Trumpet Q and A

The QR code to the left takes you to a WhatsApp group that I use to keep people informed about the live stream Trumpet Q and A events. You can either click on it, or, if you are on your computer, scan it with your phone to take you to the WhatsApp group.

by Eddie Lewis

Please leave your advanced questions in the comments at the bottom of this page.

Live Stream Trumpet Q and A

On an almost weekly basis we host a free, live stream, Trumpet Q and A session. This is your opportunity to ask me your questions directly.

I get trumpet questions almost constantly, and I don’t mind answering your questions. I’ve been doing it for decades now. I’ve been answering trumpet questions for just about as long as there has been an internet.

The problem is that the more popular my materials become, the less time I have to answer your questions. This live stream Trumpet Q and A is meant to make it easier for you to get your questions answered without causing me to spend hours per day answering them privately.

I believe this is a win win situation for all of us. When you participate in the Trumpet Q and A, whether it is through live participation or by sharing your questions here beforehand, it helps me have more time to create more trumpet products AND other people get to learn from your question.

Trumpet Q and A History

Trumpet Q and AFor years I kept my teaching schedule open on Fridays. My vision was to use Fridays to reach more people. I didn’t know how I was going to do that yet, but I saw workshops as a possibility. I thought it would be nice to head across town to work with trumpet players who probably would never be able to come to my side of town for lessons.

Unfortunately, that never happened. I couldn’t find any venues that would allow me to do that. So the Friday’s remained open for years.

Then I began seeing other YouTubers’ Q and A sessions online. I even watched a few myself. That’s when I realized I could do this and it would fulfill what I was seeing in my head for Fridays. Praise God!

And in fact, this actually works out better because there is no travel time involved.

New Trumpet Q and A Format/Procedure

I used to post each individual Q and A as a blog post on my blog. That’s a lot more work than it seems and I finally decided that I don’t have time for that.

Instead of posting new blogs each time, I will simply add the new Trumpet Q and A videos to a Trumpet Q and A play list and order that play list so that the newest ones are on top.

That play list is embedded at the top of this page. So you can always come here, to this same page, to get to the new/latest video.

Asking Questions Ahead of Time

The Trumpet Q and A is at an odd time and not everyone can join us live. We encourage trumpet players who cannot join us live to leave their questions in the comment section below. We will try to answer your questions at the beginning of the next live stream Trumpet Q and A.

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  1. Lenzo ,Anthony
    Lenzo ,Anthony says:

    Hi Eddie past 2 weeks I mentioned that a trumpet friend of mine I will use a different name “John” .Ukld me to see if your playing efficiently you play then take the m.p.out of trumpet and it should sound the same or be close.You said that that’s not a good test for efficiency and I agree with you.People that play along time they think “they know it all”
    So now I take what he says with a grain of salt.

    Reply
  2. David McQuain
    David McQuain says:

    This is my third and final question (sorry for so many questions) while single tonguing I sometimes stutter or pause for a moment before being able to continue. I do not know if this is a problem with my technique or just lack of practice. I have seen your video on tongue position and I have tried keeping my tongue closer to my teeth but I still have this stuttering problem. Thank you for answering my questions.

    Reply
  3. David McQuain
    David McQuain says:

    Sometimes while playing I have trouble moving from the high register to the low register and while keeping my embouchure ‘sealed’ properly and subsequently small amounts of air gets released through the parts of my lips not contained by the mouthpiece. I have tried more pressure with the mouthpiece but it doesn’t seem to help.

    Reply
  4. David McQuain
    David McQuain says:

    Eddie I was wondering the importance of learning/practicing rhythms for jazz improv. Some videos I have seen online prioritize rhythms over scales. I know that when if play scales you are learning rhythm but I mean practicing one note with many different rhythmic concepts with a metronome or backing track. Is this something you would recommend or do you think it just comes with experience and time.

    Reply
  5. Lenzo ,Anthony
    Lenzo ,Anthony says:

    Eddie in your sight listening video which scores exactly do you mean…I know am I asking a dumb question ? Anthony

    Reply
  6. Bruno Neureiter
    Bruno Neureiter says:

    I remember asking you why I struggle playing higher than c inside the staff. You said you’d be replying somewhere. Did you already do it? Best wishes

    Reply
  7. Lenzo ,Anthony
    Lenzo ,Anthony says:

    Eddie I wasn’t able to ask you during Q&A but. once you mentioned to me that playing with trumpet backing tracks is not a good idea are your playa longs different ? Thank you Anthony Lenzo

    Reply
  8. Lenzo ,Anthony
    Lenzo ,Anthony says:

    Hi Eddie you music playalong is great you mentioned using it for practicing sight reading this past Saturday.I started using it as part of my practice.Thank you …just in case I don’t make it in to this weeks Q& A …Anthony Lenzo

    Reply
  9. eltigredo
    eltigredo says:

    ​I’m posting this here on behalf of Bruno Neureiter who asked this question at the end of our last Q and A. We didn’t have time to answer it in that session so we will answer it first in the next one: “I sometimes struggle with c inside the staff, sometimes e inside the staff seems impossible. do you know what I could do?”

    Reply
  10. David
    David says:

    How necessary is it to learn all the modes of the scales and where can I find an instructional trumpet/cornet book that covers the scales in depth

    Reply
  11. Lenzo ,Anthony
    Lenzo ,Anthony says:

    Hi Eddie just wanted to tell you I heard another music educator ?? Say that practicing new music pieces from last measure backwards is a good idea.try to make it to Q & A this weekend be well Anthony Lenzo

    Reply
  12. Karen
    Karen says:

    I think I read or heard about this, but can’t remember… How long should it take to go through the Trumpet Chops Tyro book from start to finish? Am I supposed to use the “Beat” rest method for the exercises? Today I am fitting it into my 1 hr. practice session. I spent about 25 minutes on it this morning and have not finished. Thank you!

    Reply
  13. Lenzo ,Anthony
    Lenzo ,Anthony says:

    Hi Eddie I have another question this is pertaining to the One Range book it said ” you should play 2 hrs per day 1 hour on fundamental rest 1 hour then play music.Ok my problem is I have been doing it wrong .I play 1 hour trumpet pyramid then rest for about 20 minutes the play music from my teacher and music from band so then that maybe 40 minutes before my chops get tired.Now I understand break 1 hour then you comeback .The way my situation is I am out most all of the morning with my wife gym at 3am shopping till after till 11am.She has this bug in her head to go back only herself thank God ! to the gym.But I drive her there and wait till she is finished.So I start my practice between 1:30 or 2:00 pm.I can’t play at night because my house is small and my #€%=-, brother in law is forget about him.So I am retired and have all this time but it has to be around 1:30 pm till 4 pm maybe stretching it till 5pm..But my wife is the boss here and then she starts bugging me about dinner….You know I have to live to be 80 I told you ….Now I think it should be 90 haha I just turned 71 on Dec 28 few days ago.Sorry for this long winded question or statement is a better word I think..Happy New Year Eddie Anthony

    Reply
    • eltigredo
      eltigredo says:

      Yes I did. The approval of comments is not automatic on this website because I get a LOT of spam. So it takes me a while to approve it sometimes. Since I have to do that manually.

      Reply
  14. Lenzo ,Anthony
    Lenzo ,Anthony says:

    Hi Eddie it’s Anthony the question I was asking you about today is on the page in Arbans is page #138 exercise 34 .What does doing this exercise help you with in your playing.I was watching a video of Tine Thing Helseth she was playing the Neruda Trumpet Concerto in this piece their are quite a bit of sixteenth notes that are slurred or is it tied like this exercise. So I am guessing that this exercise in Arban is sort of a way of preparing for concertos like Neruda ? Thank you Anthony Lenzo

    Reply
  15. Gabriele
    Gabriele says:

    Good Moring Maestro, could you please explain the breathing technique you use, especially how to compress the air for the high notes?
    Thanks in advance, have a very nice Christmas

    Reply
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Question Links

When I have time, I will try to add direct links to some of the questions and answers asked during the session. I can’t promise to do this every week because it takes a lot of time.

To go to the video answer to the question, click on the icon or heading for the question.