Best method to relearn

johall15 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Aug 2012 Posts: 18

It has been around 20 years since I put my trumpet to my lips. I used to play daily and was even a music major in college. I have recently started wanting to play again...nothing professional, just for my enjoyement. What is the best method to relearn how to play? I have my trumpet, but have no sheet music or books any more.

Thanks for your input!

jiarby · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2011 Posts: 1188

For about the first month of my comeback I didn't play anything besides Clarke Technical Studies, long tones, and Irons 27 Exercises. After that I started back into Arban. Now 16 months later and I am working through Charlier Etudes and still plowing through Arban.

I recommend not missing a day of practice, and lots of patience

razeontherock · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:08 pm Post subject:

+1 to the above. Start out by limiting your duration, as well as how and/or loud you allow yourself to play. One of our banner advertisers here is Boptism Music Publishing, who makes many great practice resources available that many TH members of every skill level have had much success with. "Focal Point" might be a likely entry point, but "Reinhardt Routines" is also great; both are cheap. Doc Reinhardt's Encyclopedia of the Pivot
System is also available there, (for $35, last I checked) which is a great investment.

Another advertiser here is HME, Hickman Music Editions, and IIRC Dave Hickman is also a moderator of at least one dedicated forum here. (As is the owner/operator of Boptism) HME has a literature list that is HUGE, but all will attest that if you buy any Clarke book, get his complete volume as edited by HME. Outstanding value! Clarke's beginning lesson plans would've been perfect for me after 2 weeks of Claude Gordon's Systematic Approach. (What I started on)

Yet another banner advertiser here is Eric Bolvin, who has made a guide to working through the Arban book. I haven't seen that myself, but many here say it's great.

Welcome to TH!

cheiden · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject:

If you're going it alone without a teacher I really enjoyed and benefitted the time I spent with the Vizzutti Books.
http://www.amazon.com/Vizzutti-Trumpet-Method-Technical-Studies/dp/0739019414
It's a series of 3 books (Technical, Harmonic and Melodic) and the exercises are sensible, accessible and fun to play. Though Vizzutti's known for his virtuosity the books are not at all unreasonable for comback players like yourself.
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johall15 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Aug 2012 Posts: 18

Thank you for all the excellent feedback. I'm going to have to go digging through a storage unit because I believe I have an Arban's stored away in there. Would there be any reason to by the newer edition Arban's? I've got the 1982 edition, I see on Amazon that there was a newer edition last year. Is it worth the money or should I just stick with the one I have.

Thanks again for the feedback! I am really looking forward to re-learning and refining my skills!

cheiden · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject:

Arban's certainly has exercises enough to keep you busy. What it doesn't have is an easy way to navigate through it. There are 3rd party Arban's guides that can help with that.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

doitallman · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:29 pm Post subject:

Hi ,

Welcome back to trumpet. I would suggest that if your starting new , you should try to start with some help. Get a few lessons at least with someone who inspires you. Skype lessons are the way to go , unless you have someone locally.

I usually start my students with scales . They are great for making sure you don't pick up any bad habits right away. Try to play all of them as relaxed as possible (really) . Do this for about 10 minutes daily. Learn all scales eventually, and when playing them pay attention to what your doing with your tongue lips etc.

Make sure you have fun with your horn everyday. Find what you really love to play and try to get better at it everyday.

No need to get a new Arban . If you like jazz, there are many play-along of standards on you tube , search for cornet play along. Good luck .
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razeontherock · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:35 pm Post subject:

Dig out your old Arban's, start at the beginning but don't be afraid to flip ahead to whatever you can play, make sure to play everything ridiculously slowly at first - and contact a teacher ASAP!

We have a thread saying we should have a sticky somewhere of all repair techs / horns makers etc. We used to have the same notion with teachers / those willing to teach via Skype. I currently favor the Reinhardt camp especially for someone in your position, but I bet there are quite competent teachers following every school we have a dedicated forum for.

roynj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Oct 2002 Posts: 2065

20 years is a pretty long time away, and that just means that you will have a memory of how well you used to play and try to emulate that. This is what I have seen in some comeback players I've helped along, and it's a mistake. Play at moderate volumes at first and don't try to strain for high notes.

If you have an old Arbans complete conservatory method, that's all you will really need for now. Also go to Eric Bolvin's site and download the instructions on how to work your way through the Arbans book. Your old one is going to be just as good as a new one, even if it's in rough shape.

Final tip, find your local community band and join in. It's a lot more fun to play in an ensemble. Good luck and welcome back!

veery715 · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:56 am Post subject:

Just a response to roynj's last suggestion. Unless you can play comfortably the bottom two octaves and your reading skills are not forgotten, I suggest you wait to join the community band until you have been working on your own (but hopefully with a teacher) for a year or two.

Playing simple duets with another player, however, is a really good idea.
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Brian Moon · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:22 am Post subject: Re: Best method to relearn

johall15 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Aug 2012 Posts: 18

My music reading skills are definitely not forgotten, a bit rusty, but not forgotten. I played piano starting at 5 yrs old, so reading music comes as easy to me as reading a book. As far as joining a local band, I'm trying to get my embouchure back into shape, then I'll probably be joining my local church orchestra (very small group, currently 7 members). Thank you for the Smartmusic information. I had no idea anything like that was out on the internet, but it doesn't surprise me!

roynj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Oct 2002 Posts: 2065

Good idea to join the church orchestra. Usually this type of music is well within the grasp of most players, and also its not too critical of a group (usually). Great idea, and it will help to keep you energized about your comeback efforts.

Nowling · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: Best method to relearn

Yamahaguy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3992

veery715 · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:13 am Post subject:

If you want to get SmartMusic, it may be the best route to join the ITG: http://www.trumpetguild.org/

As a member you will get a significant discount on SmartMusic, in addition to all the regular member benefits.
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veery715
Hear me sing!: https://youtu.be/vtJ14MV64WY
Playing trumpet - the healthy way to blow your brains out.