paultandberg

I am interested in ordering some DVD based trumpet lessons for my kids. Any recommendations (and sources)?

Caveats:

I fully understand that a DVD lesson is not a substitute for good, hands-on instruction from a qualified trumpet instructor. And I will attempt to get personal, one on one, instruction for my kids.

However, my town is a small town (400 people) and our small school’s band instructor is a woodwind and piano player. She has told us Gus is pretty darn good, and we should try get him some real live trumpet instruction from a top-notch trumpet instructor. The one she recommended, (the only one in a thirty mile radius) is booked (for now, we are on the list). And I hope to find one in a university town about fifty miles away this summer (it is a small city that is within our travel radius for shopping and entertainment)

But, in the interim, I am considering DVD instruction. So far, I have been my kids primary instructor, recalling what I can recall from my school trumpet days and adding in what I have learned from various vocal lessons I have taken through the years (breathing, support, and posture). I am hoping a good DVD lesson would help the kids as players and me as the home instructor.

-in the vocal vein, I tell the kids to sing through their horns (and I sing out their lessons). Well, I saw a post either here or elsewhere that discussed, in passing, the application of vocal techniques to trumpet, something about forming vowel sounds to create good tongue and throat techniques (or something like that). Can anyone help me in understanding what the gist of what that thread was referring to? It seems like a “natural” approach that might be something I could understand and pass on.

Thanks,

Paul

stevebtx

I haven't seen either of the DVD's that I know about in much detail but there are at least two out there. One is by Burt Truax and maybe more on the elementary/fundamental side. The other is by Warren Vache and has some info on improvisation along with the basics. I'm pretty sure you can find links with some samples available if you go off and google these names alond with trumpet DVD instruction.

Burt is a classical player who had a stint with the Dallas Symphony a while ago. Warren is a fantastic jazz player who focuses on the more lyrical, traditional side and is primarily a cornet player.

Both are pretty nice guys in my opinion.

Good Luck,
Steve

oj

I have collected DVDs (prior to that VHS) of trumpet instructions for years. I have the two mentioned plus several others.

So far, I have not seen one that is really good when it comes to doing a serious job as "an instructor".

I'm sure most of the DVDs will be used only once or twice. This has mostly to do with the visual part of the medium (picture is the "winner" on DVD - sound is the "looser")

On the other hand I have some CDs that I use every day. The one I use most is this: 20 minute Warm-Up Routine

(I also alternate using the "15 Minute Warm-Up Routine")

Why?

Music is about sound. On DVD the picture take over - but on CD you use your ear and listen (nothing to watch).

It can be good to get Bert's DVD and see his instructions (how to hold, etc. etc.), but if you also get the "Warm-Up Routine", you will have something that will work for a much longer time.

Good luck!

Ole

P.S.
There is one DVD that I have used a lot. The Breathing Gym, by Patric Sheridan and Sam Pilafian:
The Breathing Gym

rowuk

Paul,
post your general area. Maybe we have a qualified TMer not too far away! Even one lesson a month "further" away is much better than DIY. I would hate to see Gus develop a bad habit that would slow him down in a year or two.

trumpetnick

http://www.trumpetmaster.com/vb/f146...ods-32911.html (Multimedia trumpet courses/approach/methods)

The Trumpet playing multimedia course is fantastic, but I doubt if it is still available on the internet. In addition it was recorded on audio-video tape, when I bought my copy. On my copy the email for contact is lerncurv@aol.com. At the time it was Anthony Parsons himself who was selling them and I went to his house in London to get my copy. It covers all the basics in very compressed fashion. It includes a video tape with few very short lessons, audio tape with the music and accompaniments +book. Good luck

oj

rowuk has a very important point.

A good start with a teacher is much better and more important (as you said yourself) than using multimedia as a substitute!!!

Ole

oj

Apropos Bert Truax. I wrote a short article about that DVD:

Masterclass on DVD for trumpet and other brass

Ole

BrassOnLine

It depends on your needs.
For technical issues, Jerry Callet is very helpful
MASTER SUPERCHOPS
Best wishes !!!

MJ

Nothing against "super chops". But lets save that for a bit down the road.

Pete

I picked up The United States Army Field Band "A Trumpeter's Resource" at the IAJE last year. It is very good, and you can usually get any military media free as long as you order them as an educator with school letterhead on your correspondence.

Also "Trumpet Secrets Revealed" by John Thomas is also excellent.


Pete