John Mohan's Range

Blue Devil · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:08 am Post subject: John Mohan's Range

I wanted to post a message about something that has been bothering me for a little while. I do not intend to start another "TrumpetHerald War" or anything like that, but rather to set a situation straight from someone who has first-hand experience and knowledge about this situation.

I seem to have noticed in the past (and in some cases more recent than others), that some posts on Trumpet Herald have tended to accuse John Mohan (Calude Gordon contributor) of not having a great range. John tends to be a passionate individual in everything that he does, and seems to also invoke a lot of passionate responses from people. Maybe it is as a result of some of the "heated discussions" that some individuals have gotten upset at the strong disagreement that they have with John because they have their own beliefs that they subscribe to. Maybe this has caused some people to resort to writing comments about his so-called limited range and how something like that could negatively influence what others perceive of what he says and teaches - I don't know. I'm not sure how or why some individuals can write or say comments like that without ever having heard John play.

I'd like to set the record straight, once and for all. I'm a full-time student of John's, and besides being a very effective teacher, an all-around excellent player, a genuinely nice guy (despite some perceptions of him being some sort of monster!), John also has an excellent range.

I have personally heard him play consistently up to double C and beyond. The highest I have actually heard him play is a G above double C (that's not to say that's even the limit to John's range, but rather that is only the highest that I have actually heard him play). I have heard him play arpeggios up in this range, I have heard him pick up his horn cold (i.e. first time playing for the day) and knock out an F above high C that would make lots of people jealous, and I have also heard him play musical passages well into the upper register.

Like I mentioned above, it's frustrating to me to read some posts from individuals who have never heard John play, and knock him unjustly, possibly purely because they disagree with what he has to say or in the manner in which he says it. Once again, I'm not trying to start another posting war, or get into a debate about how to play in the upper register - all I wanted to do is set the record straight.

If anyone is in the Chicago area and gets the opportunity to take a lesson or two with John, I'm sure they will see what kind of player and teacher he is for themselves. I personally feel fortunate to be able to study with someone like John.

Mike Trzesniak

FlugelFlyer · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:33 am Post subject:

I can verify that also. His range is double C at minimum.
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trickg · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:50 am Post subject:

When he was still gigging in Germany, I called him one day (or he called me, I can't remember which) just to shoot the breeze a bit, and just fiddling around, he pickup up his horn, and cold, played (if memory serves me correctly) the opening sequence of Cats - clean, with not so much as a scuffed note.

Then we were talking a bit about range and he picked up his horn and picked off an F above high C - clean, clear, controlled, full - no sweat. I head this over the telephone line and although a telephone earpiece doesn't offer the best representation of sound, it was good enough that I could clearly tell that he had a great sound and great control.

Yeah, he has range. He has range to burn, but more importantly, John plays with a great sound, very cleanly and very musically, and he can do it up to double C and probably beyond.

John owns the horn, the whole horn and nothing but the horn, so help me Claude.

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LeeC · Heavyweight Member Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 5730

I have never read any posts that put down the quality of Mr. Mohan's playing at all. As far as I know his playing ability is without question.

AccentOnTrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 878

Didn't John Mohan make it into the semi-finals for the CSO principal trumpet audition? He also has great sound to double C and above I'm sure. I would love to hear him, just so I could hear another great player. I don't like roughly degrading the playing of others, especially a guy who obviously is accomplished. I know we all have probably done it (includes me) at some time or another, but I try to avoid it. Seneca Black told me something that really made total sense to me, he said that any trumpet player who's a motherf*cker, is worried about his own playing, and not someone else's. That's not to say you have to just bow down and kiss up, but there's a difference between not doing that and showing no class.

John Mohan · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:21 pm Post subject:

Hey there,

Thanks for the kind words from all of you!

I guess one of the reasons I get so passonate on the Herald about the Claude Gordon method is that it worked SO WELL for me.

I was a real "struggler" with marginal range, sound, endurance - the whole bit. And then I happened upon the CG method and became a player as a result of it.

Hit it hard, and wish it well,

John

P.S. It was the opening to "Evita", Patrick.

jakepainter · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:25 am Post subject:

What is so important about John's playing is that he is a great all round player, he's not just some guy that can scream high notes. He's got the whole horn under his command. He does not make mistakes, and at the end of the day that's why he gets booked. The Md's know that when they book him the part gets played correctly.

I had a lesson with him in Berlin a few years ago and he is solid as f***.. was a great lesson, stopped me giving up playing, gave me some hope of playing this hunk of metal for a living and giving up my IT job !!!

Good luck with everything John, and say hello to Anne.. what happened to your dogs in the move to the US?

jake

edited for typo

John Mohan · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:42 am Post subject:

Hi Jake,

Nice to hear from you! And hi back from Anne. We just have one dog (if you remember, we actually have a dog (Safeway) and a cat (Jacki). They both are here with us in Chicago now.

You should come over for a 2nd Crash Course sometime! Probably wouldn't be too expensive of a flight if you came in the off-season.

Best of wishes to you!

Cheers,

John

John Mohan · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:43 am Post subject:

Hi Jake,

Nice to hear from you! And hi back from Anne. We just have one dog (if you remember, we actually have a dog (Safeway) and a cat (Jacki). They both are here with us in Chicago now.

You should come over for a 2nd Crash Course sometime! Probably wouldn't be too expensive of a flight if you came in the off-season.

Best of wishes to you!

Cheers,

John

Trumpet4Hire · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 135

Ok, he can play high. Now we can all sleep better at night.....

T4H

scarface · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 1768

How do we know these people standing up for John are telling the truth? I'm sorry, but I will not be able to sleep until I see and hear proof that John Mohan can play to double C and beyond. A simple video clip could erase all doubt and put this to bed.

How about it John?

trickg · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 1:31 pm Post subject:

scarface · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 1768

I don't doubt it at all, and meant no disrespect toward JM by implying he had something to prove to anyone. I just like to watch people playing high. It can be a lesson in itself, like those clips of Manny Laureano on the Monette website. He makes it sound and look as easy as it ought to be.

Cheers

John Mohan · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

rbordeman · New Member Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 8

I'd definantly buy it --especially if you gave instruction throughout.

Trumpet4Hire · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 135

John Mohan · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:37 am Post subject:

Mikeytrpt · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:14 am Post subject:

John,

You have mentioned you use a Reeves 43C for lead playing......

Does it have the standard #2 backbore?
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John Mohan · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 11:09 am Post subject: