Huggy

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Laid back....with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.....Tight! And where's my BLING, my Peeps?

westview1900

To paraphrase some of the earlier posts. "Oh that a man's reach should exceed his grasp,
or what's a Heaven for?"
...Robert Browning...

But, on the other hand, "The longest journey begins with a single step."
Lao-tzu

Always try to get better, but be patient.

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Thank goodness for music.

Darthsunshine

I've learned to balance fun with re-learning/learning the fundamentals. All work and no play makes Darth a dull Sith.