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Mouthpiece Comparison – AR 42 vs Bach Artisan 1.5
Perhaps it's the time of year with ITG around the corner that gets me thinking about comparing equipment and/or general nerding out on trumpet...And, while this years' ITG has great content and I'm really looking forward to it, I will miss the exhibits and ability to try horns, mutes, mouthpieces... So, with that in mind, I offer two more comparisons; this post will compare my AR Resonance 42 bronze Sergei top mouthpiece with my Bach Artisan 1.5. (The next post will compare 2 C trumpets) I do…
Your Host
David Cooper is the host and author of All Things Trumpet; the blog for research, education and reviews of musical issues pertaining to the trumpet.
UW-Platteville Director of Jazz Studies – Trumpet
Madison Symphony Orchestra
Conn-Selmer Artist
Beijing – Day 1
I have been invited to play some recitals and give some master classes at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China. This is part of the 2nd International Wind & Percussion Music Festival. This is a huge thrill and honor for me so I…
Wayne Bergeron clinic
I just recently attended a conference where the trumpet great, Wayne Bergeron gave a presentation. I feel pretty safe in saying that Wayne is perhaps THE most in demand lead trumpet player alive; or at least in the top-5 among all commercial…
Sampson – Notes from Faraway Places (suite 1)
Title Notes from Faraway Places Suite 1 (I. Krems, Austria - II. Richmond, Virginia – III. Delaware Water Gap, Penn.) For Unaccompanied Trumpet By David Sampson Biographical Info David Sampson is a trumpet player, teacher and composer living in…
Mouthpiece Experiment
This is super-geeky, but whatever. This summer I'm going to only play one mouthpiece per horn! Today starts my summer playing schedule and for the next month and a half, it's going to be a very busy one. The last few months I have been slowly…
Aesthetics of Tone
I recently came across this article written by Steven Emery. It's absolutely the best depiction of tone description I've come across. Dizzy used to say, "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture." Well, describing sound and why we…
Great time at ITG
I'm back from another fantastic ITG Conference. This time it was Minneapolis, May 23-28. I would like to thank everyone that stopped by the Composers' Collective booth and said Hi or bought something. It seemed we hardly ever had any down time.…
A Musical Remembrance
I would think that most of us have had musical experiences that have dramatically affected, if not impacted our lives; perhaps a top 5 list of favorite musical memories. Funny thing for me is that I didn’t even play in two of my top five musical…
A Note to “Serious” Music Students
“I’m thinking about transferring to a different university.” As a college music professor, I have this conversation every now and then. As someone who transferred to four schools during my undergrad years, I would like to offer my thoughts on the…
Preparing for the stage
Here is a quick little piece of advice some of you may find useful. (Those of you with nerves of steel can disregard.) I have been implementing it the last few times I’ve performed and this morning it really came in helpful. Please read on.…
Takemitsu – Paths
Title Paths (1994) In Memoriam Witold Lutoslawski for Trumpet Toru Takemitsu (1931-1996) Biographical Info Toru Takemitsu was a self-taught Japanese composer who combined elements of Eastern and Western music and philosophy to create a unique sound…
Another Music Conference Comparison
In February of 2011, the saxophone prof at my school, Allen Cordingley, asked me to play on a recital with him at NASA. I know! Pretty cool, right? Well, to him and eventually me, this actually meant driving to Chicago and playing at the North…
ITG 2011
If you are reading this blog, then you are probably someone who is well aware of what ITG is and what they do in the summer. Well, in the event you happen to be some renegade string player who loves to read trumpet blogs, ITG is the International…
Tull – Profile 8
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet VIII - To J. B. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he…
Tull – Profile 7
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet VII - To C. D. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he…
Tull – Profile 6
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet VI - To D. O. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he…
Tull – Profile 5
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet V - To M. G. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he was…
Tull – Profile 4
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet IV - To L. N. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he…
Stravinsky Soldier’s Tale Production
Hi Everyone, I have maintained this site solely for educational purposes and will continue to do so. However, I want to take this brief moment to use ATT as an advertising board for a very special concert I have coming up. Every couple of years a…
Tull – Profile 3
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet III - To R. M. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he…
Tull – Profile 2
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet II - To J. S. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he…
Tull – Profile 1
Title Eight Profiles (1980) For Solo Trumpet I - To R. F. Fisher Tull (1934-1994) Biographical Info Fisher Tull was born in Waco, Texas. He received his musical training at North Texas State University. When Dr. Tull originally went to NTSU he was…
Ropartz – Andante et Allegro
Title Andante et Allegro Guy Ropartz (1864-1955) Biographical Info Composer Joseph Guy Marie Ropartz Joseph Guy Ropartz enjoyed a lifespan that cut across an enormous territory of French music; when he was born, Jacques Offenbach had just premiered…
Bernstein – Rondo for Lifey
Title Rondo for Lifey (1948) Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Biographical Info Leonard Bernstein enjoyed an illustrious career as a composer, conductor, educator and pianist. He will be best remembered for his contribution to the Broadway musical…
Efficiency through Resonant Intonation
I wrote and recorded a post here at ATT called Musical Marksmanship where tried to convey my thoughts on the benefits of playing in the center of your horn. (centering, hitting the bulls-eye of each note...) A couple of weeks later I ran across…
Enescu – Legende
Title Legende (1906) For trumpet in C or Bb and piano George Enescu (1881-1955) Biographical Info He was born in the village of Liveni (later renamed "George Enescu" in his honor), Dorohoi County at the time, today Botoşani County. He showed musical…
Honegger – Intrada
Title Intrada (1947) For trumpet in C and piano Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) Biographical Info There is a website that has an exhaustive biography of Arthur Honegger. Below, I’ve included just the highlights. Arthur Honegger was a Swiss composer, who…
Ketting – Intrada
Title Intrada (1958) For solo trumpet in C or Bb or Horn in F Otto Ketting (1935) Biographical Info The son of a composer, Ketting studied trumpet at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and composition with his father. He played trumpet in the Hague…
Hvoslef – Tromba Solo
Title Tromba Solo Ketil Hvoslef b.1939 Biographical Info Ketil Hvoslef studied the viola and organ at the Music Conservatory in Bergen Norway, from which he graduated as an organist. He later taught ear training and theory at that Conservatory.…
Musical Marksmanship
This post is “aimed” at younger players but perhaps all of us can benefit from “recalibrating our sights” now and then. As an undergrad, I had the great fortune to study with IU trumpet professor-legend, William Adam. We spent most of our time…
Lew Soloff on warming up
It is my sincerest hope that those of you who have found their way to this site and are taking the time to read this particular article do NOT need an introduction to trumpet great, Lew Soloff. I am going to continue on the assumption that those of…