Dee's blog
Hi!
Practice diary, what practice diary? I'll be honest, if my trumpet practice lacks anything that would be a structured approach. 😂 Hopefully, that should be enough for an occasional blog (not so much a diary) about what I am working on, what I am struggling with and what insights I might have if any.
So, as a short introduction, where am I as a trumpet player? I am an adult learner. A few years ago, I decided to try ABRSM exams, aimed low enough at grade 5 😆 and passed. Apart from that my practice is mostly driven by specific pieces I wish to be able to play and record. Below is what I am working on atm. Admittedly some of the pieces in the list are well above my level and some feel just right. More details on each one as it goes.
- Hummel, 1st movement;
- Massenet, Meditation from Thaïs;
- Chet Baker, The more I see you;
- Wynton Marsalis, coda from The Magic Hour (the chill part);
Do say hi, btw.
1 reply
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Making some progress on Wynton Marsalis' The Magic Hour chill ending. I wanted to play this piece since high Bb wasn't even in the cards. I think a solid C in the staff was my upper limit back then. It makes me so happy I can at least play along through the whole piece now.
The main challenge is the phrasing as that's what makes this piece for me. Apart from dynamics that I can follow somewhat, the timing and rhythm seem rather unpredictable. Wynton starts his phrases not just off-beat, but seemingly randomly and the only reference point I can find is a strong beat towards the end of the phrase serving as an attraction point for the whole passage.
I also can't figure out the half-valve glissando to Bb. It just doesn't sound right. I tried a few half-valve tutorials online and while it seems to me I am doing what they say, the character is just not the same and glissandos aren't nearly as connected. I was wondering if it is the instrument. I mean, Schagerl for example has James Morrison models JM1 and JM2, and one of the differences mentioned is how they slot with the jazz model being more pitch flexible, but what do I know. I will blame my student Yamaha for now. 😁