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The Jazz Trumpet Section

Learn key strategies for trumpet section seating, equipment, tuning, positioning, and jazz ensemble roles. Understand back-accent tonguing, falls, releases, phrasing, and stylistic use. Enhance your jazz trumpet skills now!

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The Jazz Trumpet Section

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  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 stool…feet 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 Row…Swing 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 mf 1 5 2 mf+ 4 3 f 3 4 f+ 2 5 1 f++

  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 doesn’t 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@Mac.com

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