The Jazz Trumpet Section

1
The Jazz Trumpet Section

• By
• Gene Aitken
• China Trumpet Guild Conference
• Guangzhou, China
• 17 May 2008

2
Housekeeping Issues

• Position in Section
• Sitting vs. Standing
• Music Stand Placement
• The Correct Equipment
• Tuning

3
Position in Trumpet Sections

• Position of Trumpets in Orchestra/Symphonic Band
• 1 2
  3 4
• Position of Trumpets in Jazz Ensemble
  
• 5 (4) 3 1
  2 4

4
Position of Trumpets in Jazz Ensemble

• 5 (4) 3
  1 2 4
• 1st Trumpet in center
• Second/Third parts on each side of 1st to
  push 1st Trumpet
• Lower parts separated by interval
• Doubling 4th serves as bridge to trombone
  section

5
Sitting vs. Standing

• Sitting
• Orchestras, Chamber Ensembles, Professional
  Jazz Ensembles, Studio Ensembles, etc.
• Standing
• Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Combos, Solo recitals
• Rational
• Projection and Tradition
• Ideal
• Sitting
• Sitting on high stoolfeet comfortably touch
  ground

6
Music Stand Placement

• Must see bell of trumpet
• Lower stand and flatten out
• Off to one side

7
The Correct Equipment

• Use the correct equipment to get the job done
• Especially lead playing
• OK to switch mouthpieces between classical and
  jazz
• Mouthpieces Bach vs. Schilke vs. Purviance
  vs. Bob Reeves, etc.
• What works for you
• Flugelhorn and complete set of mutes

8
Tuning

• Tune to Bb concert
• Check Eb and F concert pitches as well
• Face toward back of stage/rehearsal room (sing
  before playing)
• Hold hand over ear to hear pitch
• Be aware of all the notes that are out of tune
  on the trumpet
• When using mutes, must adjust tuning slide

9
Learning Jazz Style

• Jazz tradition is STILL an aural art and
  difficult to notate at times
• Listen to recordings, live and recorded video
  concerts
• Listen to players other than trumpet listen
  to sound/articulation
• Time is essence of jazz (and sound)
• Jazz is a triplet-based music as tempo
  increases, eighths straighten

10
Back-Accent TonguingOff-Beat Tonguing

• Key to jazz concept/time/style
• Forces use of corners
• Use of correct style
• Assists with intonation/sound
• The tongue is time
• Helps to make music sound improvised

11
Back-Accent Tonguing Concept
Three (3) or More Eighth Notes in a RowSwing or
Straight Eighth
12
Back-Accent Tonguing
As written
13
Back-Accent Tonguing
As written
As played
14
Ghosted Notes
As written
Trumpets have two options to make written music
sound improvised Back-accent tonguing
Ghost notes
15
Ghosted Notes
As written
As played
Ghosted Notes Notes on either side longer
and louder Ghosted notes shorter and softer
Usually on but can be on beats as well
16
Pyramid Concept of Dynamics
mf
Part
Accuracy/Attitude
1
mf
5
2
mf
4
3
f
3
4
f
2
5
f
1
17
Falls
As written
Types of Falls 1. Valve 2. Harmonic 3.
Other Where Does Fall Begin? Where Does Fall End?
18
Valve Falls
As written
As played (short hold then fall, move air
through fall)
As played (long start fall on -2, end fall on
-4, move air through fall)
19
Unison Lines
1st Trumpet doesnt play Puts parenthesis (
) around unison phrase Attention of other
players in section to articulation, intonation,
etc. Players must mask 2nd Trumpet player
20
Stylistic Use of Sfzp
As written
Use of Sfzp Conserves air Gives
direction to notes Gets out of the way of a
melodic counter line
21
Stylistic Use of Sfzp
As written
As played
22
Releases and Markings
As written
Releases marked 1, 2, 3, 4 or in a slow
tempo 1, 2, 3, 4, in a medium tempo tune
1 or 3 (2) in up tempo Release at
height of crescendo Releases marked because
The importance of another line To
facilitate time Breath and phrasing
Composers length of note not always correct
23
Releases and Markings
As written
As played
Or
24
Phrasing of 1st (Lead) Trumpet
As written
Consistency Attacks Releases
Dynamics Articulation Musicianship
25
Phrasing of 1st (Lead) Trumpet
As played
26
Shaping Phrases
As written
As melodic line descends, a decrescendo As
melodic line ascends, a crescendo Eighth note
in 1st measure short, quarter note short
27
Shaping Phrases
As played
28
Notes Must Have Sound
As written
As played
29
Thank You!

• Questions?
• www.GeneAitken.com
• GeneAitken_at_Mac.com