Overweight_man

What is the most important thing needed to play the trumpet?

Manny Laureano

A well-functioning human body.

In order to make music you need talent. I think that's the better question to ask.

ML

Macman

do you mean most important technic or hardware?

for hardware I would say the mouthpiece

for technic my teacher continually stresses the importance of pushing air from the Diaphragm so it must be important if not the most

Overweight_man

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I have enough talent, although I could probably run/walk a couple of times a week...

I was mainly talking about physically. Thanks Macman. I'm thinking the breathing thing too.

Overweight_man

I have to disagree with you a little on this one. I don't think it's all that important to have talent to make music. I've seen plenty of youngsters and older fellas making music who did not have the talent, but had their heart in the right place. I'm not sure what your concept of making music is by your reply. Is music perfect playing, is music something from the heart, or is music just something that relates to someone else, like a proud parent or family member?

Annie

Most important - a desire to play, at least that's what I think. You won't play without a desire to.

Then, you need to have a desire to work and a desire to be healthy to play the best you can.

Just my 2 cents.

Manny Laureano

Who said anything about perfection? Oh, you did, sorry.

As for my concept of music, it's on display 3-4 nights a week. In fact, tonight over MPR if you're interested (on your computer if you're out of the 5-state region ((Minnesota/N-S Dakota/Iowa/Wisconsin))). I understand you're not being argumentative, you just have an opinion that differs from mine. I do believe you need talent to make music. We define talent differently, that's all. Our expectations are different.

ML

Annie

To be really really really good - I think that does take talent. Or, an insane amount of work to work up to someone's natural talents.

Manny Laureano

Okay, so what we could have is a discussion about what is talent and what is sound production. Whether the venue is someone's parlor or Carnegie Hall is inconsequential.

In my opinion talent takes a player in a completely different direction playing the trumpet than mere physiological function that can produces a clear sound. Talent tells you that something is out of tune. Physiological function produces a sound that may be in tune or may not. You need a discerning ear in order to be able to tell.

Talent provides you with the ability to play a rhythm accurately. Physiological function just provides the motor function needed to execute same.

Physiological function opens and closes apertures. Talent tells you when to do it without your realizing it, making it a subconscious event.

Physiology dictates whether you can play in the upper register. Talent gives you the desire to do so.

Shoot... I gotta go. I hope you guys take up this discussion because i think it has a great bearing on the original question.

ML

stchasking

It helps to be insane. It works for me. I would have given up years ago if I were lucid, sane, intelligent, and could spell. I just don't know better.