On Wed, 15 Apr 1998, Davis L George wrote:

>       I will often play from books of piano sonatinas(usually
> Clementi), and some of the Mozart violin sonatas, remembering how they
> sounded as my sisters and brother practiced them.  Trying to emulate the
> full music sound with just the trumpet brings an appreciation for the
> music, not just the technique.  BTW, the technique gets a work out as
> well.

Ahhh.. here is another excellent point. Last summer when I was teaching with Jim West at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp we were sitting together waiting for an orchestra rehearsal to start.. Jim pulls his flugel out and starts playing Stella by Starlight very slowly a romantically. I asked him why he was doing that then.. he said: "These are my long tones man! i have all my students learn lyric ballads and then I have them play along with Band in a Box." What this does is build endurance, flexibility, range (all the benefits of normal long tones) PLUS they learn a new tune and have an accompanyment readily available so they learn how to play better in tune."

Wow.. what a great idea. Jim is Prof. of Trumpet at LSU, TPIN member and all around great guy. This is just one of many pedagogical gems he laid on me.

Michael Anderson
Assistant Professor of Music
Dana College, Blair, Ne. 68008
Trumpet Player's International Network Administrator