I recently came across a quote regarding the trumpet that struck me as crass but quite intuitive. The quote was, “the trumpet is not an instrument, it’s a personality disorder.” Now, I’ve heard some disparaging lines about trumpet players before, but wow! OK, well the quote may be a bit strong, but think about that for a moment. To be a good trumpet player, you definitely have to have a strong will. Not only does a good trumpet player have to be a good musician, but they must also be a self-counseling psychologist, a manager, a leader, a breath yogi, internally powered air compressor, and of course a musical gymnast. Each of these traits, of course, contains numerous subsets.
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Wicked Connie
July 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment
As Doc Severinsen has correctly pointed out, practice and how we practice is essential to how well we play. However, a quality instrument can make a world of difference in the finished playing produced. Some of the earliest types of trumpets dating to around 1500 BC, although quite inventive and interesting, were likely very difficult to play well. In comparison to the historic trumpets our predecessors played, the old ad proclaiming ‘you’ve come a long way baby’, should ring out. In fact, some of the horns on the market today are downright pieces of art and beauty!
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