Glenn -- I remember that masterclass vividly, and that demonstration in particular. That moment was really an "ah-ha!" moment for me and changed the way I think about playing.
I like the way he talks about giving the note "spin". It makes me think of a more finessed style of playing rather than a forceful one. Another analogy imparted upon me by one of my former teachers is to imagine throwing a baseball across a field: rather than throwing it harder, imagine trying to throw it further... A lob rather than a bullet. For me this brings to mind a very relaxed, resonant style of playing.
Chris
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpter1  I've got several, Walter. But the one that sticks out most in my mind, that really began a significant change in my playing style, came from Jim Thompson. He was up here giving a masterclass several years ago. We were in one of the rehearsal rooms over at Crane. Very tall space, large open room, wood floors, concrete walls with some sound baffles on them.
He said "It doesn't have to be loud. It has to be in tune." And then he played something. From Shosty 7th, I think. What he played is really irrelevant, anyway. It's what happened afterwards. He stopped playing, and the room continued to ring for several seconds afterwards. He was not playing loudly. But the room rang in a way that I'd never heard it ring before. (I spend a good deal of time over there, and I've yet to hear it ring like that since, either). That did it for me. I have since been in pursuit of that quality of playing. That phrase and example totally changed my approach to the horn. |