Recommended Reading
When we learn to play jazz music it is easy to get preoccupied with all the theoretical information and let our instrumental technique suffer. It is vitally important to keep practising and developing instrumental technique in the daily practice routine. Over the years I have developed myself a routine that is based on classical methods and has helped me with the technical difficulties of the trumpet. This routine is separated in to three twenty minute slots with ten minute breaks in between each slot. The breaks are very important for optimum concentration/productivity of practice as well as endurance and development of the facial muscles. The three subjects are:
1. Long Tones-Soft for breathing and air control.
2. Tonguing-Exercises from Max Schlossberg's Daily Drills and Technical studies for trumpet. Slow and precise for clarity.
3. Flexibility-Exercises from Charles Colin's Advanced Lip Flexibilities.
After this routine I'll take at least an hour break to let the embouchure settle and let the blood carry oxygen to the facial muscles. After my break I'll move on to my topics for jazz practice.
I find after doing my technical routine my endurance and sound is improved. I always try think about breath control in my practice (both technical and jazz). It is a thing that I find easy to forget and ultimately affects fullness of sound and range if not considered. A book that I enjoy reading that many wind players use with breathe related issues is Science of Breath by Yogi Ramacharaka. The book is mainly aimed at Yoga enthusiasts but is applicable to playing the trumpet.
With a disciplined and daily technical routine I feel secure to develop my knowledge and command of jazz music.
