Thanks for posting this. Just so you know, NEC decided not to renew John McNeil's contract a few years ago unfortunately. He is the greatest teacher I've ever had, taught me everything I know. I'm currently teaching trumpet in the jazz department at NEC.
Hey Jason, Thanks for commenting. I hope you will find other useful things on the channel when you have time to explore. Sorry to hear about John but you now he was having significant health problems and the pandemic really hurt him. I interviewed him during that time and he was basically locked in his apartment in Brooklyn for whole time with his wife going out to get supplies. I don't know if I would have survived that. I am usually teaching on Wednesday and Thursdays at NEC in JH268 so stop by some time if you are free. I would love to chat some time. On Wednesdays (today) I have a break from 2-3PM. There is certainly a lot more to be said about Flexus and Caruso but I thought this video might get some folks started with that valuable resource. Cheers!
@@stevenemerytrumpet4095 Hello Steve, thanks for the insight on John. As you may know, he recently passed away. I'm at NEC on Tuesdays till noon and all day on Wednesdays. I'll definitely drop by on one of your free hours. I'm usually up in JH340.
@@JasonPalmerTrumpet Hi Jason. It looks like on the 30th I finish teaching at 2PM and am doing the trumpet class at 4PM so feel free to swing by during that window. Just text me to let me know you are coming so I will be in the room (JH268) when you arrive. My number is 781-801-6922. Looking forward to talking with you.
Thanks for your comment Benjamin. I wish you success in your studies. And thanks for watching my TH-cam content but remember to listen to your teachers and work hard to try to understand what they are saying. It is very challenging to teach people to play the trumpet since most of our skills are invisible. 🤓
I couldn't agree with you more, every exercise should be approached in a musical approach and I believe this is why so many people following the Claude Gordon method have a brittle tone. When I was in high school my teacher at the end of my hour lesson would go through the Caruso six note exercises with me for around 4-5 repetitions until our chops were just starting to turn to fire. We performed these softly and strove for a good tone as long as we could maintain it. BTW, we worked out of the Gordon book as well but SPARINGLY !!!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. There are some basic truths in trumpet playing, as in life. I am just sharing a few of the things I have learned in the hope that someone may benefit. One of the truths is, what is good medicine for one may be poison for another and, as H.L. Clarke said, one drop may cure while a teaspoon may kill. Of course any advice and counsel are only beneficial for those with ears to hear, a will to do and a heart to learn. Some of us learn the hard way 😉
I’m a comeback player after 45 years conducting choral and instrumental. I studied with Jimmie Stamp from 1968-1972 while in college. Still to this day, buzzing to begin my playing sets my focus. The rest of my playing is a challenge. Tension!!!! Grrrrr
Hi Edwin, Sorry to hear about your fight with tension. That is an extremely common struggle for trumpet players. I sincerely hope that if you patiently search through my channel, you may find some things to help you make progress with that issue . As you may have heard, don't fight the trumpet. If you do, you will lose. 🙄
What a nice disposition you bring to your teaching! I’ve enjoyed this very much. One thing you might consider is changing your microphone system. What you’re using - while clear - has AGC (automatic gain control). It compresses all your dynamics to one consistent level, effectively cancelling the obvious musicianship you’re demonstrating.
Hi RW. Thanks for you comments and for trying to help. Actually my microphone system has no AGC at all. I have everything to record at the highest level without clipping. I use several excellent mic pairs (Senheiser, Austrian Audio, Coles and Sony) and usually recording on three or four channels through a Zoom H6. Then I use Final Cut and Logic to balance the channels in post. While I am not an expert by any means my goal has always been to produce the best sound possible. I have found that when I upload to TH-cam however their system does compress my input and does not maintain the kind of quality one would hope for. I will keep working on it and am trying to learn and do better for my listeners. Thanks 🙂
@@stevenemerytrumpet4095 wow…really! The upload compresses your dynamics! Hey, I think the sound quality is fine Steve. It was the crescendo/decrescendo that I was referring to only. You certainly didn’t have to explain yourself to me. But I am both grateful and impressed with the attention and care you put into your presentations. I’m 65, retired band director who finally has time to practice a couple hours a day. I’ve been re-working my embouchure - what a long, laborious process! - and it is beginning to yield results after several months of practice. I was fortunate enough to have had Vince Cichowicz as a friend/mentor…he lived in the town where I taught. I miss him greatly. I’m sure he would appreciate the quality of your instruction as well as your collegial approach. This vid has motivated me. Thank you.
Thanks Steve for this insightful video on Caruso. Very musical approach to these exercises. I remember seeing and hearing you with the Boston Symphony when I was studying with Schlueter in the 90’s.
Hi Ryan, There are many controversial ideas about trumpet playing so I hope that I have not added to the controversy but provided some for for thought for serious trumpet practitioners. I'm sure you know that Charlie just celebrated his 85 birthday. Time marches on 🙂
Thanks for posting this. Just so you know, NEC decided not to renew John McNeil's contract a few years ago unfortunately. He is the greatest teacher I've ever had, taught me everything I know. I'm currently teaching trumpet in the jazz department at NEC.
Hey Jason, Thanks for commenting. I hope you will find other useful things on the channel when you have time to explore. Sorry to hear about John but you now he was having significant health problems and the pandemic really hurt him. I interviewed him during that time and he was basically locked in his apartment in Brooklyn for whole time with his wife going out to get supplies. I don't know if I would have survived that. I am usually teaching on Wednesday and Thursdays at NEC in JH268 so stop by some time if you are free. I would love to chat some time. On Wednesdays (today) I have a break from 2-3PM. There is certainly a lot more to be said about Flexus and Caruso but I thought this video might get some folks started with that valuable resource. Cheers!
@@stevenemerytrumpet4095 Hello Steve, thanks for the insight on John. As you may know, he recently passed away. I'm at NEC on Tuesdays till noon and all day on Wednesdays. I'll definitely drop by on one of your free hours. I'm usually up in JH340.
@@JasonPalmerTrumpet Hi Jason. It looks like on the 30th I finish teaching at 2PM and am doing the trumpet class at 4PM so feel free to swing by during that window. Just text me to let me know you are coming so I will be in the room (JH268) when you arrive. My number is 781-801-6922. Looking forward to talking with you.
Great video! I currently study trumpet in Berlin and had two great practice Sessions following your instructions! Thanks for your work ❤
Thanks for your comment Benjamin. I wish you success in your studies. And thanks for watching my TH-cam content but remember to listen to your teachers and work hard to try to understand what they are saying. It is very challenging to teach people to play the trumpet since most of our skills are invisible. 🤓
I couldn't agree with you more, every exercise should be approached in a musical approach and I believe this is why so many people following the Claude Gordon method have a
brittle tone. When I was in high school my teacher at the end of my hour lesson would go through the Caruso six note exercises with me for around 4-5 repetitions until our chops
were just starting to turn to fire. We performed these softly and strove for a good tone as long as we could maintain it. BTW, we worked out of the Gordon book as well but SPARINGLY !!!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. There are some basic truths in trumpet playing, as in life. I am just sharing a few of the things I have learned in the hope that someone may benefit. One of the truths is, what is good medicine for one may be poison for another and, as H.L. Clarke said, one drop may cure while a teaspoon may kill. Of course any advice and counsel are only beneficial for those with ears to hear, a will to do and a heart to learn. Some of us learn the hard way 😉
I’m a comeback player after 45 years conducting choral and instrumental. I studied with Jimmie Stamp from 1968-1972 while in college. Still to this day, buzzing to begin my playing sets my focus. The rest of my playing is a challenge. Tension!!!! Grrrrr
Hi Edwin, Sorry to hear about your fight with tension. That is an extremely common struggle for trumpet players. I sincerely hope that if you patiently search through my channel, you may find some things to help you make progress with that issue . As you may have heard, don't fight the trumpet. If you do, you will lose. 🙄
What a nice disposition you bring to your teaching! I’ve enjoyed this very much.
One thing you might consider is changing your microphone system. What you’re using - while clear - has AGC (automatic gain control). It compresses all your dynamics to one consistent level, effectively cancelling the obvious musicianship you’re demonstrating.
Hi RW. Thanks for you comments and for trying to help. Actually my microphone system has no AGC at all. I have everything to record at the highest level without clipping. I use several excellent mic pairs (Senheiser, Austrian Audio, Coles and Sony) and usually recording on three or four channels through a Zoom H6. Then I use Final Cut and Logic to balance the channels in post. While I am not an expert by any means my goal has always been to produce the best sound possible. I have found that when I upload to TH-cam however their system does compress my input and does not maintain the kind of quality one would hope for. I will keep working on it and am trying to learn and do better for my listeners. Thanks 🙂
@@stevenemerytrumpet4095 wow…really! The upload compresses your dynamics! Hey, I think the sound quality is fine Steve. It was the crescendo/decrescendo that I was referring to only.
You certainly didn’t have to explain yourself to me. But I am both grateful and impressed with the attention and care you put into your presentations.
I’m 65, retired band director who finally has time to practice a couple hours a day. I’ve been re-working my embouchure - what a long, laborious process! - and it is beginning to yield results after several months of practice. I was fortunate enough to have had Vince Cichowicz as a friend/mentor…he lived in the town where I taught. I miss him greatly.
I’m sure he would appreciate the quality of your instruction as well as your collegial approach.
This vid has motivated me. Thank you.
Thanks Steve for this insightful video on Caruso. Very musical approach to these exercises. I remember seeing and hearing you with the Boston Symphony when I was studying with Schlueter in the 90’s.
Hi Ryan, There are many controversial ideas about trumpet playing so I hope that I have not added to the controversy but provided some for for thought for serious trumpet practitioners. I'm sure you know that Charlie just celebrated his 85 birthday. Time marches on 🙂
@@stevenemerytrumpet4095 you haven’t added anything controversial at all. All very helpful ideas to play the trumpet better and more efficiently
Love it!
Thanks!!
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