Psychology of Performance, Audition Preparation Questions

Q: I will finish the next year my trumpet studies here, in the University of Panama. I wish to continue studying the trumpet, but in Panama, we have only the bachelor in music.

What are the most important things that the teachers want to see and hear in an audition to enter to a new university to take a Bachelor’s course and a Master’s Course? What is the age limit to enter in music studies in any university in US?

Miguel in Panama

A: I am aware of no age limit that which prohibits your entrance to a college bachelors or masters program. Many students in the US are older adults.

In my opinion, brass teachers at most educational institutions do not care from where you have earned your degree.

Auditioning panels want to hear a strong performance that shows a command of the fundamentals, musicianship, and a potential for learning. As a former College instructor at a smaller college, I did not care as much about the level of the student as I did whether or not they were coachable and willing to work hard and learn.

The competition at the top tier programs is fierce and you have to have your playing “together” in order to enter. But, there are also many fine mid-level schools, with very good teachers who are producing players succeeding in the music business.

If you have, visiting teachers come to Panama, ask them these questions about their school and perform for them. In addition, I suggest you attend the next ITG conference and other major trumpet events. One can meet many fine trumpet players and teachers!

Dr. Douglas Wilson

Q: Hi! I am 16 years old and currently 2nd chair in my high school band. We have auditions in a couple of days and I think I am prepared. I have worked with my trumpet teacher for the past 6 months and have the music, scales, etc. down. I have two problems, however. A) I can hit C's, D's, E's above the staff by accident. Rarely can I hit these notes when I intend to. I think the problem is that I think too much about playing, and then can't get these notes out. How could I remedy this problem. B) I get really nervous for any audition because I know what is at stake. I can play jazz improv solos easily without being nervous, but with auditions I really freak out. I know that if I don't do well, then someone can surpass me, even though ona daily basis I can out-play them. I also know that if I have a good day,then I could get 1st chair. So I need help with controlling my emotions onaudition day, and preparing myself to have a good day on audition day.

Thanks, Andrew

A: Andrew, Great question. Hope my answer helps.

You are right. The problem are both mental. So fixing it may take some time. I suggest the following for both problems. Buy and read Psycho-cybernetics by Mathew Maltz ( Old version - Paperback). This won’t help for your audition, but will get you on the right track.

Now for the audition:

Pick a time when you did improve and were really HOT…..and the crowd showed their appreciation. Live that moment over repeatedly to GREAT DETAIL. Remember how calm, collected and confident you were.

Maltz calls it going into the Theatre of your Mind.You must be relaxed. Perhaps do this early in the morning or every night before falling asleep. Suggest you do it several times each day before your audition. Just before your audition, replay the movie and RELIVE the feelings

Then go play and forget about it. It is not about "beating" the other guy. It is about becoming the best person you can be.

"You don't make your candle shine by blowing out the other man's candle."

Just be who you are; a talented, unique and gifted musician who loves to share music with your fellow man. You are ready. You have done your homework. You are prepared. There is nothing more you can do, except share your music with others.

Your concern about range is a mental one as well. I am sure you are doing everything right with your teacher. Range takes time, but will come.

Q: Hi, This is Nicholas in Taiwan. I have played trumpet for 3 and a 1/2 years. But recently, I started to have problems playing, such as: Cannot play some easy notes that I could play in the past, start to have bad articulation and not improving. I am thinkin maybe I am not practicing enough, but I practice 150 minutes every week.

Thanks for your help!

A: Nick,

We all have times when we think our trumpet and music making is not going like it should. So do not be alarmed. Do you have a private teacher? this is really the most important thing I can ask. It is also the answer to your question.

It is not how much time you spend practicing. What is important is how and what your are practicing. This is best prescribed by a private teacher who knows your playing and abilities.

So.... ask your private teacher what and how often you should practice.

Q: Hi. Lately I've been in a lot of bands and orchestras. I've been in musicals, orchestra's, school bands, and jazz bands. I'm really starting to get serious with my trumpet. I have an amazing teacher and I don't want to disappoint him. But since I’m doing all of these activities I’ve been wondering if i need to play differently in different environments. For example, I’ll play differently in a symphonic orchestra than a brass orchestra at school right? In school, I can't hear myself because the other trumpet players are always competing with each other. Can playing at school wreck my chops, my embouchure, or something else? How should i play in different situations like solo's, orchestra's, brass bands, outdoors and indoors? Thank you.

A: Thank you for your question. It is a very good one. One might think to play differently based on the type of music you play. Indeed they are unique sounds to Jazz, Orchestra, Latin Music, etc. But in my opinion, "trumpet playing is trumpet playing!" I use the style appropriate to the music I play, BUT I don't change the way I play. This ensures that I do not wreck my embouchure by doing something silly like being something or someone I am not!

It is my job to learn as much about the trumpet as possible so that I can "fit in" the appropriate style of the ensemble I am in or the music I am making.

Be Yourself! Be who you are! Listen to lots of great music and trumpet players. Stop listening to the trumpet players in your band and what they say. The trumpet is not about competing with anyone else. It is about being the best you can become and learning more about yourself!

Keep me posted!

Q: Hi, I'm an aspiring junior trumpet player in South Carolina. I was raised in a small town that did not have many opportunities, however my band director/private teacher was a trumpet player. Although I am at this school and I feel that I am a good player, I am still intimidated by some other trumpet players. I read about the trumpet players in the "Young Artist Award" section and realize, "wow, compared to them, I'm very far behind." I want to continue playing and definitely make it a career, but I'm not sure what to do. I try to practice at least two hours a day, but with hard academic classes and other obligations, it's hard to find time. I practice the Chicowitz flow studies, the Earl D. Irons method, the Arban's book, and have recently started on the Clarke method, but I feel that sometimes this is not enough. I also work on different solos and I am auditioning for MTNA. My range and technique are very good (I can easily hit Ds, Es, Fs, and on good days G’s and A’s and I can play some really fast passages). I don't think my endurance is up to par with some of the other trumpet players I am competing against. Do you have any suggestions on what to work on or any competitions I could try out for?

Thanks.

A: Thanks for writing! This is a very tough question, because we all feel this way from time to time. I have caught myself thinking, “Man, I am not nearly as good as that guy”, or “I’m way better than him”. But then I stop and realize that music is not a competition. There are no winners or losers. We are all aspiring artists, trying to make music in the hopes that our efforts will make this world a more beautiful place. The old cliché of “the only person you have to be better than is yourself” is absolutely true!

From the way you describe your practicing, it sounds like you have an excellent teacher, who is giving you the materials that will help develop your musicianship. Keep working hard, and don’t forget to have fun! Good things will happen if you do.

Q: My name is Elad, I'm 16 years old, and I live in Israel. I started playing piano at the age of 7 and stopped at the age of 12. Then I started playing the drum set. Recently I have discovered the wonderful world of jazz and I want to learn playing the trumpet. Well, the problem is I see that kids at the age of 12 are already performing, and I am just starting now. I am really good in music, and I have the will to invest my time in learning. My question to you is can I can start playing the trumpet at the age of 16 and take it to a high level?

Thank you for your time!

A: Thanks for making my job easy Elad! You answered your own question in your letter. If you have the desire to invest the time necessary, you will be successful. Make sure you are studying with a good trumpet teacher from the beginning, as that will help you make progress at a quick rate!

Above all, remember what Louis Armstrong said: “Just bloow that hoorn”

Q: Hello ! I`m Paulo Reis from Portugal and I am studing trumpet at the Universidade de Aveiro. I am working on a school project about trumpet performance. How must the trumpet player act on stage? How must be his personality ? How must be his body ? His Face? How must be his expression? Can you help me with this question?
With all my greetings,

Paulo Reis

A: Dear Paulo

Wow, what a wonderful question, and one that we can all use some help with, from time to time. I believe that the most important part of stage presence is to look like you are having fun!!!! (Hopefully you are) Walk out onto the stage briskly and with a sense of purpose to your stride. Nothing makes an audience more ill at ease then to see a performer stroll onto stage, or display body language that suggests nervousness.

In terms of body position, good posture is a must. Imagine you have a string coming out of the top of your head, and someone is pulling up on it. That will usually correct any slouching. Your face should show that you are indeed enjoying yourself. The audience doesn’t connect well with someone who looks stoic and unemotional. The best way to see how performers should act on stage is to watch many performers! What about their performance did you like? Is there anything you didn’t like? Also, I would make sure to ask your teacher to talk about this (before the performance!).

Hope this helps Paulo. Also,there is a great article in the May 1989 ITG Journal by David Hickman, world-recognized soloist and teacher, titled Judges Advice to Young Soloists that includes many wonderful suggestions on stage etiquette. Best Wishes!

Q: Hello! I have an 8-year-old son who is so terribly eager to play the trumpet. I finally rented one for the summer (and I hear blowing morning, noon and night) because it was inexpensive and I couldn’t listen to him asking for one anymore. I have spoken with college professors who recommend waiting a few more years for lessons for different reasons: getting discouraged because of the difficulty, and also, he still has mostly baby teeth-even the two front ones. When I tell him he is too young, etc, he says that nothing will stop him from playing the trumpet. Any advice? – particularly regarding starting lessons anyway? Thanks!

A: This is a tricky issue, because you do not want to dampen your son’s enthusiasm for the trumpet, and music in general. But the advice that you have been given by the other college professors is correct. Those baby teeth are shortly going to be coming out, and it will take a while to grow back in. (You can’t play the trumpet without front teeth) Also, the muscle structure around the lips is not really mature enough to handle the demands of the instrument until 5th or 6th grade. Try to channel his passion into areas that will benefit him in the long run. Start him on piano lessons, so that he has a leg up in understanding music. Also, encourage him to listen to great trumpet soloists and great music in general, as often as possible. Attend live concerts and other activities that involve music. Then, once his teeth are in, he will be ready to take on any challenge.

Best of luck! If I can help, let me know.

Q: Hi, I've been playing the trumpet for about five years and I really love it, but at school we got a new band director and he is just a big show off and really doesn’t know much. Also me being a female brass player, he doesn’t think I can play very well. He also doesn’t try to challenge the band with harder songs. We don't even have chair placements. Am I just totally paranoid? Or is he just nuts.

A: Thanks for your email. One thing you need to remember is that there is always a period of adjustment whenever anybody comes to a new situation. In high school band, people will always say, "But we used to do it this way", or things like that. Change can be good. It’s unfortunate to hear that you aren't being challenged. I would recommend you look for outside opportunities. Take private lessons, audition for your local youth symphony, play at your church, and play with the community band. There are many ways you can stay active. Give you band director some time, and show him how good of a player you are, not with words, but with you’re positive attitude and your playing!

Q: What can I do to get rid of the fear of playing a solo in front of a group of people? It's not particularly hard, but I've never had a solo before. Any suggestions?

A: It's all a matter of concentration and confidence. If you are adequately prepared, your level of anxiety will be greatly reduced and you will feel assured that things will go well. It is when we are uncertain and second-guess ourselves that negative things happen. Don't fear mistakes; rather, have a confident attitude that you will play wonderfully. You might also realize that almost everyone gets nervous to a degree. Anxiety is a normal reaction to a situation (ie. performance) that is not normal. This can be considered a positive sign in that it shows that you care about your performance. There are many sources available that address performance anxiety and concentration. One of the most helpful is W. Timothy Gallwey's "The Inner Game of Tennis." Remember that it takes patience and practice to overcome nervousness. Try to learn to enjoy the experience of performance!

Q: I'm a 16-year-old trumpet fanatic. I realize that the world of trumpet playing is very competitive and I've taken all of the necessary steps towards my goal of becoming a professional trumpet player. I am just interested in knowing how I can a) become a trumpet student at a major school of music and b) improve my endurance.

A: It would be best if you contacted the trumpet professor directly at the institution you wish to attend. This person can help you through the admission process. If you are uncertain which school you want, do some research. Look to see what the schools and trumpet instructors have to offer. What are the degree requirements? Are scholarships available? Are their students successful in moving on to graduate school or landing jobs following graduation? There are many factors to consider. Gather as much information as you can, talk with the trumpet instructors, and visit the schools if at all possible.

As for improving endurance, read some of the other answers in this column. Primarily, though, increase your practice time and/or practice sessions. More time with the mouthpiece on your chops should help increase endurance. Be certain, though, that you are careful to practice in a thoughtful manner. Always play with a good air supply, listen for a beautiful, singing sound, and avoid unwanted tension.

Q: I'm a 19-year-old trumpeter who loves every facet of trumpet playing. I love to practice and want to excel on both sides of the "fence," however I don't want to subject myself to mediocrity from being spread too thin with the massive amounts of practicing that must be done. Currently, I practice about 3 hours of fundamentals (tonguing, slurring, long tones, phrasing, Clarke, Schlossberg, etc.) followed by some jazz transcribing. Would it be best to stay on my current path or specialize?

A: At this point, it is probably most advisable that you seek out a reputable trumpet instructor at an excellent School of Music. Most people will recommend that you get as many varied performances as possible — making you a better, well-rounded, more marketable musician. Your teacher should be able to analyze your playing and help you decide what would be best for YOU!

Q: What music schools are considered "better" by trumpet students?

A: Any list of this sort could be considered biased towards the writer's views, and it would be unfair to leave off the many excellent schools with their outstanding trumpet faculty. In deciding which school to attend, it might be wise to research for those institutions and instructors that can best fit your needs. A competent private teacher should be able to point you in the right direction. Ask a lot of questions!