Trumpet Lessons

2 video clips of Keith Wood at the end of an all day a lesson with me.

Short lick and how he feels with the new set.

Arpeggio Low G up to Double D and down to Pedal D.

Unbelievable lesson, man!
One of the craziest things is that I feel warmed up all the time now. It's WILD! I just buzz in the pedal area and my lip hums all the time. I feel like the Ice Man who just broke out of his "wintery coffin"!
The hardest part was the first hour of our lesson. I could not play a note (even make a sound) for the first hour. Man, I was close to tears. It felt like he wanted me to change my embouchure - I saw weeks or months of trial and error ahead of me. UGH! Then it just seemed to click. A low G came out that made us both smile - BIG! For the remainder of our 8 hours together (including a couple of hours on trombone), I never got tired. I have only gotten fatigued once since, and that was our last song on New Year's Eve -
I haven't even been able to get a good practice in since then. All I've been doing is buzzing. Relaxed feel, dude!
It has truly changed my entire musical life.
God bless,
Keith Wood

The most important part of what I do is LISTEN to the player and decide how much is enough for him to handle. Overload the student and they crash and under load them and nothing happens at all. That is why most people can't teach themselves they don't know where that line is. It took a few THOUSAND lessons for me to learn it.
Warm ups are to fix the problems you caused in yesterdays playing. No problems means no need to warm up.
Audio of why all players learn to be tense and how to stop.
Audio of me teaching a comeback player tongue arch using line 1 page 125 of the Arban book. The comeback player did all of the playing. I left out the 2 tries in the middle to save time.

I met "POPS" on the Internet and he helped me through some frustrating problems that I was struggling with on the horn, and he was always available.......
Thanks Pops..................
Herb Alpert

It was a pleasure to work with you Herb and I LOVE the Remix CD “Whipped Cream and Other Delights: Re-Whipped” that you recorded during our relationship. Congratulations on the CD making it to #5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart. You continue to be an inspiration to all brass players.
Pops

Pops,
I'm so glad I got your books -
some great stuff in there for every trumpet player!!!
Keep up the great work!!!
Kiku Collins

Check out Pop's trumpet books.
This guy knows what he is talking about and can write it!!!!
Jim Manley

Pops,
You have single-handedly given me the confidence and the ability to meet - EXCEED my wildest dreams. When I first came to you I never would have believed I would tour with Maynard Ferguson!!!
Thanks
Keith Fiala

"Clint McLaughlin is one of the leading experts on embouchure. His books discuss many of the embouchures used by leading trumpet players. I consider his publications excellent resources!"

David Hickman Author of the new book "Trumpet Pedagogy".
David Hickman is a Regents' Professor of trumpet at Arizona State University, recording artist, author, past President of the International Trumpet Guild, founder of Summit Brass and as a trumpet virtuoso has appeared with over 400 orchestras around the world.
http://music.asu.edu/ http://www.hickmanmusiceditions.com/

I am pleased and honored to have my books, ideas and teaching mentioned and quoted and to have this site listed in the TOP 10 Trumpet sites in these books:
"Tongue Level & Air"
by Eric Bolvin
"Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn"
by Jonathan Harnum
"Trumpet Pedagogy"
by David Hickman
"Embouchure Enhancement" books
by Roddy Lewis
"Trumpeting by Nature: An Efficient Guide to Optimal Trumpet Performance"
by Jeanne Pocius
as well as in the International Trumpet Guild Journal, Overture, Windplayer many dissertations and even several Utube teaching videos done by other teachers.

I have had articles written for one of my books and testimonials from:

25 Authors of over 82 trumpet books;
61 college trumpet professors and noted teachers;
48 pro players who have recorded over 3,900 movie, tv and cartoon soundtracks;
9 trumpet embouchure clinicians;
3 Trumpet Guild presidents;
12 Trumpet Guild board members past and present;
8 mouthpiece and trumpet designers and makers.

Many, many thanks to you and your knowledge of the trumpet and the embouchure. It has helped me immeasurably since my lesson with you!
Mark Curry - Curry Precision Mouthpieces - http://www.currympc.com and former lead trumpet player with Ray Charles.

Pops; Your book is just fantastic and thank you for inviting me to offer up some of my thoughts on the subject. Congratulations on a job well done.
John Haynie - Author of "How to Play High Notes, Low Notes and All Those In Between". Professor Emeritus of Trumpet @ University of North Texas 1950-1990

It is absolutely wonderful!!! May be the most complete book on embouchure ever compiled. You have done trumpet players a wonderful service!
Bill Knevitt - Author of several trumpet method books including: "The Truth About How To Play Double High C On Trumpet". - http://www.ultratrumpet.com/

It was only after reading/playing your books, did I get the range thing! I assure you that it was only your book (and Mr. Jacoby's) which gave me the help I needed.
Roddy Lewis - Author of "Embouchure Enhancement" vol 1,2 and 3, 12 years playing trumpet in the West End in London - http://www.R-o-d-d-y-T-r-u-m-p-e-t.cC

Thanks for all your intelligent advice.
Jim Manley High Note Trumpet Artist - http://www.jimmanley.net

If they don't get it from reading this; then they should take up the sax.
Leon Merian - Author of "Trumpet Isometrics", "The Man Behind the Horn"; Jet-tone personal trumpet mouthpieces. - http://www.jet-tone.com/merian.htm

Don't waste any more time searching for the *ultimate guide to trumpet playing*. It has already been done.
Jeanne G Pocius - Author of new book "Trumpeting by Nature", Teacher, Player and trumpet embouchure clinician - http://abel.hive.no/trompet/jeanne/

You have said two things which have really helped me and have brought about an instant improvement in my trumpet playing. It's all 20% easier! So thanks again for your positive contribution to the brass world.
Eddie Severn - Author of "Trumpet Solutions" and European trumpet artist. - http://www.eddiesevern.com

I think you're doing a great service for the brass community. I once heard that the art of teaching is in finding out how to explain the same thing in different ways to have it hit home for each individual student.
Matt Shulman — Trumpet Player, Composer, Inventor of the ShulmanSystem for Brass - http://www.ShulmanSystem.com

Thanks for making Trumpet College the #1 ranked Trumpet site for 2003 & 2004 (#2 in 2005) with over 20 million hits.

From time to time someone will ask me if my material/lessons would be of any benefit to a "serious" or "legit" player. Some even think that strenuous lessons might ruin them in terms of tone, flexibility... So I asked a man who is a College teacher, symphonic player and ITG presenter if he had experienced anything like this from the lesson I gave him.
Here is his reply.

OK, let me respond as a college trumpet teacher who has 35 years of teaching under his belt:

HOGWASH!!

In order to play higher notes on the trumpet, you need to make the air go faster. This is just physics! The rule applies to "serious" trumpet players, "legit" trumpet players, "commercial" trumpet players, "lead" trumpet players, "jazz" trumpet players, "Dixieland" trumpet players, and even "country and western" trumpet players! You make the air go faster by blowing harder, by making your embouchure compress the air more, or by changing the size of the oral cavity inside your mouth. If you receive information that will help you do that, you will play higher and/or with greater endurance on the trumpet. The person who gives you that information doesn't even have to be a wind instrument player. Carmine Caruso didn't play the trumpet.

This attitude of someone "ruining" you may have several sources. One might be that people want to learn from someone who has the right pedigree. The only people who can possibly know anything are the people who teach at reputable universities, and have a Dr. in front of their name.

Let's see. That means that guys like Don Jacoby, Arnold Jacobs, and Phil Farkas didn't know what they were doing, right? None of those guys had an earned DMA.

Also, in order to be "ruined" by someone else, you have to give them complete control of yourself. You must be a willing participant, and have no mind of your own. This reduces learning to a process whereby one person simply pours knowledge into someone else's brain, and that "someone else" simply regurgitates the information forever after!

I prefer getting as much information as I can about something, and then sitting down and assimilating that information until I understand how it works, and how it applies to me. This process can take years, and it means that a lot of it is up to me! I believe, however, that learning this way leads to a deeper understanding, and it also happens to be a lot more fun! You get to have "ah ha!" experiences that way. (Oh! THAT'S what he meant!)

I have already gotten a boost in range and endurance from the one session that I had with you, and several of my students have gotten a similar boost. Pops keep putting that information out there.

James R. West
Louisiana State University - http://www.music.lsu.edu/
James West (Associate Professor of Trumpet). Mr. West has been at Louisiana State University since 1978, and began his career teaching trumpet at Arkansas Polytechnic College in the fall of 1969. Mr. West is currently the state chairperson of the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors in Louisiana. He is Principal Trumpet with the Baton Rouge Symphony, and was the conference chairperson for the 1991 meeting of the International Trumpet Guild, and has presented clinics at several ITG conferences.

Lynn Asper: Author of “A Physical Approach to Playing the Trumpet”; Trumpet Professor @ Grand Rapids Community College - http://www.trumpetbook.com

Thanks for the opportunity to be in your book.
Rick Baptist - Los Angeles Studio Trumpet player with 850 Movie and over 1000 TV and cartoon recordings.

John Bennett: 33 years playing lead trumpet in Vegas. Over 20,000 Shows

Seneca Black: Trumpet @ Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra; - http://www.jazzatlincolncenter.org

Joseph Bowman: Trumpet Professor @ Mahidol University College of Music - Host of 2005 International Trumpet Guild convention

Jim Buckner: Trumpet Professor @ Henderson State University; - http://fac.hsu.edu/bucknej/

Sam Burtis: Author of “The American Trombone”

Barbara Butler: Trumpet Professor @ Northwestern University - http://music.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/wind_perc/ wind_perc4.html

I was truly honored to have been asked by you to contribute to your trumpet book. I was named a Bach performing artist several months ago, it was in some part due to my contribution to your book.
Thanks again, - David Champouillon: Trumpet Professor @ East Tennessee State University; - champoui@etsu.edu;

Thanks for asking all of us to contribute to such an interesting study. I hope that we all learn something from the collection of ideas and opinions.
Kevin Cobb Trumpet @ American Brass Quintet - http://www.americanbrassquintet.org/

John Daniel: Trumpet Professor @ Lawrence University - http://www.lawrence.edu/conservatory/

Charles Decker: Trumpet Professor @ Tennessee Technological University - http://plato.ess.tntech.edu/music/trumpet/

I've been a pro brass player for nearly 25 years, Pops' tips and advice are always well thought out, useful, and lacking in the emotionalism, personal bias and hyperbole that are so common on the net. He's definitely an experienced trumpet player and teacher, and a resource to be valued.
Carl Dershem

Vince DiMartino: Trumpet Guild President 2002; Trumpet Professor @ Centre College - http://www.centre.edu/web/academic/faculty/dimartino.html

Nick Drozdoff: Author of “Embouchure Design”; Former lead trumpet with Maynard Ferguson - http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/3698

When it comes to trumpet pedagogy (and my doctorate was in trumpet performance and pedagogy) Pops' information is excellent.
Regards, - Bryan Edgett - Trumpet Professor @ Eastern University - http://www.eastern.edu/academic/trad_undg/sas/depts/ music/BryanEdgett.html

Jon Faddis: Trumpet Professor @ Purchase College, High Note Trumpet Artist - http://www.purchase.edu

Mic Gillette: Former Trumpet @ Tower of Power 19 years - http://hometown.aol.com/newvokid/links/index.htm - http://www.thefundamentals.com/"

Pops, you're a wealth of information on trumpet equipment & embouchure. I'm writing a new textbook for future public school music teachers (published by Prentice Hall), I'd like to quote you:
Thanks. - Thomas W. Goolsby, Coordinator Music Education Georgia State University - http://education.gsu.edu/coe/

George Graham: Academy Awards Trumpet Player - http://www.trumpetgeorge.com

Matt Graves: Author of “Fundamental Flexibility Studies” - http://mattgraves.netfirms.com

Thanks for recommending the Berp. It seems to fit very well with your approach to practicing the trumpet.
Mario Guarneri - Trumpet fifteen seasons with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and hundreds of T.V. and motion picture soundtracks - http://www.berp.com

Nick Hansinger: Assistant Personnel Manager, Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Clyde Hunt: Author of “Sail The Seven C's” ; Many CDs of trumpet Methods like Brandt or Schlossberg - http://www.bflatmusic.com

International Trumpet Guild Journal review of "Trumpet FAQ's". From a teaching standpoint, the questions asked are interesting, not only with respect to the various levels of performance, but in how topics are addressed by the author. Many answers are based on the philosophies of the late Don (Jake) Jacoby and his well known teachings and methodology.
Full review found in Vol. 26, No. 2 January 2002 Trumpet Guild Journal

"Congratulations to Clint McLaughlin for this informative collection of professional opinions. "The Pros Talk Embouchure" is a helpful tool for better understanding both the differences and the common ground relating to the embouchure. It will hopefully lead to further candid discussions about this vital aspect of trumpet/brass performance.
Trumpet Guild Journal June 2004 - http://www.trumpetguild.org/

Walt Johnson: Author of “Double High C in Ten Minutes”; Trumpet high note artist; replaced Bill Chase on his band; many movie soundtracks - http://members.aol.com/vikster288/jazz/johnson.htm

All the air and chops instruction is right on...just like Jake would've done it!
John Julian - Long time trumpet student of Don Jacoby

John LaBarbera: Trumpet with Buddy Rich band; Professor @ University of Louisville - http://www.louisville.edu/music/jazz/

Lucinda Lewis: New Jersey Symphony; Author of “Broken Embouchures” - http://www.Embouchures.com

John Lynch: Author of “A New Approach to Altissimo Trumpet Playing.” Inventor of the "Asymmetric trumpet mouthpiece” - http://www.asymmetric-mouthpiece.com

Gordon Mathie: Author of “The Trumpet Teacher's Guide” & “Drudgeries” (Routines for advanced wind players); Professor Emeritus of Trumpet @ Crane School of Music

Gary Mortenson: Trumpet Professor @ Kansas State University, Publications Editor Trumpet Guild - http://www.ksu.edu/music/mortenson

Dennis Najoom: Principal Trumpet @ Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Trumpet Professor @ University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee; Trumpet Leadpipes and mouthpieces - http://www.Najoom.com

Vaughn Nark: 20 years lead trumpet with Airmen of Note - http://www.vaughnnark.com

I have played trumpet with Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, and Buddy Rich. I was on Stan's band with Mike Vax and Jay Saunders. I've played trumpet at Universal studios on shows such as "Hawaii 5-0", "Gunsmoke", "Quincy", and "Incredible Hulk". I am delighted, and also more than just a bit nervous, to have a chance to share my thoughts on embouchure in such distinguished company.
Dennis Noday - author of "High Velocity Trumpet Playing" - http://www.cyberjaz.com/noday/

Flip Oakes: Wild Thing Trumpet - http://www.flipoakes.com/ (This is the best Trumpet I have ever played. Pops)

Jim Olcott: Trumpet Professor @ Miami University, Former Trumpet Guild President - http://www.fna.muohio.edu/musweb/faculty/olcott/

Chase Sanborn: Author of "Brass Tactics", "Brass Tactics Companion" & "Jazz Tactics"; Trumpet Artist; mouthpieces; Professor @ University of Toronto - http://www.chasesanborn.com

Arturo Sandoval: twelve Grammy nominations for trumpet playing; Trumpet Professor @ Florida International University - http://www.arturosandoval.com

Carl Saunders: Played trumpet with Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Harry James - www.carlsaunders.com

Jay Saunders: Trumpet with Stan Kenton, Army band in D.C.; TV and movies - Professor @ UNT - http://www.music.unt.edu/;

Karl Sievers: Trumpet Professor @ OU School of Music, Principal Trumpet Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Board of Directors Trumpet Guild - http://music.ou.edu/applied/trumpet/trumpet.htm - http://www.selmer.com/trumpet/karl_sievers.html

"After nearly thirty years of pro and semi-pro trumpet playing, I thought I had seen it all. Clint is, without a doubt, a pro's pro! His "cyber teaching" has made him a living legend to all of us who have benefited from his vast knowledge of brass playing.
"Thanks Clint!" - Don Smith

Richard Smith: Smith Watkins Trumpet - http://www.smithwatkins.com/

Dave Stahl: Lead Trumpet with Woody Herman, Count Basie, Buddy Rich - http://www.davestahl.com

Marvin Stamm: Trumpet with Stan Kenton and Woody Herman bands - http://www.marvinstamm.com

Michael Stewart: Author of “Courting the Upper Register” - http://www.stewmuse.com/ - www.geocities.com/Vienna/3612/StewHome.html

Andrea Tofanelli: Italian High Note Trumpet Artist; many TV shows in Europe - http://www.andreatofanelli.com/ - http://www.trumpetstuff.com/Home.html

Mike Vax: Lead Trumpet with Stan Kenton; Yamaha Trumpet model and mouthpieces. Recorded over 70 Albums - http://www.MikeVax.com - http://www.bigbandjazz.net

Robert Weast: Professor Emeritus of Trumpet @ Drake University; Author of “Keys to Natural Performance” and “Trumpet Players, Principles, Quotes and Commentary of Trumpet Players and Pedagogues From 1584 to the Present“.

John L. Worley, Jr.: Trumpet Professor @ San Francisco State University - http://johnworley.com/