Pedal Tones Are Bad For You!

Jerry Freedman · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

Geez, there is a fight about pedal tones every few months here. Why fight? Pedal tones are great for some people, terrible for others. Some like boxer shorts, some like jockey and some like bikinis, few prosleytize

westview1900 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1617

I like the way you think.
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swthiel · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

BeboppinFool · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:11 pm Post subject:

dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

"Since when is it not okay to have an opposing point of view?"

...in some dedicated forums..

BeboppinFool · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

dbacon · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 8592

trpt.hick · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject:

The analogy about medicine side-effects is a good one. This is why reading all sides is good. Being dogmatic and closed-minded is another thing.

My dictionary defines "pedagogy" as the art or science of teaching methods. (Note that the word "methods" is plural.) Here are the first three paragraphs from "Author's Comments" from my TRUMPET PEDAGOGY: A Compendium of Modern Teaching Techniques book:

"Teaching trumpet would be relatively easy if all students possessed the same physical characteristics, musical background, mental capailities, and enthusuasm. However, it is these differences that make trumpet pedagogy important if each student is to become a successful performer.

I have often been amazed at the various manners in which the world's leading trumpet artists play the instrument. In many cases, playing methods vary greatly, yet the artists are perfect examples of how well these methods work.

An artist-teacher is the product of his or her unique background of experiences. From these experiences, certain philosophies are adopted as personal 'truths,' many times with other concepts and methods being sub-consciously declared 'non-truths.' When working with students, it is logical for the teacher to profess his or her most successful ideas. However, not all students are able to play the trumpet with the same manner of embouchure, articulation, or other specific physical actions as directed by their teachers. Therefore, teachers must understand that methods and approaches other than their own may be more successful with certain students."

It is silly to deny that pedal tones are good for some players. Likewise, it is silly to say that pedals are best for all students.

I remember when Carmine Caruso's method first came out. His lecture-demonstration at the National Trumpet Symposium in Denver (1969) more than raised eyebrows. Many thought it was evil. However, today it is a valid system that has proven to work for many. Same can be said for other methods. Nothing works for all of the people all of the time.

Dave Hickman

healey.cj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 2011

mcgovnor · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject: pedal tones

As with any formulated approach, a player has to go through the ropes, through the honeymoon time, through the night season, through the questions time, the great days and the bad, in order to compact a big picture into working for himself.
Just for the record, I've played on million seller records since the age of 19, and I'm 53 now.
I 've put double a's on dozens of recordings, as well as b's, c's, c sharps, and above in the music, in time with the red light on..in solo's, in ensembles,on tv.
I do it every day, live,in practice and with students, and have for many years.
I've used pedal tones a la Gordon, Maggio, Bloomquist.
I've also played without them.
About 10 years ago I began to understand what, about them, was working, and what wasn't.
If you pay attention to your playing, and listen to your sound and pitch and not the opinions of others, you will find a way to get, using them,one up on yourself as opposed to you not using them..and that'sthe point, right?
To improve.

oj · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:45 pm Post subject:

It is a funny position some have to pedals. If you do them, you should look the same as if playing an octave or two above.!!???

Is that really possible?

Take a look in Dave's great new book, Trumpet Pedagogy. For instance page 208 - see picture of James Ackley. Or look on page 210 - Amanda Pepping. Does the face look the same when they play third-space C as when playing pedal C?

No.

So what? Just listen to Amanda (she is out on CD). She is a great player!

Ole

healey.cj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 2011

oj · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:05 am Post subject:

Chris wrote:

healey.cj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 2011

oj · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:59 am Post subject:

Chris,

Since BE has it's own forum, we should perhaps stop discussing BE here. But, if you read my interview ( http://abel.hive.no/trumpet/smiley/ ) you will see that Jeff studied with Gordon and his teaching (with lot of pedals) was not helpful for Jeff.

Pedals alone or too much pedals is not a good thing (and it is boring)

Btw, since I play a lot of trombone these days (learning to master the slide etc) - I don't use pedals much. On trumpet I sometimes do exercise #15 "Pedal Point" - playing along with Phil Smith.

Ole

healey.cj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 2011

BeboppinFool · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:31 am Post subject:

I've reconsidered my position, and I think that all of you need to practice pedal tones every day for the rest of your lives. I'll continue struggling along without them, and then we'll get together in 15 or 20 years and compare results, okay?
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swthiel · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:50 am Post subject:

BeboppinFool · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:52 am Post subject:

richardwy · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:57 am Post subject:

Close to 100 posts.

Richard