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percivalthehappyboy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 731
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject: Why lessons? |
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I played trumpet in grade school, and then just picked it up again after many, many years. Not with any specific goal in mind, I just felt like tootling. On a budget.
And I was just reading recommendations to another reader for lessons, lessons, lessons. So now I'm wondering why, why, why? What sorts of things would a skilled teacher teach? How much of it can be gotten from books? |
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pepperdean Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 650 Location: Johnson City, Texas
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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To give you a quick answer, a skilled teacher will know which material suits your desire and level of performance and will show you how to apply them to reach your goals. There is huge amount of material available in print and on the internet. The question is what should you use and how should you use it. The teacher can also monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Just like medicine. If you were ill, wouldn't it be nice to have a skilled physician examine you in person and prescribe the proper medication and proper dosage.
Alan |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8914 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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It's my opinion that the trumpet isn't always an intuitive endevour. With a teacher you reduce the chances that you will start down an unproductive path that could take years (and lots of cussing) to come back from. _________________ "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 |
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Ed Kennedy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject: Why? |
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To develop good habits now. Bad habits are much harder to change than developing good habits in the first place. It's not unlike golf or tennis in that respect. A few lessons to get you started and you will play better, faster and enjoy it more. |
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plp Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 7023 Location: South Alabama
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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Record yourself. If you are satisfied with what you hear on playback, charge on and don't give another thought to lessons.
If you are like most of us, what you hear recorded is not always what you think is coming out of the bell. I think there is a certain projected bias that makes us sound better in our heads than what we are actually producing.
Lessons help bridge the gap between what we want to produce, and what we actually produce. _________________ Since all other motivesfame, money, power, even honorare thrown out the window the moment I pick up that instrument..... I play because I love doing it, even when the results are disappointing. In short, I do it to do it. Wayne Booth |
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Craig Swartz Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 7770 Location: Des Moines, IA area
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:55 am Post subject: |
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After reading your second sentence, I figure right now you don't really need lessons. A lot of people have a piano in the house and go to it occasionally and pick out one line melodies for their own enjoyment. They never learned to use 2 hands, let alone chord or harmonize with one, but as long as they're happy and the box isn't taking up too much space, what's the dif? It's a form of entertainment.
If your second sentence ever changes, you might then also begin to see the need for a mentor if you are unable to attain them yourself. Good luck. Don't worry about it. Have fun playing your horn first and if/when you need to expand to keep having fun, you'll know. |
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percivalthehappyboy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 731
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, Craig, and to the rest.
It's true that I don't anticipate performing, or really ever needing to play *at all*. And I'm money-sensitive. (I was hoping library books could take me far enough.) But it's also true that you enjoy something more when you're good at it. And I have friends who sometimes pull out the congas and guitars and just dink around, it would be nice to sound good for something like that. (Which brings up other matters-- it seems like a drummer can pound out a pattern indefinitely until he wants to change it, guitars can play rhythm, but trumpets are more of a melody thing and shouldn't spend too much time just going up and down a chord or two...)
Well, I did a little poking around, found a few places in my area that offer lessons for instruments that aren't trumpets. I'm sure I can find something if I try. I'll keep it in mind.
Just to tide me over for now, what kinds of pitfalls and bad habits should I watch out for? |
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johnnyjazz Regular Member
Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Upstate New York
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Even the best players take lessons. You don't have to do for an extended period of time if finances are a concern. It is important, however, to get off on the right foot (or lip as the case may be). Take a few lessons from a qualified teacher to get you going in the right direction. You will get further ahead a lot faster and you will avoid some bad habits. Good luck.
John _________________ Brass Sound Creation (BSC) "Allround" Trumpet
Jupiter Flugelhorn
Conn Victor 80A (1947)
Curry 3C, Curry 3VC and Bach 3CFL mouthpieces |
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Steve A Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 1808 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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percivalthehappyboy wrote: | Thanks, Craig, and to the rest.
It's true that I don't anticipate performing, or really ever needing to play *at all*. And I'm money-sensitive. (I was hoping library books could take me far enough.) But it's also true that you enjoy something more when you're good at it. |
Goodness knows I can relate to money being a factor (as can many here, I suspect), but I'd like to throw an idea out there: regardless of the need or intent to perform, putting some money into your hobby for lessons is a reflection of commitment, and is an incentive to try to make the most of your time and money. This can give someone motivation to do the sometimes unfun things that are necessary to get better, rather than just picking up the horn and fooling around until you're bored.
For most people, the trumpet is a much less approachable instrument than guitar or drums, and in most cases, nothing beyond eventual boredom will result from aimless noodling.
percivalthehappyboy wrote: |
Just to tide me over for now, what kinds of pitfalls and bad habits should I watch out for? |
This is the reason everyone advocates lessons - if you get any substantial answers to this question, it's likely to boil down to: don't do too much of anything, but also don't do too little. Both are bad. Do just the right amount.
A teacher is there to tell you what's too much, and what's too little, and to give you some carefully chosen guidance about how to get there. |
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DaveH Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2001 Posts: 3861
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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My initial answer would be blunt - to learn to play the instrument. But, it could also depend on your aspirations.
If they are limited and do not involve becoming anything more than a purely recreational player, and you have some innate musical talent, then lessons may be unnecessary.
However, if you aspire to any level of excellence and technical expertise beyond that, then lessons will be necessary to reach that level and succeed.
Many guitar players are self taught - even professionals. I know of few professional - or even amateur but technically excellent - trumpet players who are self taught. |
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Steve A Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 1808 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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It occurs to me that if money is a big constraint for lessons, it might be worth your while to have a few lessons to get you rolling, then see if there's some kind of a community band you could join where you could learn from the other players in a more hands-on way.
(Assuming, of course, that's something that interests you.) |
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differencetone Regular Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2010 Posts: 83
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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It depends on your goals. For classical music, you need a teacher because it's important to blend in with the other musicians. A lot of this talk about "bad habits" is just a matter of opinion as there is no right or wrong way to play if it's working for you.
Now that I play trumpet, I listen to trumpet players in a different way and I can hear that some players sound unique in their tone and style. I certainly would resent someone telling me I'm doing it the wrong way. Jazz was meant to be fun but now that they institutionalized it, it's less so. The music geeks are holding it back. |
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Jeff_Purtle Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Mar 2003 Posts: 936 Location: Greenville, South Carolina
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:18 am Post subject: |
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Good teaching is a skill that is developed just like anything else. A good teacher is able to take his personal playing and teaching experiences and apply them to each unique student. At the same time he should have a clear understanding of priorities. Some of the wisdom as a teacher is knowing what things to not talk about in order to keep the student on track with the most important things.
If good teaching didn't require wisdom, you could just have a computer programmed to do it. It's an art form like music and takes creativity.
Good teaching can really be worth the money in the long run too. You will get more opportunities to play as your skill goes up. And, if you ever make money at playing or teaching you will see monetary return on your investment too. If that doesn't happen, you will at least get the best thing, which is more enjoyment from your playing.
Jeff _________________ Jeff Purtle
Trumpet Lessons Online since 2004, teaching since 1983
MultiTouch book on Claude Gordon
+1 864-354-3223 iPhone w/ FaceTime
Skype: jeff_purtle |
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trumq Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 335 Location: san francisco
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:34 am Post subject: |
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differencetone wrote: |
A lot of this talk about "bad habits" is just a matter of opinion as there is no right or wrong way to play if it's working for you.
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There are plenty of wrong ways to play, and you may not know that you are using one until you hit a wall that you can't get beyond due to faulty technique. _________________ paul
Henri Selmer 80J
'63 Olds Studio
'55 King Liberty
King altonium
'47 Conn 80A |
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murph66 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 907 Location: Clinton, MS
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in my 70's, and the last lessons I took was in the 8th grade. So I decided to take some lessons last year. I didn't take that many, but the ones I took made a lot of difference in the way I practiced. I can tell a lot of progress in both range and endurance since applying the advice I got to practice. Since I had been playing for a long time, the man I took lessons from wasn't sure how much he could help me, but when we were through, I assured him he had helped me a lot. Often it doesn't take much to be put on the right path. |
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percivalthehappyboy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 731
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I'm pretty well convinced by now that lessons are important. But now I'm afraid to pick the damned thing up until I get them! |
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differencetone Regular Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2010 Posts: 83
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:53 am Post subject: |
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percivalthehappyboy wrote: | Well, I'm pretty well convinced by now that lessons are important. But now I'm afraid to pick the damned thing up until I get them! |
That is why I hate teachers. It's just music for god's sake, it isn't going to hurt anyone. Screw the teachers, play the wrong way. |
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jpellett Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 1859 Location: Atlanta, GA
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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differencetone wrote: | percivalthehappyboy wrote: | Well, I'm pretty well convinced by now that lessons are important. But now I'm afraid to pick the damned thing up until I get them! |
That is why I hate teachers. It's just music for god's sake, it isn't going to hurt anyone. Screw the teachers, play the wrong way. |
The thing about playing the wrong way is that we play the right way because it sounds good, especially if you're playing with other people. It's how you get a pure, resonant sound that blends, it's how you get the control to center notes immediately, it's how you get the control to play in tune, etc. We don't advocate teachers because we're fascists, we advocate teachers because they help guide you to play the way you want to play. If you just play by yourself in your basement or do some small group jazz and think that some airy, forced sound is hip then go for it. If you want to sound like a trumpet player and have any real hope of gigs with other people (or even doing well in a community band) you should probably get with someone who knows what they're doing. _________________ http://www.jasonpellett.com |
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bobd0 Veteran Member
Joined: 29 Jan 2009 Posts: 304
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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Delete
Last edited by bobd0 on Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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connicalman Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 1668 Location: West Medford, MA
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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Play. Its like introducing yourself to someone. You can follow all the conventions and learn all the social graces, but there's hardly any perfect way to break the ice. A teacher can help you to avoid the most obvious faux pas.
As a side note, this is why I begin with 5 minutes of the most basic first-year fundamentals each day. It is only too easy for yours truly to think myself into a bind, or act myself into a fix.
Yet play. Then when or if you feel you're ready, invest in a teacher.
Play what you hear in your head! _________________ kochaavim, csillaagkep, αστερρισμός, konnstelacji, connstellation... ...a.k.a. the 28A!
Other Conns: Victor 5A & 38A, New Wonder & 80A; 'stella 38A; 36A; 'quest 76A... |
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