Basics Plus – Studies for 1 or 2 Trumpets by Guggenberg

Specific performance instructions are introduced in every chapter. Follow every practice Step, and also pay attention to the hints containing tips for attentive observation of your playing. With the removable pages you can review these instructions while practicing. Feel free to find your own practice routine and modify the performance instructions to your own individual needs.

 

Solo

When practicing alone, the 2nd Part serves as a preliminary exercise to the main one. It is always based on the principle of simplification, in order to allow for the most musical and tonally consistent result possible. Transfer these experiences to the 1st Part, and follow the same musical impetus. Make sure that tone quality and ease of playing dont get lost. For a satisfying result when playing as a duo, it is very helpful to practice the exercises in the solo version as well.

 

Duo

You can use the two-part version together with a friend or a colleague, in a lesson (teacher and student), or in a group.

The advantages of the two-part version are obvious:

Any inconsistencies in your own playing, including purity of tone, intonation, dynamics, and rhythmic accuracy, are revealed immediately in ensemble playing.

You automatically direct your attention more to the music and learn to listen to your duet partner.

Duet partners can motivate each other and give each other tips.

 

 Variation

When you have mastered the fundamental exercises you can increase the difficulty level. The possibilities are limited only by your own imagination!

 

Note

One important remark, which will lead to a methodical understanding of your technique: the instructions always refer to trumpet technique in general and are not limited to the chapters in which they appear.

 

Visualization

Analytical thought in our left brain (intellect) often has a crippling effect on our bodys natural functioning. Mental pictures activate the right brain, which is so important for musical imagination, and have an immediate effect on our bodys physical activity. They support intuitive reaction.

Use the power of your thoughts and give your entire mental space over to the mental picture, so that distracting secondary thoughts no longer find a place there. Observe your reaction and decide for yourself how you can integrate this technique into your playing.

 

Practical exercise

Exercises without the instrument are important in order to create new physical experiences that often, because of the strength of old habits, cannot happen with the trumpet in ones hands. It is important to use the suggested exercises regularly and to transfer the newly acquired physical feeling immediately to the instrument. Trust the new feeling, even if it seems strange to you!