Trumpet Voluntaries

 

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Written by Professor Carter Eggers, Trumpet

Trumpet Voluntary No. 1, December 1997

Chapter One: Playing the Trumpet in One Split, Athletic Second

Playing the trumpet is not generally thought of as an athletic activity, but consider the following little story which should help you understand how to make your body improve your trumpet playing in one split-second.

"Meet Buck and Screech"

Once upon a time there was a baseball player named Buck LeFever. Buck was making buzillions of dollars because he was a really good baseball player. And, you know the type, he really thought he was hot stuff.

Well, one day, a certain trumpet player, Screech McHigherlouder'nfaster, who was not making buzillions of dollars, put that good old boy, Buck, in his place and that is where our story begins.

"Screech taunts Buck"

"Hey, Buck," taunted Screech, between movements (those'd be 'innings' if you're into baseball talk) of a recent baseball performance (that'd be 'game', again, if you'd prefer the technical language). "I finally figured out what you're being overpaid for and, you know, big guy, it just isn't all that much."

"Hey, what are you talking about?" replied Buck in a huff, while spitting a big glob on the toe of his dozing (the slumping team was behind 12-0) manager's right shoe. "You've seen my stats. You better look out because I'm the tip of the top, Mr. Screech-Man."

"Yeah, right. Dream on, Buck." said Screech, getting a little blustery, himself. "I've analyzed what it is you do and your job boils down to one split-second in the whole blamed game. That's it. Talk about overpaid. Sheesh."

"Here comes the TRUMPET"

"Oh, yeah? Gimmee a break, Buster. You can't back that up and you know it."

"Ha. Just listen up here. You'll see. I figured it out. And don't call me Buster. My name is Screech McHigherlouder'nfaster. I've got your number AND your secret which, incidentally, Buck, is fantastic for playing the trumpet."

"Trumpet? What are you talking about?" spurted old Buck, who is laughing so hard at this point that he strikes out. Now, that sobers him up just enough so that he actually hears what Screech has to say.

"The delivery"

"All right, Buck. Here it is. Your whole game comes down to one instant, one split-second. That's it, and, believe it or not, discovering (and stealing) your little secret really does help a whole bunch in playing the trumpet. It also explains that you are getting carloads of money for doing not a heck of a lot which, I think, is pretty darned clever of you. Well, Buck, now I'm going to spell out how I can do the same thing on the trumpet that you do with the baseball. First of all, while it's true that you run around the bases once-in-awhile and you catch the ball, actually, quite a lot, this secret, trumpet playing business is just about your primary job which is "delivering" the baseball. Right? You deliver the ball by either throwing it or hitting it and there's a secret about that that I'm going to expose right now. OK, Buck?" asks Screech.

"Buck's challenge"

"Hey, not at all. Give it your best shot," challenged Buck, rather indignantly. "I think you're full of hot air. So, go ahead, spin your crazy yarn. All you're going to do is sound as silly as you look playing that trumpet."

"Oh my, Buck, don't get so emotional. Are you ready? You might want to write this down because I might be telling more about your secret than even you are aware of so, hey, maybe you can improve your baseball by seeing how all of this applies to the trumpet. Ready? Here goes....oops. Oh, rats, dear reader. We're out of time and space.

Stay tuned but, in the meantime, if you have any questions about trumpet or EMU, just give me a call.

Trumpet Voluntary No. 2, December 1997

"So, Buck," explained Screech, "As I was saying, now I'm going to let everyone in on the secret to your success which I am using already to make me more successful as a trumpet player."

"I'm all ears," said the doubtful Buck LeFever, hoping that Screech really hadn't stumbled onto the secret and fearful that somehow, perhaps, he had.

"Let's consider how you throw the baseball first, Buck. The same principle applies to hitting, too, but it probably is more natural for most people to identify with throwing. Tell me now, Buck, when you wind up your arm and throw the ball, what exactly is the purpose of swinging your arm around in that great sweeping motion?"

"The wind up and corking the bat"

"Gosh, Screech, isn't that natural? Does it really need an explanation? Well, OK, I'll tell you. When I wind up before throwing the ball, it is simply to gather up as much energy as I can. If I didn't do that, there wouldn't be anything behind the ball and it wouldn't go very far or very fast. Actually, and this is something I haven't thought of in years, that is how the human body works. I remember reading somewhere several years ago that somebody described that process of how the body works as the 'physics' of the body."

"Alright, Buck. That is a very fine explanation," replied Screech. "Now, how does that compare to hitting the ball with a bat? You don't have to get too technical like how you put cork inside the bat to liven it up. Oh, excuse me that just slipped out. I know you don't really do that."

"Hey, now just a darned minute, Screech. You know those accusations have always proven false. Well, except that one time, but that was a bat planted by some other team who just wanted to get me suspended. You know they're all afraid of my awesome batting power," huffed Buck, feigning hurt feelings and showing just a little indignation.

"Of course, Screech, I do the very same thing reaching back with my bat to start my swing as I do in winding up to throw the baseball. By gathering all the energy that I possible can, there is maximum power in my swing."

"Is there any other reason for that wind up?" asked Screech. "I mean, Buck, just having all that stored up energy isn't the goal in itself, is it? Doesn't it apply itself somehow in the throw and in the swing?"

"Momentum and inertia"

"Of course, Screech. Gosh you're just about as dumb as a post," retorted Buck. "Anybody can tell you that all that winding up gives a natural momentum to both the throw and the swing. That's inertia. Heck, you know what that is as well as I do."

"Oh yeah, 'a body at rest tends to stay at rest and a body in motion tends to stay in motion'," recited Screech. "What you are saying then is that, besides gathering all that energy which gives you power for throwing and for batting, the momentum of those same wind up motions determines the success of whether or not all that energy gets released in as effective and beneficial a way as possible. Do you agree, Buck? Do I have that clear?" asked Screech.

"Here comes the secret"

"Absolutely, Screech. But you've just described the part everyone knows, what about the secret? You can't explain that can you? You still haven't found it have you," laughs Buck.

"Oh, yes, I have, Buck, and now for that part, the part which is so quick that no one sees you do it. That's the whole reason we got into this way back where this discussion began," said Screech.

"Oh, oh," thought Buck.

"I'm going to ask you a question now, Buck, and that is, 'What exactly do you do to deliver the ball after you have gathered up all that energy?' " Screech knew the answer but he wanted to hear it from the horse's, rather, from Buck's mouth.

"Well, Screech, I fling it," replied Buck, hoping that would satisfy Screech's prodding.

"No, Buck, I realize that you fling it, but what precise part of the flinging causes all of the energy to be released?" insisted Screech.

"The snap and the follow through"

"Oh, alright, I may as well get this over with," sighed Buck. "At the end of the wind up, I snap my wrist, or, more accurately the momentum of my arm causes my wrist to snap and that is what releases all of that energy."

"That's all of it, Buck?" snapped Screech. "You may as well come clean."

"OK, OK," Buck capitulated. "Then my arm continues the motion in the follow through. That insures that there is no hesitancy and that all of the energy gets applied directly to the delivery of the ball. Without the follow through, my arm would be hesitating and holding back and that would defeat the whole purpose."

"And what about batting, Buck?" cajoled Screech.

"Yes. Yes. It is the same. The same snapping of the wrists and the same follow through."

"The split-second"

"And about what length of time would you say it takes for that wrist-snapping to take place, Buck?" Screech asked.

"Gosh, do I actually have to say it? Well, alright. It takes just about one split-second, Screech," admitted Buck, shaking his head and realizing that his secret was no more.

"Practical application for trumpet"

....Sorry folks, time-out, be back soon....

....and, before long, you'll be able to meet trumpeters, Mary Tyme
and Ella Vader in their discussion of important issues
for all trumpet players.

P.S. If you are looking for good used instruments,
The Woodwind and Brasswind posts an updated
list of used instruments every Tuesday.

Trumpet Voluntary No. 3, January 1998

Chapter Three: Practical Application for Trumpet

Well, dear reader, we left Screech and Buck bantering back and forth. The final result was that Buck finally admitted that the essence of his baseball success took place in one split-second. Now we find Screech McHigherlouder'nfaster about to tell Buck LeFever just how that basic principal of baseball can be applied to trumpet playing.

"Thank you, Buck," said Screech. "I'd like you to listen now while I explain what all of this means to me as a trumpet player."

"Air? ball? what's the dif.?"

"First of all," continued Screech. "You and I are doing exactly the same thing in terms of body physics. You wind-up and release energy to deliver a ball, while I wind-up and release energy to deliver the air."

"Hold it, Screech," protested Buck. "I can understand intellectually that we both must be releasing energy to do what we do, but how the heck can it be the same when we look so different?"

"Looks like and feels like are not the same?"

"OK, I can understand your confusion, Buck, but remember that what is important is not what it 'look's like but, rather, what it 'feels' like," Screech clarified. "Here's a little exercise I do to get my air delivery system working each day."

Exercise No. 1
"Winding up and delivering the air"

1. First, I pretend that I am going to throw a ball, so I place the imaginary ball in my hand and hold it while I actually feel the shape of the ball including the seams, just as if I was holding a real baseball. I make sure that I have the feeling of "gripping" the ball.

 
2. Second, I stretch my arm out in front of me as though I am preparing to throw. Then I whip my arm around and snap that ball away with all the energy necessary to get it from center field (I like to imagine that I am in Tiger Stadium) all the way to home plate just in time to nail the runner barreling in from third base.

 
3. Third, then I take my trumpet and, while picturing myself (and it is necessary to get that visual image) on the ballfield (Tiger Stadium), I inhale (through my nose at first & later through my mouth corners while my lips keep touching together in the center) while feeling the exact, same motion as my arm winding up. It's not just winding up, Buck, it's gathering all of the energy I can muster while winding up. And, even though I am not throwing a ball, inhaling and exhaling can have the exact same feeling in my body as if I were going through that motion.

 
4. Then I exhale, again, with the same, exact feeling as throwing the ball. Just as all the energy I can muster is at the end of the wind-up, I release the air with the same explosive, split-second snap that I would feel releasing the baseball. The difference is that, instead of feeling the snap of the baseball, I feel a split-second "HA" while releasing the air.


That's it, playing the trumpet in one split-second.

"Wow, Screech," said Buck. "That is fantastic. I see it. You really do play the trumpet the same way I play baseball. Interesting isn't it? The body works the way the body works. It doesn't matter whether you're using the body to play a sport or using the body to play a musical instrument. Energy is energy and it is our job to utilize the natural way the body works to deliver that energy."

"Hey there, macho boys, you think you have all the answers, don't you? Well, we have news for you."

Screech and Buck whipped around with a start.

"Hey!" demanded Buck. "Who the heck are you guys?"

Well, of course, they weren't guys at all as they were soon to discover.

"Sure, we'll introduce ourselves. I'm Merry Tyme and I'm a trumpet player, too, better than you I bet, Screech," she teased.

"Oh, right," Screech said and then asked the dark haired one who seemed to be the leader of this duo.

"Just where do you play, Ms. Merry Tyme?"

"Me, Screech?" glissed Merry. "I play trumpet, lead trumpet actually, on cruise ships."

"Hey, Screech," Buck asked. "Are you out of your league? Maybe you'd better find out about the other one."

"Well, I guess, but I can hold my own, Buck," answered Screech. "So, who are you?" he quizzed to the other while admiring her deep blue eyes.

"My name is Ella Vader, Screech, and, no, I'm not related to Darth Vader, the actor, or to Darth (huh?) Brooks, the singer. If you must know," she continued. "My career has been kind of up and down, not as spectacular as Merry's. And, one other thing. We've been listening and agree with what you have said so far."

"Yeah," interrupted Merry. "We're with you but you haven't finished it. There is one more aspect of that release business which makes it so much easier than even you thought possible. Don't worry. We're going to share that with you."

Oh, gosh, reader, it's pumpkin time once again. Please stay tuned.....

Trumpet Voluntary No. 4, March 1998

Chapter Four: What Do You Do After You've Blew?

Hi, folks. Buck, Screech, Merry and Ella are about to wrap up this entire segment on that most basic aspect of playing the trumpet, delivering the air. Let's listen in now as they describe that final bit of understanding which is so often either completely misunderstood or, more likely, ignored altogether.

"What do you mean, Ms. Merry Tyme?" asked Screech. "If you really have been listening........."

"Eavesdropping would be more like it," huffed Buck.

"Oh, don't be so sensitive, Buck," Screech chastened while adding, "Can't we all just get along? Can't we bury our egos and see what can be learned from each other?"

"Go ahead, Merry, we're listening."

"Well, O.K.. Ella, do you want to start? You're the deep thinker here. And, since you're somewhat of a softball player, maybe you can relate to these gentlemen in language they can understand?" Merry nodded toward Ella as she spoke making it obvious that she was relinquishing her spot in the conversation to her colleague.

"Further Influence"

"Sure, Merry, 'be glad to," Ella responded with a nonchalance designed to keep everyone at ease. "I have to start by asking our friend, Buck, here, a question. O.K., Buck, now think carefully before you answer. Once you have hit or thrown the ball, you know, that split-second release, once you have accomplished that, what do you do that has a further influence on the ball?"

"Follow through"

"No brainer, Merry, what's that point about thinking carefully? What do I do? I follow through," he replied smugly, still haven't learned that his ego would serve him better if checked at the door. (Will he ever learn?)

"Nah, that's all in the release, but nice try, Buck," Merry laughed. "Sorry, but you'll have to think just a little harder. Here, Let me ask again. After you have hit the ball, or thrown the ball, what do you do that has further influence on the ball?"

"Nothing"

"Well, what is this, some kind of a trick question. Nothing. After I hit......"

"Or throw, Buck?"

"Yes, yes, or throw the ball. Once I have hit or thrown the ball, I don't do anything that has any influence on the ball. Nothing. What's the point? Are you daft?"

Buck answered, while getting a little perturbed.

"Bravo, Buck," hastened Ella. "Right answer. You do nothing. The ball goes wherever it goes and you might as well just stand there and recite your statistics because, once you have released the ball, your part is over. Whether or not the ball is delivered successfully or not is completely dependent upon your windup and release. But that is the end of your contribution however it turns out. Lucky for you that Joe Public hasn't figured that out or they might just wonder why you're getting so much money or why their tickets are priced so high."

At this point, Screech, who has just been listening so far, doubles up laughing breathlessly and sputtering while trying to point at and talk to Screech at the same time.

"Hold it there, Screech. Oh, let me do this one, Ella," Merry cut in. "I'm ready for old hot lips here."

"Be my guest, Merry, have a ball."

"Hey, hot ..., I mean, Screech, pull yourself together. Before you make too much fun of your buddy, have you forgotten that playing the trumpet is the same as hitting or throwing a ball?" Merry was just getting warmed up and was cherishing every moment because she knew what was coming up.

"Who me?"

"Huh, what do you mean? Who me? What's this got to do with me?" asked a surprised Screech, bewilderingly directionless at this point.

"All right, Screech. Let me ask you the same question." Merry continued, "Once you have released the air and the sound, what do you do that has a further influence on the sound?"

"Keep blowing"

"Hey, you're a trumpet player. You know. Everybody knows. I keep blowing. Everybody keeps blowing.......don't they?" answered Screech, while passing from his usual overconfidence to being, perhaps, a little doubtful.

"Well, you're probably right, Screech," Merry capitulated. "It's true that is more than likely what you are doing since that is what you think you are doing and that is what you are consciously trying to do. But let's compare that to playing ball and see if that makes the most sense from the perspective of body physics."

"Open mind"

"O.K., Merry, I'd like to hear that. I'll keep an open mind. After all, I'm the one who was exclaiming the sameness in the development of our respective delivery systems. There may be something I'm missing, something I can learn which will put the cap on my understanding of all of this and make me a better trumpet player in the process. Don't ever let it be said that Screech McHigherlouder'nfaster thinks he's so good that he can't learn anything new. I'm all ears, Merry."

"Spooning"

"Wow, thank you. Screech. I appreciate that. Remember, that I was learning from you, also, while Ella and I were listeni.......rather eavesdropping on your bantering with Buck awhile back," responded Merry.

"This is what I observe, Screech. If you compare a trumpet player continuing to blow air after the moment of release to a ballplayer, the ballplayer would have to keep in contact with the ball after it was released. To do that he or she would be trying to keep the bat or hand on the ball which, in effect, would be like spooning the ball down the field. It wouldn't be very successful or efficient. To achieve maximum results, that is, maximum use of the energy in the successful delivery of the ball, the player has to break off contact with the ball."

"Releasing air pressure"

"Well, I can see that in relation to playing ball, Merry, but what about the trumpet? Is it possible to play the trumpet and not to continue blowing the air?" questioned Screech.

"Yes, Screech," Merry insisted. "Suppose you keep blowing instead of breaking off contact with the air at the moment of release. What is it exactly that you are keeping in contact with, the air or the air pressure?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure. What's the difference, Merry?"

"Tension and resistance"

"Let me put it this way, Screech," she continued. "Once you release the air, that's it. There is no air pressure that you, as the source of the air, can feel because you have broken off contact with it. If you release the air pressure, you also release the tension. Air pressure increases the resistance in the trumpet. Increased resistance makes the trumpet harder to blow so the player blows harder. Blowing harder increases resistance and tension, and it becomes a vicious cycle resulting in increased physical effort and decreased quality of sound. The harder one blows, the more resistance and tension is created, and the smaller the quantity of air that gets into the production of tone."

"Wow. I knew that I'd come very close, Merry, in figuring out the split-second release. But now I think I understand the last part. Could you maybe just give me a little exercise, now, to help me put this into practice?" pleaded Screech, quite exhausted.

"Less air pressure = more air"

"Alright, Screech. Let me go on. First, remember that the more completely you release the air, the less air pressure you feel, the larger the air stream gets and the larger the quantity of air that gets into the production of tone."

"Exercise"

"First, get back into your wind-up and release mode."

"Second, no trumpet yet, inhale and exhale with the feeling of winding up and releasing the ball."

"Third, release the air in that split-second with an audible, accented 'Hah' or 'Bah'. I like the 'Bah' better because you can get the feeling of the snap release. The 'Bah' is easy to accent with a hard release, just like hitting or throwing a ball."

"Fourth, just stand there with your mouth wide open and experience saying or singing 'Ah' after the initial accented release. That is what it should feel like to play. You just stand there not doing nothin', conscious of 'Ah', quite like having a tongue depressor pressing down on your tongue while you say 'Ah'."

"Fifth, don't let yourself start blowing. Just make sure that you feel no air, hence no air pressure, going through your lips. Just surrender to the 'Ah'. Screech, my friend, that's all there is to it."

"Sixth, practice releasing notes on the trumpet with a sharply accented "Hah' or 'Bah'. You should feel your coughing muscles react when you yell the word. And just stand there and let the 'Ah' which is left after the initial attack sustain the note for you. Don't you sustain the note. Let the released 'Ah' do it for you."

"Seventh, concentrate on the 'Ah' and increase what you can play on each release."

THE END

That's it, dear reader. This concludes the Trumpet Voluntaries for this year. Buck, Screech, Ella and Merry wish you success!

 

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