I Remember Freddie…
This article appeared in a 2009 ITG journal. (Unfortunately, the picture that accompanied the ITG article was of a young Terence Blanchard, not Freddie. My pic is the real deal.)
I'd like to share a few of my thoughts about Freddie Hubbard, who died at the age of 70, on December 30, 2008. The perspective that I will offer is my own, as a trumpet player that has been greatly influenced by…
Thoughts on Mouthpieces
I have been asked at clinics about mouthpieces and how many are the right amount to play or if you should play everything on one mouthpiece. I have read that Miles Davis played the same mouthpiece he got in junior high his entire career. I have also played with the magnificent lead, jazz, commercial player, Lew Soloff who actually had a mouthpiece belt so he could easily grab a different…
Recycling the Major Pentatonic Scale
The following article is an excerpt from my book, "Recycling in Jazz Improvisation" which can be downloaded as a pdf in my Books section of www.DavidCooperMusic.com.
There has been a lot of great information written about the use of the pentatonic scale in jazz. My intention here is not to detract from any of it but hopefully through the use of recycling, simplify how one thinks about…
About
AllThingsTrumpet.com is a blog created by David Cooper, that contain articles on practice and performance tips, improvisation techniques, and general trumpet issues for the serious trumpet player. The articles will be posted in categories listed in the tabs above but like so many things in art, many concepts overlap and can be applied to a variety of areas. Example; practicing scales in all…
So, you think you know your major scales?
The following article is an excerpt from my book, “Recycling in Jazz Improvisation” which can be downloaded as a PDF under my "Shop" tab above.
Can you Play the Phone Book? Here is an exercise that should test that knowledge, expand your ear, strengthen your interval recognition and further develop your facility in all keys. When working on patterns or licks in all keys I have found it very…