Listening

Before any discussion of how to play an instrument can happen the most basic of all questions must be addressed. What should it sound like? While the internet has provided a never ending supply of music, it has in many ways made truly gaining a sound concept more difficult to define. Previous generations relied on records and CDs which encouraged repetitive and intentional listening. Students now have so many choices that it is easy and tempting to try to sample as many different ideas as possible on what the trumpet should sound like as possible. The difficulty with this idea lies in the fact that is takes many hours of focused listening of the same material to really absorb a sound concept. This is not to say that a student should not hear many different players or styles, but that in order to gain a strong opinion of the sound they wish to produce repetition is essential.