Thanks to the Ohio University School of Music, Yamaha Musical Instruments, and ITG, the 2004 Ohio ITG Tri-State Conference was informative and inspiring for all who attended. The Ohio chapter of ITG held its 2004 conference on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio on Saturday, March 6, 2004. The day-long event was hosted and coordinated by John Schlabach, trumpet professor at OU, and was highlighted by master classes and performances by Allen Vizzutti.

Saturday's events commenced with a Festival of Trumpets concert which showcased several university trumpet ensembles. Performances by the Ohio University, West Virginia University, The Ohio State University, Marshall University, Capital University, and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music trumpet ensembles featured a variety of composers including Ronald LoPresti, Dennis L. Horton, Eric Ewazen, Arthur Frackenpohl, and Tylman Susato. This concert concluded with a performance by the Ohio Brass Quintet, resident faculty quintet at Ohio University. Following the Festival of Trumpets, the morning concluded with a marvelous recital and clinic by Allen Vizzutti and his wife, pianist Laura Vizzutti.

Allen Vizzutti Morning Recital and Clinic

Allen and Laura Vizzutti

Allen Vizzutti's recital began with a magnificent execution of Johann Wilhelm Hertel's Concerto in E flat; followed by Dance Boheme from Carmen, by Georges Bizet; original tunes by Mr. Vizzutti, Toy Box and Nine Black Riders; his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow; and finally Delaware Staigers’ arrangement of The Carnival of Venice. In between each piece, Mr. Vizzutti shared short anecdotes related to the music. He answered questions from the audience on creating a pure, intense, beautiful sound; performance preparation; and mouthpiece selection.

Mr. Vizzutti’s suggestions for creating a "warm" and "pure" sound included the following:

• 98% of trumpet players do not use their body to 50% of their capability; therefore, you must keep your energy up in order to maintain accuracy and endurance.
• Keep your aperture firm and support the diaphragm in order to achieve a "pure" sound.
• Be sure to have appropriate hand position to balance the horn and have more freedom with vibrato. Too many trumpet players clench the horn too tightly and restrict their sound and control as a result.
• Move the air to help with projection.

Suggestions for performance preparation included:

• Establish a daily warm-up regimen (15-20 minutes) including tonguing exercises from his book.
• Always warm-down at the end of the day
• Practice pedal tones for ear and air control.

In his comments on mouthpiece selection, Mr. Vizzutti stated his advice rather simply:

"Use what works for you." He further explained why he has three different mouthpieces for his daily playing and performing. He uses a fairly small cup for playing most of his B flat repertoire (comparable to a Bach 4D), a deeper cup for flugelhorn, and a Yamaha "14A4A" (not a copy of a Schilke) on occasion with his B flat. He suggested using a piccolo mouthpiece that has the same rim as a player's "big horn" mouthpiece to ease the transition between playing the two instruments.

Afternoon Events

After the morning's activities concluded, participants had the opportunity to visit exhibits by C.A. House Music, Sweetman Music, Southern Ohio Music Company, and Summit Records. The afternoon included open critique sessions by trumpet faculty from universities in Ohio. Timothy Leasure (The Ohio State University), Charles Saenz (Bowling Green State University), and Alan Siebert (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music) were available to critique trumpet players of all ages. Additionally, Gail Berenson, Professor of Piano at Ohio University, presented a clinic on dealing with performance anxiety.

Jazz Clinic with Allen Vizzutti

The final session featured Allen Vizzutti in a jazz clinic. This clinic included performances by Mr. Vizzutti of Oleo with Geoff Goodhue on drums, Nick Vandenberg on bass, and Bob Montalto on piano. Following performance of this piece, Mr. Vizzutti spent the remaining time in the clinic discussing suggestions for beginners. His advice included the following:

• Play with someone else
• Listen to a lot of jazz
• Take advantage of any performing opportunities you may have
• Develop a knowledge of harmony

Furthermore, Mr. Vizzutti’s discussion included numerous stories about his career, specifically with Chick Corea. His jazz session concluded with him playing Blues in F with the band.

Ohio ITG 2003 Conference

A similar meeting of the Ohio Chapter of ITG was held on April 5, 2003 at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. James Stokes, Professor of Trumpet at Capital University Conservatory of Music, organized the event which featured Adolph "Bud" Herseth and jazz artist Ron McCurdy. Mr. Herseth's clinics included a wonderful presentation of excerpts from his career with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a master class and coaching for the students in attendance. Sponsored by Colonial Music and ITG, other featured events included a master class by Ron McCurdy, and a Festival of Trumpets with ensembles from Capital University, The Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, Ohio University, and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Additional featured groups included a Quartet of Air Force Trumpets, the Capital Brass Quintet with guest artist Dr. Karl Sievers, and the Brass Band of Columbus.

Conclusion

Conferences such as those held in Columbus, Ohio (2003) and Athens, Ohio (2004) are "mini" ITG Conferences that give trumpet players throughout the region the opportunity to attend clinics, master classes, and performances by prominent trumpet players. These conferences are a fantastic way for students, amateurs, professionals, and teachers to attend worthwhile events within their state of residence that may otherwise not be accessible due to distance and expense. The Ohio chapter of ITG is grateful for the support of its sponsors for these events: ITG, Colonial Music, Yamaha, Ohio University, and Capital University.

Websites:
Ohio University School of Music
Capital University Conservatory of Music
Yamaha Music USA