John Packer Cornet Review

I have been using the John Packer JP271SW for the last year and although I have had some issues, I have been pleasantly surprised with this budget instrument.

It has a medium-large bore, typical of a student/intermediate cornet, which can produce a relatively big sound with minimum effort. I would recommend trying this cornet before buying in order to establish whether it feels right for you but it does have the potential to make a very nice sound.

It features 1st and 3rd slide triggers (a feature of many professional cornets) something that makes this student cornet stand out from the rest.

Unfortunately I have had some issues with the valves, the first valve often sticks and they are very noisy. This is something that should be relatively easy to fix if you feel they're not up to scratch. 

The cornet comes with a John Packer 4B mouthpiece - comparable to the Denis Wick 4B. It is a good size mouthpiece but unfortunately it is poor quality and I found that it didn't last long before the silver plating began to wear off. I would definitely recommend investing in a better quality mouthpiece.

The case that it comes with is very lightweight and includes: a pocket for music on the front, backpack straps, a shoulder strap, space inside for mutes etc and a space for one mouthpiece. The only problem I have found so far with the case is that while the backpack straps can be tucked into the pocket on the back for storage, the big plastic clips they attach to remain on the bottom of the case. This means that the case does not lie flat and as a result I have removed them.

Clips which mean the case doesn't lie flat

For more information on this cornet, visit the John Packer website.

Webinar With Trumpet Player Mark O'Keeffe

Mark O'Keefe, principal trumpet player of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will be talking about the trials and glory of being in the hot seat of a major orchestra in a webinar hosted by Musical Orbit. He will be taking questions from you before and during the webinar.

Mark is currently a trumpet tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The webinar will take place tomorrow (4th February) 8.30-9.30pm GMT.

Go to www.musicalorbit.com/webinars to reserve your place.

All About Mutes

There are many mutes on the market for the trumpet, but what do they all do? Which ones would I recommend? Keep reading to find out.

The Practice Mute
This particular type of mute is perfect for those who live in an apartment or a busy household, allowing you to practice with minimal sound. A quieter sound is produced because there is much less air escaping from the end of the trumpet. If you take a look at any practice mute you will see that although it looks very much like a straight mute, it fits much more snug into the bell and has a very small hole for the air to escape through.

There are some benefits to practicing with a practice mute. Blowing the trumpet with a practice mute in causes a lot of resistance because you're trying to force the air through a much smaller hole. This in some ways is beneficial for your lips, however it is always important to practice without a mute whenever you can in order for you to properly hear yourself play.

Yamaha produce a 'Silent Brass' system which allows you to hear yourself play through headphones while keeping the trumpet's sound to a minimal. Although expensive, its definitely something to look into if you need to practice quietly.

I own the 'Wallace Studio Practice Mute' which I highly recommend. It has adjustable resistance and is also available in an even more compact version. Another popular straight mute is the 'Denis Wick Practice Mute' a much more affordable option and loved by many trumpet players.

The Straight Mute
This is probably the most frequently used mute and a necessity for every trumpet player. The straight mute gives the trumpet a brighter, more piercing tone. There are lots of different types of straight mutes available. The best thing to do is to go to a music store and try out several different types of straight mute to find the one you like the best. There's no reason why you can only have one too!

A popular choice has to be the 'Denis Wick Straight Mute'. As well as this particular one I have a Humes and Berg fibre straight mute which has a wooden base and a Humes and Berg copper bottom symphonic straight mute.

The Cup Mute
A cup mute gives the trumpet a much more soft tone and is, my opinion, another essential mute to have. Many come with an adjustable cup to enable you to change the sound quality as required.

A popular choice is the 'Denis Wick Cup Mute'. This is a great all round cup mute and can also be used as a straight mute because the cup part can be removed. As well as this particular mute, I like to use the 'Humes and Berg Stonelined Cup Mute'.

The Harmon/Wah-Wah Mute
This mute is most commonly used in jazz music. It has a distinctive tinny 'buzz' sound. You can change the sound of the mute by removing the stem giving it a much darker tone.

I would recommend the 'Denis Wick Extending-Tube Mute'.

The Plunger Mute
This is a fun mute. With this mute you can 'make your trumpet talk' by moving the plunger over the bell and away again.

I own the 'P&H Plunger Mute' though for a budget option you can use a sink plunger from your local hardware store - just remove the handle.

Corks
When you buy a new mute it will have more cork than is needed. You want each mute to fit snuggly in your bell and to do this you will need to file them down. Do this slowly, taking a small amount off every time to ensure you don't go too far.

Read a post on replacing corks here

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A Closer Look: Fusion Urban Trumpet Gig Bag

Fusion Gig Bags are a range of British-designed instrument cases for a wide range of different instruments. Many of their cases allow for 'fuse-on' attachment bags which can be used to carry mutes, accessories and even laptops. I recently got my hands on the Urban Trumpet gig bag and it has quickly become my favourite.

The bag is very lightweight, which makes it perfect for travelling, but still offers good protection. The trumpet itself can be strapped in to stop movement and an additional 'Trumpet Sleeve' can be purchased to further its protection.

The back straps are very comfortable and can be hidden away neatly if not needed. The handles on the case are very sturdy and the case also has a reinforced base which makes the bag able to stand upright without any trouble.

There are two external pockets on that case the first of which offers a velcro pocket for 3 mouthpieces and room to store A4 sized music. The second contains lots of different sized pockets for storage of accessories and even features a clip for your keys.

The lower pocket has several internal storage pockets

Well padded mouthpiece storage in the upper pocket

A great feature of this bag is that you can easily attach a 'Fuse-on bag' that allows for storage of mutes etc. These are available in three different sizes - I have the small.  The fuse-on bag is also very well padded and has backpack straps that can be folded away. The bag attaches to the case by four velcro straps.

The small 'Fuse-On' bag

It has a large internal pocket and a smaller external pocket. I can fit 4-5 mutes in the small bag.

'Fuse-On' bag's external pocket for accessories

Overall a brilliant gig bag with great all round protection and perfect for any traveling trumpet player. Check out Fusion's website for their full range of gig bags and accessories. Their level of service is also second to none.

#trumpetproblems

1. Valve Oil Getting Everywhere.

2. Constant need for Chapstick.

4. Having to count bars and bars of rests. 

5. Having to deal with the huge egos in your section.

6. Fellow musicians moaning about how loud the trumpets are.

7. Knowing that you should wash your instrument but not wanting to find out what's lurking in the lead pipe.

8. Running out of valve oil when you need it most. (@my_dedication_ on Twitter)

9. When you're so tired that you can't even form a decent embouchure (@trump_master on Twitter) 

10. The lengthy process of taking the valves out to oil and then screwing them back in. (@my_dedication_ on Twitter)

11. The annoyance of putting a valve back in the wrong way. (@weird_trumpet on Twitter)

12. That sound when you haven't emptied the spit. (@my_dedication_ on Twitter)

13. Just anything to do with spit.

14. Having to switch between different brass instruments. (@ShyBandie on Twitter)


Have another #trumpet problem? leave a comment below, Tweet me (@trumpetplayer1) or message me on Facebook and I might add it to this post.

A Closer Look: Protec Trumpet Mute Bag

My mute collection had grown over the past few months and I needed something suitable to store and transport them in. I had a look on the internet and found a few options, the only problem is I didn't know how big they were and how many mutes I would fit in them. I came across Protec and found two options:

I decided to take a chance and go with the smaller one (M400) mainly because of the price.

I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived, it is a lot bigger than I was expecting and is able to hold all of my mutes. It is also lightweight and well padded.

The bag is large enough to fit at most 5 or 6 mutes (if you stack them right!) but is perfect to take the essentials with you. The shoulder strap is detachable and there is also a clip on the back which allows you to fit it onto any gig bag.

The divider inside is adjustable to allow separation of mutes and can also be removed completely. Overall a good buy!

This particular bag has been recently updated, with the addition of an external pocket. Have a look at here.

A Closer Look: Protec iPac Double Trumpet Case

After trawling the internet for a new trumpet case, I came across the Protec iPac range. These cases are available double and triple versions with or without wheels. They contain removable velcro blocks that allow you to create the prefect fit for your trumpets and accessories.

I chose the double case so that I was able to carry my Bb trumpet and mutes or Bb and Eb trumpets.

Space for two trumpets or trumpet and mutes

Removable velcro blocks help you create the perfect fit

The case itself is very well made with a nylon exterior, outside pocket with organiser and comfortable shoulder strap. It is also possible to attach protect backpack straps to the case (at an extra cost) however I found the case too bulky to go on my back.

Comfortable Shoulder Strap

Sturdy Handle and Strap Clip on Side of Case

Interior Storage Pockets

The outside pocket is large enough to hold a couple of mutes and contains a small inside pocket that although small, is just large enough to hold valve oil and slide grease as well as some pencils. Unfortunately this pocket is not big enough to hold any music unless you want to leave the pocket unzipped.

The case also comes with two removable velcro double mouthpiece pouches that will stick to the roof of the case.

This is a good choice if you are looking for a protective double trumpet case at a slightly lower cost than other brands. The downsides are that the case is quite heavy, even before there are any trumpets in it but it will certainly protect your trumpets from any bumps!

See the full Protec iPac range here.

Getting Motivated

I am usually very good at keeping up my practice schedule and I wanted to share some tips to help everyone feel more motivated to practice.

If you practice you get better. I continually tell myself this. Think of the goals you have, whether you aspire to be a professional musician, head off to a music college or gain a seat in a band. The only way you will achieve any of these is by practicing. I myself dream of going to a music conservatoire and I know that I need to practice hard to achieve this. I find it helpful to make a list of things I hope to achieve by the end of each week, this means I know exactly what I have to practice and gives me something to work towards every time I sit down to practice. Give this a go, we all know how enjoyable it is to be able to cross things off a list!

Watch videos of people playing on Youtube. Every time I am working on a new piece I like to find several different performances of it. This not only helps me to get an idea of how to play it but also makes me feel motivated to practice the piece.

If you have time, break your practice sessions into more manageable 'chunks'. I typically have four individual sessions each day. This is important for trumpet players to give your lips time to rest but also useful for other musicians in order to keep practice sessions more interesting. Work on something different each time and don't keep them longer than 40 minutes. This will also help you to keep more focussed and achieve more.

Let me know how you keep motivated to practice.

#bandproblems

Having Confidence

I am a shy person, I always have been. In orchestras I have always been around older players who were obviously much better than me and this always made me doubt myself and my ability. Us trumpeters are known for having a huge ego, but I have certainly never had one.

Not to blow my own trumpet (excuse the pun) but I am a good player. Yes I have some areas that I need to work on and I am still developing as a trumpeter, but I can play. I have however realised in the last few months that my confidence is what has been holding me back the most. In orchestras I find myself playing down if I feel that I'm not exactly playing right. My teacher told me earlier today "people will forgive you for playing the wrong notes, but they won't forgive you for not playing at all". So I thought to myself, this year is the year I show everyone exactly what I am capable of and I plan to stick to this.

I truly feel that confidence is the key to being a great musician. When giving a performance, you need to be confident. Do you ever watch a professional and think wow they look nervous? No because they look beyond this and just enjoy the performance. I'm not saying they don't get nervous, they just believe in themselves and show everyone exactly what they are made of.

Nerves are something that I have been battling with my entire trumpeting life and I think I am finally starting to deal with them. Never doubt yourself, this is probably the worst thing you can do before a performance. If you think the worst then there is a chance that the worst could happen. Be positive, it helps (honestly). Personally I think that the best way to combat nerves is to perform as frequently as you possibly can. Take up every opportunity you can to play in front of an audience, even if you don't want to, just keep telling yourself it will help in the long term.

Never, ever doubt yourself and show everyone what your capable of.

How to Improve Your Sight Reading

Sight reading is an area in which many musicians struggle. I think that in order to be a good musician, you need to be strong in all areas of your technique. Here are some tips to help you improve your sight reading:

1. Work out the speed in your head before you start. Look at the time signature, clap a pulse and go through the music in your head.
2. Rhythm. Look at any difficult rhythms and clap them out loud whilst keeping the pulse in your head.
3. Look at the key signature. An important step to work out any sharps or naturals that you have to play.
4. Pitch notes in your head before you play them. This step is especially important for brass players to ensure there are no split notes. 
5. Look at dynamics, articulation, changes in tempo etc. The final step to make your performance musical and to add expression to the music. 

Player Insight: Tine Thing Helseth

Tine Thing Helseth is a Norwegian trumpet player, specialising in classical music. As well as a solo career she also runs an all female brass ensemble called 'TenThing' who performed at the BBC Proms in 2013. She has definitely had an impact on adjusting the male stereotype of the trumpet along with other players such as Alison Balsom.

She has a recording contract with EMI at present and has a few different albums:

• My Heart is Ever Present
• Trumpet Concertos 
• Storyteller 
• Tine
• 10 (TenThing)

My favourite album is her trumpet concertos album. I think she has interpreted the classics Haydn, Hummel and Neruda beautifully and is definitely worth a listen.

One of my favourite performances by Tine was when she played 'Libertango' at the 100th anniversary of the woman's right to vote in Norway. Listen below:

She has a beautiful rich tone and uses a Bach 1 1/4 C mouthpiece on all of her trumpets except the piccolo, on which she uses a 7F.

Watch a brilliant interview with Tine below on 'Sarah's Horn Hangout':



Visit her website here.

Music Gifts I Received for Christmas 2013

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. I certainly did and wanted to share some of the music related gifts that I received with you all.

Jo-Ral Copper Bubble Mute
This is the gift that I am most excited to receive. The mute has a beautiful rich sound and is especially perfect for jazz musicians.

Denis Wick Cup Mute
This is a mute that I have used before, but never owned. It is a very popular mute used by many professional musicians. The cup is adjustable, making it very versatile.

Protec Triple Mouthpiece Pouch
I really love this mouthpiece pouch. It is made of a nylon material, is very sturdy and definitely has enough protection for my mouthpieces.

Protec Single Mouthpiece Pouch
I wanted this for my cornet mouthpiece and as with the triple pouch, it does the job perfectly.

Claude Gordon's Systematic Approach to Daily Practice
This is something that I have had my eye on for a while and I am very happy to have received it. It aims to build up your range, endurance, stamina etc over a year. It contains 52 lessons, each to be carried out for at least a week. I want to do a full review of this product once I have tested it out for a few weeks. One thing I will say after trying it out today is that each of the exercises are very time consuming, but if you are serious about improving your technique then I would definitely recommend having a look at this book.

Music Journal
I also received this beautiful little A5 music journal. It has very thick cream-coloured paper, each double page spread including lines to write on as well as staves to jot down music. A highly recommended gift!

Music Calendar 
With 2014 fast approaching, I also received a musical instrument themed calendar. It contains beautiful illustrations of many different instruments and is a perfect size for me (note that it is about A5 size).