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Every article on the site, organized so you can find what you actually need. Filter by topic below or scroll the full feed.
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The Lips Don’t Lie: Reading What Your Embouchure Tells You
Read the full article →I once knew a trumpet player who was convinced his mouthpiece was wrong. He thought a bigger cup would help him play higher. He…
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Defensive Trumpet Playing: When Caution Becomes the Cage
Read the full article →There’s a concept in music that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, and that’s the concept of defensive trumpet playing. Most teachers focus on…
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Don’t Get Greedy: The Patience Principle
Read the full article →There’s a common trap that many trumpet players fall into. It usually starts with a good day. You wake up, you practice, and everything…
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The Deceptive Complexity of Long Tones
Read the full article →Long tones. They’re simple, right? You pick a note, you hold it for a while, and then you’re done. It’s one of the most…
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To Buzz or Not to Buzz: The Mouthpiece Question
Read the full article →The buzz. It’s a fundamental tool in the trumpet player’s toolkit. Or is it? Ask ten trumpet teachers and you might get ten different…
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How to Fix Your Trumpet Playing
Read the full article →Here’s the simple truth about fixing your trumpet playing: there is no silver bullet. There’s no magic technique, no secret mouthpiece, no special mute,…
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Trumpet World Champion: Division of One
Read the full article →Have you ever heard of the “Trumpet World Champion”? Probably not, because there isn’t one. There’s no recognized international body awarding a golden trumpet…
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The Dangers of the Mouthpiece Safari
Read the full article →An all too common trumpet player trope is the quest for the Holy Grail. In case you’re not in the loop, the Holy Grail…
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Stress Principles: Why Recovery Is the Smart Part of the Work
Read the full article →Trumpet playing is a form of stress that we can control simply by varying the intensity, duration, and frequency of our practice. Our body’s…
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Panacea de Trompette: The Soft-Playing Cure
Read the full article →Many of you have heard me tout the benefits of playing the trumpet softly for quite some time. However, as with anything tied to…
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When to Get a Trumpet Teacher vs. Figure It Out Yourself (Honest Breakdown)
Read the full article →Should you get a trumpet teacher or figure it out yourself? Here’s the honest breakdown — what a coach actually does, what it costs…
