Kevin Eisensmith, reporter

R. Dale Olson's career in the brass instrument industry began in 1961, when at the age of 25 he was named Director of Research for F. E. Olds & Son, Inc., of Fullerton, California. He is the author of Sensory Evaluation of Brass Musical Instruments and two yet-unpublished manuscripts, Human Mechanisms of Brass Performance and Prose Writings Related to the Trumpet. Mr. Olson holds a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of North Texas, a master's in trumpet performance from UNT, and a master's degree in experimental psychology from California State University.

Olson's clinic on Friday morning, The Equilibrium Concept of Trumpet Performance, was developed over a period of 30 years, and suggests that an ideal balance must exist between all of the physical concepts of trumpet performance. When we play, there are various things going on in our bodies that should be in balance. If one thing changes, then everything should change. In order to achieve optimal musical performance, all elements must be balanced.

Olson listed inter-oral air pressure, activity of the oral cavity, facial tension, and embouchure-mouthpiece force as the measurable components in his study. He stated that there are also other factors involved in playing that cannot be measured. Olson said that good players who play intuitively probably don't need this information, but that teachers may be able to pass this knowledge on to their students.

Similar methods of describing physical elements of playing have been in existence since at least the 1880s. More modern methods include those developed by Reinhart, Maggio, and Callet. Olson justifies this study by saying “there is a need for objective measurement.” He disagrees with the popular notion of “paralysis through analysis.”

All of his experiments show that each of the measurable elements of playing increase as a trumpet player plays higher and louder. Olson offered considerable data to prove this point. He also offered ideas for practice to strengthen many of these components. Olson concluded by saying that he never forgets two things: that he is a trumpet player and not a scientist, and that he plays a musical instrument. Present in the audience were many players who had conducted or participated in similar studies. A lively debate continued following the clinic, but most agreed with the data presented.