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Thursday, February 3, 2011

Playing the trumpet

Playing the trumpet is hard.  When I took a few pointers lessons from Bill Prue in the NEK, the first note I played was a 'C' above middle C.  Somehow the med-high notes are easier for me, even though they require more support and a tighter embouchure.  The book says if you play a middle C as your first note, start on page 4.  If you play a treble G, start on page 5.  It doesn't say anything about a C above middle C.

I am now taking lessons from Wayne Keller at Anchorage Music and Dance.  Wayne is a musical prodigy who can effortlessly pick up brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments with virtually no effort at all.  (He has roots in Unalakleet, incidentally, as do I.)  He is a self-taught guitarist and keyboardist as well.  I think, although I am not sure, I am going to be giving him a few voice lessons, something which I feel supremely confident at.

He speaks a different language than I.  He is cool, with fluid movements in adagio and vocal patterns in a mellow key whereas I struggle to find the perfect words to explain vocal technique to singers in a manner that will communicate best to them.

My lip muscles give out after ten minutes and I feel frustration welling up from my feet.  Why can't I do this, I wonder?  

For now, I am going to play for ten minutes four or five times a day and see what that produces. 

Any suggestions, anybody?

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