trumpethack

Hey Manny,

I did a mock audition for myself yesterday and have one or two little things to ask your opinion on.

To give you an idea of where I'm coming from I can play all of the excerpts isolated by themselves so that is not the "issue". My difficulty lies going from a very powerful excerpt, specifically the opening to Mahler 5 and then playing the soft lyrical solo at the end of the first movement. It's rather difficult (duh...) to go from playing that opening to then having the soft control for that solo. It took me the first two notes to be really secure. I mean if I could blow a few notes in between the excerpts I'd feel fine but you can't do that (right??). Any advice? Thanks.

Matt

Vulgano Brother

Cool and cheap are the Tongue Trainers and Trumpeter's Daily Stunt by Richard Shuebruk. Included is an exercise that combines intervals and dynamics.

You want might to try to make up your own. For example, one might play a middle c ffff followed by a PPP high c. You can also practice going seamlessly through your excerpts.

Have fun!

Jimi Michiel

Matt-

This seems simple, but make sure you give yourself enough time between excerpts. Take the horn off your face and give yourself a moment to re-focus. Completely cleanse your pallatte of what you just played and get ready for the next excerpt. It sounds simplistic, but it's an easy thing to do to make your life easier.

-Jimi

rowuk

Make sure that your tonguing is as "positive" and "solid" for the "soft, lyrical" part as for the powerful stuff. No need for big accents, but many of us back off on the tonguing when we are not playing loudly and that does affect how easily notes come when the going is rough! Remember that Mahler is generally played in big rooms where your attack is not as hearable as in a practice room.
Our tongue(ing) can get us into and out of a lot of "situations".