Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson knows how to deliver a song.
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Harry Carney
Beautiful footage of baritone saxophonist Harry Carney with Duke Ellington. Johnny Hodges looks checked out.
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Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford playing on David Sanborn’s 1980s TV show ‘Night Music’.
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“Say AAAH”
This post expands on the effect of varying tongue levels in the mouth.
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Gear Talk
In this post I answer a couple of questions about choosing a horn.
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John Patitucci
Check out John Patitucci’s bass solo in this performance with Chick Corea.
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Johnny Hodges
Great clips of Johnny Hodges with Duke Ellington.
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James Brown Dance Moves
How To Choose A Musical Instrument
Ray Charles-1979
Rare footage of Ray Charles in Antibes, France in 1979, with a youthful Chase Sanborn sitting in the trumpet section.
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James Morrison-Snappy Too
If you are unfamiliar with James Morrison, prepare to be amazed.
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Why Apple Rules
First Name : Chase
Last Name : Sanborn
Product : iTunes Store
Issue : While watching a rented movie, it stopped repeatedly to load
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NEW! Guido Basso CD ‘Changing Partners’
Guido Basso is one of the finest flugelhorn players in the world, a featured soloist for decades with Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass. More than that, he is a songsmith with a unique sense of sound, melody and phrasing. Simply put, he has a gift.
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Sonny Rollins Interview on PBS
Sonny Rollins appears in an interview on PBS, sharing his thoughts after eight decades on the vanguard of jazz.
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Sonny Rollins on Coleman Hawkins
This 1962 letter from Sonny Rollins to Coleman Hawkins was posted on David Valdez’s blog.
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Advice from Thelonious Monk
The Lick
Jazz Studies at the University of Toronto
Jazz Studies at the University of Toronto provides students with a comprehensive education in jazz. It is a small, high-level program, with approximately 80 students enrolled, earning Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in jazz performance. The faculty is comprised of some of the most prominent jazz musicians in Canada.
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Why Should You Choose U of T Jazz?
Why should you choose U of T Jazz over other jazz programs? What is different about this program? These are common questions from students considering where to study. Here are just some of the reasons to choose U of T Jazz:
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Mutes 101
Mutes insert into, are attached to, or are held in front of the bell of the horn. Though a mute may reduce the volume of the instrument, as the name implies, that is not always the case. More often, mutes are used to change the characteristics of the sound. Intonation is also affected; you may need to adjust your tuning slide when using a mute. Read more »
Is U of T Jazz Right For You?
How do you decide where to study music after high school? You may know a school’s reputation through word of mouth; you may have done some research (as you are doing now); your music teacher may make a recommendation (often his or her Alma Mater), or you may have a friend who attends a particular institution.
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U of T Students Speak
We asked our students: Why did you choose U of T Jazz? What’s the best thing about the U of T Jazz program for you? How has the program impacted on you as a musician and a person?
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U of T Students Listen
What kind of music are U of T Jazz students into? Here’s a short list of suggested listening, submitted by the students.
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A Profile of U of T Jazz
By Sean MacKay
It’s 6:30 on a Monday night at The Rex, Toronto’s preeminent jazz and blues bar. A sextet of young musicians sets up their instruments on the faded brown, half-moon stage. “Faculty of Music” is painted on the back of their music stands.
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Keep It Clean!
Can you imagine eating off the same cutlery day after day without ever washing it? Read more »
Multiple Tonguing
Multiple tonguing is a technique that facilitates rapid articulation. Read more »
Close Your Eyes
Why is it that when you taste something delicious or hear beautiful music, you close your eyes? Read more »
Drones
In this article, I’d like to discuss the use of drones for improving intonation. Read more »
The Fun Factory
Remember the Play Doe Fun Factory? Read more »
Key Fluency
If you are like most reasonably accomplished students (and some professionals) you have 7-8 keys you are reasonably comfortable with and 4-5 that are murky. Read more »
Mental Focus
As we focus on our bodies when playing the instrument, we often forget the crucial role of the brain. 15 minutes of practice time with full concentration produces better results than an hour of mindless, repetitive practicing. Here are some tips for achieving mental focus: Read more »
Set A Musical Budget
In business, a company will set a sales budget for the coming year. By projecting a reasonable expectation of growth, the company can compare goals to actual results throughout the year. You can set a musical budget. Read more »
Practice Perfect
There is an old expression: practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. Read more »
Reflections
Playing a brass instrument requires the coordinated use of many different muscles. A mirror can help you learn to use your muscles in the most efficient way. Read more »
Stand Still
You should strive to reduce or eliminate extraneous body movement when playing your instrument. Read more »
Sound Ideas
The number one goal of all brass players is to produce a beautiful sound. Read more »
The Four Ts
The jazz musician needs two basic abilities in order to improvise a solo:
- She must be able to play what she hears.
- She must be able to hear something worth playing.
Efficiency vs. Brute Force
When the baseball player hits the ball, energy is transferred from the player to the ball, via the bat. How far the ball travels is determined not only by the strength of the player, but also by his or her ability to effectively transfer energy. The ‘sweet spot’ on the bat is where the transfer of energy is most efficient. The brass player also deals with transfer of energy. The lips are set unto vibration by the force of air, that energy is transferred to the horn, and sound emanates. Read more »
Breathing Exercises
We all know how to breathe; it’s the very first thing and the very last thing we do! Advanced control of the air is the single most crucial element of high-level brass performance. Here are a few exercises to help you develop an ability you were born with. Read more »
More Mouthpiece Talk
How much difference can a mouthpiece make?
A mouthpiece won’t create miracles, but it can help you to maximize your abilities. For instance, it might help you achieve a fuller tone, or more burn on the upper notes, or better slotting, easier flexibility, more accurate intonation, or more defined attacks. Ultimately, there is no substitute for hard work and intelligent practice. Choose a mouthpiece that works for you, then head for the practice room! Read more »
Sibelius vs. Finale
This article is from Film Music Magazine. It provides a brief overview of the differences between the two main music notation software programs, Finale and Sibelius.
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Training With Tuners
Raise your hand if your band director stands in front of you with a tuner, calling out: “Flat! Push in!” “Sharp! Pull out!” Does this really help you play in tune, or do you simply try to make the tuner stand still for a minute so he or she will go away? Read more »
The Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece creates the crucial connection between body and instrument, transferring vibrations from your lips to the horn. Finding a mouthpiece that is a good fit for your body can make a big difference in the ease with which you play the instrument. Read more »
Tongue Talk
The tongue helps determine the forcefulness of the initial air expulsion (the attack), the velocity of the air to follow and the duration of each burst of air (staccato vs. slurred). The primary syllables involved are aa, oo, ee; daa, doo, dee; and taa, too, tee. Read more »
Air!
All notes on a brass instrument are produced by a combination of air compression and lip compression. The balance can be shifted: the more work your air does, the less your lips have to do (and vice versa). A quick look at the musculature surrounding the lungs compared to the musculature of the face tells you this is an area of strength that you should utilize. Read more »
WCTF & Other Acronyms
As I write this, I am flying south from West Chester, PA, where I’ve just participated as a guest artist and exhibitor at the West Chester Trumpet Festival, presented by the local chapter of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG). Read more »
Are tests biased against students?
A Moooving Performance
The New Hot 5 band finds a new audience.
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Wayne Bergeron
Pros, students and fans in Toronto are still buzzing following a 3-day visit by Wayne Bergeron. Read more »
The Ultimate Sobriety Test
The Ultimate Tour Bus
http://www.wimp.com/meanwhilerussia/
Ikea Job Interview
No Bitching
Please Play That Part Louder
Fingers!
Distracted as we are by the challenges of making our lips vibrate, brass players often neglect finger dexterity. You must have as much technique with your three fingers as a pianist has with 10. Read more »
Listen!
“Who do you listen to?” Read more »
Maynard ’58
Here’s a great 1958 recording of Maynard Ferguson.
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Pics (Tribute to narcissism)
Trumpet Comparison: Yamaha 9335NY / 9335CH / 8335LA / 8310Z
A New Horn!
It’s time for a new horn. I say this not because there is anything wrong with my current horn, or because I am an equipment junkie (well…) Read more »
Yamaha 8310Z Trumpet
The Yamaha 8310Z trumpet is an updated version of the 6310Z trumpet, designed for Bobby Shew, one of the world’s greatest lead and jazz trumpet players. Read more »
Safe From Ducks (National Music Camp)
Photo by Sharon Little
At the time of this writing, I am comfortably ensconced in a slightly dilapidated (yet it hath charms) cabin on the shores of Lake Couchiching, two hours north of Toronto near the town of Orillia, Ontario.
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Yamaha 8335 Xeno Trumpet
The 8335 Xeno is the third generation in Yamaha’s pro-level heavywall trumpet model. It replaced the 6335HII in 2001. Read more »
Yamaha Silent Brass
I first reviewed Yamaha’s Silent Brass practice system several years ago, when it made its debut as a revolutionary product. Since then, Yamaha has expanded the ‘silent’ practice concept to many different instruments. While it does not eliminate all sound, the reduction in decibels is enough that you should be able to practice anywhere, anytime. I’ve used it in hotel rooms, cottages and tents. Read more »
Wiseman Cases
Wiseman trumpet cases, designed and hand-built by Howard Wiseman of London, England, offer superior protection for your horns, and look good doing it! They are the ‘Cadillacs’ of trumpet cases. Read more »
Summer Vacation
Many students wonder how to keep their chops up during the summer. They no longer have the school bands and music programs to keep them focused, summer jobs rob practice time, and the lure of the beach is ever-present. September is often a rude awakening as you struggle to regain your chops. Here are a few suggestions for staying in shape at a time of year when there are places you’d rather be than the practice room. Read more »