Joined: 30 Mar 2015 Posts: 131 Location: California
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 3:08 pm Post subject:
I have not watched the video. I hope you found success with his program.
I would usually never speak up but Kurt's shameful, petty, childish attitude makes it so that regardless of the effectiveness of his program (and I doubt it's particularly useful) I would still recommend that everyone steer clear of him. He has a history of making enemies with some of the nicest, most wonderful players around. It has been discussed here and elsewhere before so I will link that below. Kurt is completely delusional regarding his playing ability and more importantly, he's an a-hole. There are plenty of great teachers out there who can help a player so there's no need to take from a real jerk.
Thanks for sharing the video, really interesting to hear your descriptions of your progress plus the sound clips. Nice sound by the way, and you already have a good enough range to play warm cornet solos, in fact sounds like you have as much range as the average player - a dependable high C?
I was interested to hear your account of some techniques such as the loud double pedals beating up your chops, the roll-in high notes etc. not helping. There is no question in my mind that some of these specialised techniques can hurt rather than harm. A heck of a lot of progress can be made by sticking to the middle road - Clarke, Colin's, Mitchell. Long tones, slurs, articulation, and playing steadily higher to increase range. Pops has a great method for increasing range which just incrementally increases the amount of notes you play in the higher register.
Looking forward to hearing your range after the 16 weeks on Kurt's method. _________________ Cannonball 789RL
Yamaha 635ST
Yamaha 16C4
Wick 2BFL
Thanks for sharing the video, really interesting to hear your descriptions of your progress plus the sound clips. Nice sound by the way, and you already have a good enough range to play warm cornet solos, in fact sounds like you have as much range as the average player - a dependable high C?
Hi,
With the greatest respect; that is nowhere near a 'dependable high C'. I would say that the G on top of the staff was barely dependable. Let alone asking for that note to be played quietly, articulated or with any kind of style.
Thanks for sharing the video, really interesting to hear your descriptions of your progress plus the sound clips. Nice sound by the way, and you already have a good enough range to play warm cornet solos, in fact sounds like you have as much range as the average player - a dependable high C?
I was interested to hear your account of some techniques such as the loud double pedals beating up your chops, the roll-in high notes etc. not helping. There is no question in my mind that some of these specialised techniques can hurt rather than harm. A heck of a lot of progress can be made by sticking to the middle road - Clarke, Colin's, Mitchell. Long tones, slurs, articulation, and playing steadily higher to increase range. Pops has a great method for increasing range which just incrementally increases the amount of notes you play in the higher register.
Looking forward to hearing your range after the 16 weeks on Kurt's method.
Thanks for listening. I tend to agree with you and concentrating on limited techniques has been trouble, that's why I think there is some promise on this sort of shotgun approach using a lot of various exercises metered out in moderation.
I'm afraid that listening to my one burst of tones up high can be deceiving and LSOfanboy has pretty much got me pegged. That is why I included that articulation stuff.
I'll have to review my Pops stuff. It could be I was still overdoing high notes on the Goldman exercises.
Joined: 13 Oct 2013 Posts: 460 Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 4:28 pm Post subject:
Separate from all the baggage about the author of this method - I'm happy to say that I've now viewed the entirety of your original video, and I share with some of our colleagues here an eager anticipation of how the next several weeks of dedicated work treat you.
One very quick observation - as you ascend from the G atop the staff, notice how far your head gets in front of your throat/spine, and as you make the trek from B to high C, then beyond, you elevate your chin noticeably. These compensating mechanisms reflect what we all know - that this is hard, physical work - but they also prevent you from harnessing your air, and high notes live on air.
I don't meant to interfere in any way with where you're going and how you're trying to get there...although I'll show my cards as firmly in the camp that the trumpet is a wind instrument, thus requiring air (and I think Maynard, and his acolytes, such Lynn Nicholson, certainly put the focus on harnessing your air)...but, as a teacher and player, it is clear to me from the video that you'd have an easier time with some of the notes that are already more notes than squeaks, if you could focus on removing some of the neck/throat tension, allowing for a relaxed breath and powerful air stream.
All the best!
-DB _________________ Daniel Bassin
Conductor/Composer/Trumpeter/Improviser/Educator
I play:
Monette - CORNETTE/PranaXLT-STC Bb/MC-35/Raja A Piccolo;
Kromat C-Piccolo; Thein G-Piccolo; Various antique horns
MPCs - Monette Unity 1-7D and DM4LD
Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 2018 Location: Charleston, SC
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 5:21 pm Post subject:
Danbassin wrote:
...One very quick observation - as you ascend from the G atop the staff, notice how far your head gets in front of your throat/spine, and as you make the trek from B to high C, then beyond, you elevate your chin noticeably. These compensating mechanisms reflect what we all know - that this is hard, physical work - but they also prevent you from harnessing your air, and high notes live on air....
...I'll show my cards as firmly in the camp that the trumpet is a wind instrument, thus requiring air...but, as a teacher and player, it is clear to me from the video that you'd have an easier time with some of the notes that are already more notes than squeaks, if you could focus on removing some of the neck/throat tension, allowing for a relaxed breath and powerful air stream.
All the best!
-DB
Fantastic stuff. THIS (above in quoted area) is why I like TrumpetHerald. Many of us can appreciate and apply these thoughts.
lambchop - thanks for beginning this thread; it takes guts to post a video of ones self.
Dan - Thanks for good anyalysis and sharing some great points. _________________ Jonathan Milam
Trumpets: 18043B, 18043*, 18043 Sterling Silver +, 18037 SterlingSilver+, Benge 4x, Olds: '34 Symphony, '47 Super, '52 Recording
Flugle: Strad 182
Puje: American Belle
Cornet: Olds Recording & Super
I'll work on that. I have caught myself before sort of humming or grunting a note while straining and had to work on it, since I know it is important to have the open throat.
In the air support vs lip strength camp, I never believed much of the air stuff and figured I probably had plenty of air pressure. I was just reading the guild journal article about air pressure. It takes about 1 psi to start a high C and a good player can/needs to produce 1.5 to 2 psi of pressure to get good high notes at a loud level. I was going to follow up on the thought in subsequent videos, but why not just measure a student's pressure? Then one would know how much to concentrate on it vs lip exercises. Maybe I'll make an app for that .
........I would still recommend that everyone steer clear of him. He has a history of making enemies with some of the nicest, most wonderful players around. It has been discussed here and elsewhere before so I will link that below. Kurt is completely delusional regarding his playing ability and more importantly, he's an a-hole. There are plenty of great teachers out there who can help a player so there's no need to take from a real jerk.
+1
Kurt reminds me of one of my yesteryear engineering colleagues. He was the best engineer the world has ever witnessed. And if you don't believe me, go ask him.
Moral: It doesn't really matter how good you are. If folks just don't want to put up with you because you come across as an arrogant @$$|-|0|_{, your knowledge goes to wast.
After all, for many (as it is for me) one purpose in life is to leave a good legacy.
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9025 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 1:00 pm Post subject:
Can I play the Devil's advocate for a moment? I think Kurt's a jerk. But a truth stands by itself regardless of it's source. If this works, why not use it? I think the only issue here is, unless one is getting scammed, is if it works or doesn't. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Joined: 13 Nov 2001 Posts: 9830 Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 5:48 pm Post subject:
kehaulani wrote:
Can I play the Devil's advocate for a moment? I think Kurt's a jerk. But a truth stands by itself regardless of it's source. If this works, why not use it? I think the only issue here is, unless one is getting scammed, is if it works or doesn't.
I agree. And regarding Kurt's personality, people can change. Maybe he has. Hopefully we all improve ourselves in time, both in terms of playing ability and personal development.
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