Exactly. If my University instructor did that to me I would have stuck with it: instead he cut you down all the time so I got fed up and joined the Navy and played in one of their enlistment bands.- haha, a lot better than being under him.
The photo: trombonist who still strives to master trumpet high register. Meanwhile, since some lucky high school players get exposed to many different styles at such an early age it would be helpful to indicate WHY glissando (or vibrato) is admissible in some contexts but not in others. I'm 68, been playing for 59 years now, and I still don't quite get it. But at age 11 I bought an LP featuring Urbie Green and decided I wanted to sound like that. Btw, how come opera singers can get away with glissandi (code-named portamenti) like murder? Is it a special clause in their Artistic License? (I admit soloists' rules are justifiably different from choristers'.)
Its funny to come back to this video after the most intense year of trombone playing I've ever had and have such different perspectives. When I watched this at first, I saw the knowing your pitches segment and blew it off as an Oh well I don't have perfect pitch thing, but coming back I realize that I'm starting to remember pitches sometimes... Only in the tamber of trombone however, so if someone was to sing a note I still have no clue but I seem to have spent enough time on the horn that its starting to stick. Particularly F's and Bb's which makes sense considering the tuning of the instrument. So if anyone has strong aspirations of music out there but is being tripped up mentally by things like this, stick with it I guess because you never know what can evolve in time...
Happens all the time when I listen to music played by younger people. I used to be so awed at them, now it's just like.. Ehhh xD But with the stuff like this, it's more of a lesson for me.
A few years into my brass playing career I realized that when I was holding "my" instrument, I just KNEW what a B flat sounded like. Otherwise, I could only guess within a minor 3rd. Put an F horn in my hands and I'm even worse off. I believe that short-term pitch memory, well-refined muscle memory and a good sense of intervals are what get a lot of us through. In short, study and practice.
I wish I had an instructor like him when I was in high school and freshman in college, I would have stuck with it. Now I'm 61 and regret leaving Dr. John Mead's teaching but man he was tough. It could have been my tooth structure or something but no one could fix my embouchure problem (sigh)
According some embouchure methods like the Reinhardt System, playing WITHOUT wet lips is actually considered improper technique. Reinhardt's system in particular is based off of the idea of pivots to more easily access certain ranges. It was in Reinhardt's opinion that these pivots were at their most natural when the lips are wet and allow the mouthpiece to more easily adjust to the pivots.
I tired to hear about the bazzing...per hours..for the perfection. And all this tips for 'the pitch'with lips muscles isn't worth. As the New World in this performance. The secret hided in the other place)) The lier!
Very, very interesting. As a very amateur trumpet player still struggling with high notes (and tone), I'm not wondering if I, like Mr. Alessi, should give the trombone a try? I love all brass so I'll love the trombone if I can also achieve a better sound. (But using the slide instead of values might be too daunting!)
I don't think he's saying brass players need perfect pitch, but rather, a well-trained ear. Ear training is an extremely helpful tool for musicians. Especially in an ensemble such as an orchestra, wind ensemble, or big band, where the slightest change in tuning and balance can make a big difference. And yes, perfect pitch is a rare skill, but there are probably more people that have it than you would think.
+Edward Quibal That is a harmonic Bb Minor Scale. The seventh step is raised by a semitone making it a leading tone like in major scale. As a consequence, there is a one-and-a-half note step between the 6th and 7th note.
When I was a kid, I wanted to start playing the trumpet in the school band. So did everybody else. The teacher said, "Some of you guys better come back tomorrow and switch to the trombone." The next day, most of the kids wanted trombones. So he said, "Some of you guys better come back tomorrow and switch to the French horn." The next day, 3 of us got horns. I think this is the way most low brass players get their start.
@@mauriciofunk2972 I don't know about that. Dr John Mead (passed away 2/8/14) in NH was about as perfect as I know - head trombonist in 5 symphony orchestras in his time.