Essential Books

jungledoc · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 4:44 am Post subject: Essential Books

I asked a question about this in another thread, but I thought it might be of wider interest.

What books would experienced players and teachers recommend for players at different stages of development, from beginner to intermediate to more advanced?

I am, of necessity, self taught, a trumpet beginner, but with wider knowledge of music. Yeah, I know what you're all thinking, but really, there is no qualified teacher within several thousand miles of where I live.

So when people mention "Clarke" or "Gordon" in posts, and I look on line, I find many titles by each one. Which ones would help me at the stage I'm at right now? Which ones will I need in a few months or a couple of years? How about other authors?

Thanks in advance for your patience!
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jiarby · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2011 Posts: 1188

Clarke Technical Studies (Pay attention to instructions, go slow, play soft!)
Irons 27 Exercises (Tongue level focused flexibilities)
Arban's Complete Conservatory Method
Colin Advanced Lip Flexibilities, Vol. 1, 2, 3 (more Irons type)
Rich Willey "Scale Force" (the best scale book there is)
Various Etude Books (Charlier, Brandt, Concone, etc...)

I also have been playing alot from Rich Willey's Clarke Variations books:
"Variations on Clarke's Second, Vol1: 24 Melodic Variations through the 7 Modes of the Major Scale"
Vol2 is the same thing, but through the 7 modes of Melodic Minor.

Gate · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:04 am Post subject:

Aside from the fact that I do have access to teachers nearby, I come from a similar situation. Learning music wasn't the hard part, it was learning how to make good sounds easily on the trumpet. Since you can't work with a good player or teacher, I highly recommend the free YouTube videos by Greg Spence (I think that's his name), aka Mystery to Mastery. Avoiding habitual tension is essential, and I'm not aware of any book that gets across the concepts better than his videos. He has some books, which I can't speak to.

I also find that what books you use is pretty unimportant for a while. I know it is always tempting for me to think that since I know music or how to play something moderately complex on another instrument, that I'll be jumping ahead. But that's not the case. You might look at someone riding a bike and say - "That's easy! He's just going in a straight line. I can walk all curvy-like." But a straight line is plenty hard enough for someone who's never ridden a bike. Good luck, and patience to both of us!

zaferis · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:08 am Post subject:

my big 3 right now:
Herald Mitchell Method book(s)
Concone Lyrical Studies
Theo Charlier 36 Etudes Transcendates

Clarke = Technical Studies
Arban's = Platinum version or Allen Vizzutti's new version
Gordon = Saint Jacome Grand Method

If you had an Arban's book OR a St. Jacome together with a Clarke Study you'd be set for a while
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Dayton · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:23 am Post subject:

Andy, regarding teachers, there are some excellent teachers who give lessons via Skype. That might be something to consider.

As for books, here are some for you to consider.

Beginning to Intermediate
Herbert L. Clarke "Elementary Studies"
Claude Gordon "Physical Approach to Elementary Brass Playing"
David Hickman "100 Progressive Lessons for Trumpet"
Eric Bolvin "The Really Big Student Songbook"
Sigmund Hering "50 Recreational Studies for Trumpet" and "40 Etudes for Trumpet"
Bugs Bowers "Rhythms Complete"

Intermediate to Advanced
Arban "Complete Conservatory Method"
(you might consider getting Eric Bolvin's "The Arban Manual" to help guide you through Arban)
Max Schlossberg "Daily Drills and Technical Studies"
Herbert L. Clarke "Technical Studies"
Sigmund Hering "32 Etudes" and "38 Recreational Studies"
Concone "The Complete Solfeggi" (or some other compilation of Concone such as "Lyrical Studies for Trumpet")
Victor Salvo "240 Double and Triple Tonguing Exercises"
Earl Irons "27 Groups of Exercises" (flexibility)
Edwin F. Goldman "Practical Studies"

Advanced
Claude Gordon "Daily Trumpet Routines" and "Systematic Approach to Daily Practice"
Bordogni "24 Vocalises"
St. Jacome "Grand Method Complete"
(Eric Bolvin's "The Saint Jacome Manual" can help you with a logical approach to St. Jacome)
Walter Smith "Top Tones"
Sachse "100 Studies"
Caffarelli "100 Melodic Studies"
Charlier "36 Etudes Transcendantes"
Charles Colin "Advanced Lip Flexibilities"
Herbert L. Clarke "Characteristic Studies"
Charlie Parker "The Charlie Parker Omnibook"

There are many, many more great trumpet books out there, but this list at least offers a starting point for your consideration. You'll get the most value out of any of them, however, if you can get some lessons with a good teacher via Skype.

Good luck!

MahlerIsTheMAN · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:28 am Post subject:

Here is a link to what some college professors are asking students in their studios to acquire. These are primarily links to trombone studios but there are some trumpet studios mixed in as well. I know this does not directly answer your question but I thought you might find it interesting to look through.

http://www.hickeys.com/cgi/display.cgi?cart_id=7690057.27872&page=studio.htm

Chris

MJo · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:10 pm Post subject:

dstdenis · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:01 pm Post subject:

Lots of great books listed here. I'd also suggest Michael Sachs, Daily Fundamentals for the Trumpet.

It's only 65 pages, but it packs in a lot of useful content, from warm up, to fundamental exercises, to excerpts from famous methods (Arban, Clarke), to excerpts from famous solos (Haydn, Hummel).

Sachs also provided lots of instruction on how to play these things properly. And he provides a listing of other recommended books, although one can cover the essential skills with the material in his book.
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jungledoc · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 6:18 am Post subject:

Thanks, everyone. Those are exactly the sorts of answers I was hoping for. Now I'll try to follow as much of your advice as I can!

TrumpetMD · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Essential Books

chuck in ny · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:38 am Post subject:

well i am a claude gordon student so some of the books mentioned above are on my shelf.
as you progress with playing keep your eye open for,,, nonstandard (?) somewhat offbeat books. as a gordon student for example i am playing out of bill knevitt's books which are more comprehensive and better presented. they will be good for a few years. then most importantly there are technique books. clint mclauglin's tension-less e-book is doing wonders for me right now. there are some fine books and e-books in that genre.

BrianCade · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:45 am Post subject:

James Thompson - The Buzzing Book
Hickman - 15 Advanced Embouchure Studies
Thibaud - Method for the Advanced Trumpeter
Eric Bolvin - The Arban Manual & The St. Jacome Manual

BobD · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 6:32 am Post subject:

If you are a beginner I wouldn't go with any of the books recommended except for the Rubank books. What I would recommend is Claude Gordons Physical approach to elementary brass playing.

I , like you, can read music. I had been playing sax for 10 years when I took up trumpet. I got all these recommended books , Clarke, Arban, Schlossberg etc. I totally fried my chops. Did too much too soon because I wasn't taking lessons and eventually gave it up....3 times. I'm now on my 4th comeback and am working out of this book. It tells you exactly what to play for each lesson and it's working great. I'm up to lesson 16 and my intonation is good, tone is good, endurance is getting better. This is a fantastic book to build a solid foundation to support the work in the other books like Clark, Arban etc.

The exercises thus far have only ascended to A above the staff yet I can hit an E over high C. Just goes to show, careful consistent practice pays off. It does take discipline to go the this book as the exercises are just that...exercises. Not musical at all. It's like work outs for trumpet. So if you want to play some music you'll have to buy something like Getchell or Hering.

One other thing, this book does require St. Jacome so that is an added expense but well worth it.

Do yourself a favor and try this book.
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Craig Swartz · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 6:42 am Post subject:

Besides those already offered:

W. Smith "Top Tones" (30 difficult and strenuous etudes in all keys
major and minor)

V. Brandt "Etudes for Trumpet" (Orchestral and Last Studies, especially when
one also learns the suggested
transpositions.)

Snedecor "Lyrical Etudes"

MJo · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 6:00 am Post subject:

tommy t. · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:00 am Post subject:

If I were an at home, treat myself, medical type looking for a book on diagnosing allergies, for example, or a would-be do-it-yourself home motorcycle mechanic about to tackle a valve adjustment on a Ducati, for another, etc. etc., I don't believe that I would be turning to books written in the 19th century or the first half of the 20th century. In fact, when I was in a college music program in 1960, my Chicago based trumpet prof. insisted on a Farkus chop setting. If I were starting today, I don't believe that I would want to learn the "smile" embouchure.

`
There may have been some progress since Arban. Just a thought . . .

Tommy T.
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tommy t. · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:01 am Post subject:

If I were an at home, treat myself, medical type looking for a book on diagnosing allergies, for example, or a would-be do-it-yourself home motorcycle mechanic about to tackle a valve adjustment on a Ducati, for another, etc. etc., I don't believe that I would be turning to books written in the 19th century or the first half of the 20th century. In fact, when I was in a college music program in 1960, my Chicago based trumpet prof. insisted on a Farkus chop setting. If I were starting today, I don't believe that I would want to learn the "smile" embouchure.

`
There may have been some progress since Arban. Just a thought . . .

Tommy T.
_________________
Actually, I hate music. I just do this for the money.

BobD · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:17 am Post subject:

MJo wrote:

tjDuffy_ · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 12:36 am Post subject:

the two staple trumpet method books are:

Arbans (Carl Fischer) 90% of all trumpet players have this book. it is like the bible

Herbet L Clarke Technical Studies - consider this the new testament

i have also heard that Allen Vizzutti's books are quite good, but i am yet to try them
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FrankM · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:59 pm Post subject:

I have found John Daniel's 'Special Studies for Trumpet' very helpful. John has 8 videos on Youtube which enlarge on his thinking. There are no quick fixes, just solid, thoughtful advice. I've been using the book for 6 months and can't recommend it highly enough. Thanks John.

Frank
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