Those who know me usually know me because of one reason:  I play trumpet.  I aspire to become a professional, someday, and consistently work at the thing, occasionally giving myself lack-of-oxygen headaches, and sore lips for days, as well as a weak left hand, from the way I hold the thing.  God, I love this thing. 

Equipment

Literature

Players

 My current equipment is as follows. 

 ·        1992 Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet, Model 37 bell, Medium Large bore.  Standard equipment of the professionals.  However, I lucked out, getting it used, in excellent condition, at half the going rate for a new one.  And honestly, it’s still one of the best playing trumpets I’ve ever laid hands on.

 ·        A Yamaha 600 series flugelhorn on loan from the college I attend.  It’s in good condition, and the valves are very free moving.  The thing is an absolute joy to play.

 ·        Jo Ral Harmon Mute

 ·        Humes & Berg StoneLine Cup Mute

 ·        Humes & Berg StoneLine Straight Mute

 ·        A Plunger! 

 ·        Bach 3C mouthpiece, which is old, but plays very well

 ·        Yamaha 14A4a.  Bad idea on my part; don’t ever buy anything this size.  It’s just not worth it.

 ·        Olds 3C.  It’s not a bad mouthpiece, but it’s actually smaller than a Bach 3C.  Learned on it, and played for about seven years on it.

 ·        Whatever valve oil I can get my hands on.  Ally Cass Fast is good stuff, but I’ve actually been using trombone slide oil, lately.  It’s a bit smoother.

 

My current literature collection is as follows.

 ·        Arban’s Conservatory Method

 ·        H. L. Clarke’s Characteristic Studies

 ·        Saint-Jacome’s Part II

 ·        Neil Hansen’s Trumpet Routine (A well-put together collection of snippets from various sources)

 ·        Theo Charlier – 36 Etudes (That’s right, I’m working on the Charlier as a freshman! BWAHAHA!)

 ·        Jazz Improv for Beginners (Surprisingly well-fleshed out book for the course I’m taking)

 ·        Elegy Set for Solo Trumpet – Carl de la Peruti

 ·        Andante et Allegretto – Guilliame Balay

 ·        Carnival of Venice – H. L. Clarke

 ·        Many more pieces

  

Following is a list of the players that someone should listen to.

 ·        Miles Davis (the absolute top of my list)

 ·        Arturo Sandoval

 ·        Adolph “Bud” Herseth

 ·        Clifford Brown

 ·        Terence Blanchard

 ·        Freddie Hubbard

 ·        Rafael Mendez

 ·        Wynton Marsalis

 ·        Herbert L. Clarke

 ·        Anyone else that strikes your fancy