TOPIC 08 · 9 ARTICLES
Mental Game
The inner game of trumpet playing — standards, discipline, recovery, focus. The work that happens before you put the horn to your face.
Mindset & standards.
How you think about your playing decides what you’ll tolerate from yourself. Start here.
Trumpet World Champion: Division of One
Have you ever heard of the “Trumpet World Champion”? Probably not, because there isn’t one. There’s no recognized international body awa…
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What Chess Players Know That Trumpet Players Don’t
I play chess. I’m not great at it, but I enjoy the game. And over the years, I’ve noticed that chess players understand something about improvement …
Read the full article →Discipline & patience.
The slow, boring, non-negotiable parts that separate the players who improve from the players who plateau.
How to Fix Your Trumpet Playing
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 m…
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Don’t Get Greedy: The Patience Principle
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 clicks. Your high …
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Declaring War on Yourself: The Self-Discipline Edge
I want you to imagine something. Imagine you’re in a war. There’s an enemy that’s been holding you back, preventing you from becoming the trum…
Read the full article →Recovery, health & focus.
Practice quality lives in the rest of your life — sleep, distractions, the body. Address these or your hours don’t compound.
Stress Principles: Why Recovery Is the Smart Part of the Work
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 response to t…
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Health, Habits, and the Hard Truth About Trumpet Playing
Let me tell you a story about a trumpet player I once knew. He was talented, really talented. He could play high C’s with ease. His tone was beautiful. Hi…
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Why You’re Still Stuck: Distractions and the Vault of Focus
You’ve been practicing. You’ve been putting in the hours. You’ve been doing everything right, or at least, everything you think is right. And …
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