Kelly Deklinski, reporter

Playing second trumpet in a symphony orchestra is a position that requires many specific skills. Robert Early asserts that, in many respects, the second player is the workhorse of the section, and will end up playing more than his colleagues on many concerts. As with any position in a fine orchestra, the trumpeter has to have a beautiful tone and precise intonation. Add to this a well-developed ear and the capacity to adjust to other players immediately. Don't forget endurance, because second parts can often be quite demanding. And lastly, but certainly not least, this player has to be a team player primarily concerned with making those around them sound better.

Earley spent most of the clinic addressing each of the above mentioned qualities. He explained the importance of each in orchestral playing and offered some methods for developing these qualities. The audience volunteered several questions, all of which Earley answered with candor and honesty.

The quality that Earley could not stress enough in his clinic was the importance of listening. And not just listening, as he said, “but really listening.” This quality is so important for the second trumpet player because his job is to match the principal trumpet player and essentially make them sound better by assisting them in every possible way. In this way, Earley explained, the second trumpet player must constantly adjust in rhythm, tempo, tone, pitch, dynamics, and articulation to the players around him.

Considering Robert Earley's distinguished career as a performer, clinician, and educator, it was no surprise that his session ran overtime. Even upon dismissing the audience, several conference attendees stayed afterward to ask just a few more questions of this trumpet great.