Credits
Editing by Samuel Johnstone
Illustrations by Juliane Pieper
Research for this blog was made possible by a generous scholarship from the Berlin Senate.
Author Archives: Nathan Plante
Piccolo Trumpet
After so many posts on different trumpet techniques I realized that information about the auxiliary instruments is a bit scattered. In this post I aim to gather all of the relevant information on the piccolo trumpet in one easy to … Continue reading
Posted in Auxiliary Instruments, General Trumpet Knowledge
Tagged multiphonics, mutes, piccolo, piccolo trumpet, split tones
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Bassoon Reed
I’d like to start this post by making it clear that I do prefer playing the trumpet with an actual trumpet mouthpiece! Nevertheless, there are some unique sounds that can be made by using an alternative mouthpiece on the trumpet. … Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary Techniques
Tagged alternative mouthpieces, bassoon reed, mouthpieces, multiphonics
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Performance Material
Even though this blog is focused primarily on writing for trumpet, I do think it is important to include a few tips about how the performance material for trumpet – or indeed, for any instrument – should be prepared. I … Continue reading
Posted in General Trumpet Knowledge
Tagged Elaine Gould, handwriting, notation, performance material
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The Double-Bell Trumpet
When I first saw Marco Blaauw’s double-bell trumpet, I was fascinated but skeptical. The effects are great, but are they enough to justify this huge modification of the instrument? Not to mention the expense of having one built! I avoided … Continue reading
Posted in Auxiliary Instruments, Contemporary Techniques
Tagged double bell trumpet, half valve, mutes
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Multiphonics
My good friend, tubist and author Jack Adler-McKean, will cringe at the title of this post. He rightfully insists that: “a multiphonic means the same thing regardless of whether its for string, wind, brass, keyboard instrument or voice: making multiple … Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary Techniques
Tagged mccormack, multiphonics, sanders, seyedi, singing, toledo, voice
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Tongue Slaps and Other Percussive Sounds
Tongue Slap / Tongue Ram Whenever I have a gig with my horn colleague Samuel Stoll, we inevitably get into a heated discussion about the difference between tongue slap and tongue ram. In my opinion, this is one technique with … Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary Techniques
Tagged lip smack, Marton illes, palm slap, percussive sounds, tongue slap, valve sounds
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Half-Valve
In classical trumpet playing, half-valve sounds are usually unintentional and a sign that you aren’t fully depressing the valve, or that you seriously need to oil your valves because they aren’t coming back up fast enough. This “mistake” has been … Continue reading
Trills, Shakes and Tremolos
Trills Standard half-step trills are easily played across the trumpet’s entire range using the valves. Whole-step trills can be tricky depending on the pitches and fingerings used. Listed below are the more technically awkward whole-step trills on the trumpet. Tremolos … Continue reading
Posted in Standard Techniques
Tagged bisbigliando, half valve, ligeti, lip trill, shake, stockhausen, tremolo, trill
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