TRUMPET TALK

A number of the following pieces have appeared in journals, magazines, and books. In every case, I’ve made changes and clarifications, large and small, for this printing. Others have never been published, though I’ve always freely shared with anyone asking. Some are closely related: the intro to the Slow Practice book grew out of the previously published article A Free Walk on Firm Ground – the 'free walk' statement from Anton Rubnstein is a favorite of mine, quoted in several other articles. A Short History of the Trumpet was originally written to my students as a basic source of background – it is not a scholarly or refereed document, but it has been read and edited by a number of learned colleagues, both in the fields of trumpeting and musicology. There are four examples of CD program notes, and two private letters, answering questions from fellow trumpeters – activities I have done many times. The three summer practice guides also come from a number I’ve done over the years, basically letters to my trumpet students during the school year, with suggestions on how they might use their summer practice time. The final entry comes from a 2018 convocation at the University of Maryland where I received the award of Distinguished Professor.
While fairly light in the area of formal education, I have never stopped exploring and being immersed in the subject of music, the trumpet, and the music business. All of us who are fortunate to be in this environment are part of something bigger than ourselves, and the continuing perception of that is a key to having a fulfilling career. In the following pages you will read many thoughts and observations, but please understand that I am not setting myself up as any sort of authority – opinions are not facts, and I am always eager to keep learning and growing. My own family tree of trumpet teachers reaches back to the pedagogical giants of our cultural community: my teacher in high school, Emerson Head, studied with Clifford Lillya; during my years at Eastman, Sidney Mear related much about his time as a student of Herbert L. Clarke; and two extremely influential mentors and idols, Gerard Schwarz and Adel Sanchez, both studied with William Vacchiano, who was a student of Max Schlossberg. Years later I had the opportunity to interact and work with Mr. Vacchiano, and significant influence of George Mager was also passed along, reflecting Mr. Mager’s studies in Paris with Merri Franquin, whose background extends back to being a student of Jean-Baptiste Arban. In the late 1980s I had the good fortune to meet with Laurie Frink for eight sessions where she generously shared a series of deep insights from her close work and long association with Carmine Caruso.'
~ Excerpt from Chris Gekker

'On a personal note, I have Chris Gekker to thank for introducing me to the world of brass solo and chamber music composition. It was thanks to him that many of my very first works for brass came to be written. He suggested to me, in the early 1980s, that I consider composing a brass quintet for the American Brass Quintet, of which he was a new member — the esteemed and legendary ensemble famous for commissioning, programming, and recording new works — and that became my Colchester Fantasy. My entire career as a professional composer came about through that piece!
Chris’ current, extraordinary and comprehensive book is noteworthy not only for the wonderful musical examples and exercises, but also for its historical perspective. The idea of the complete musician, a consummate performer who is well-versed in the wide world of music, the technique, history, repertoire and perspective of their instrument and the music they play is the philosophy that Chris espouses with his fascinating discussions of the origins and fascinating development of the trumpet throughout the centuries. Subjects include discussions about various issues of trumpet pedagogy, the physics of trumpet playing, the music business, and also range from the most iconic trumpet repertoire of Taps to a particular detail in Igor Stravinsky’s masterpiece L’Histoire du soldat, the beautiful Ewald Quintets, (which I myself studied in detail before I wrote my first brass quintet), and the world of jazz with its uniquely American origin which has led to international recognition as one of the great musical languages of the 20th century. What is fun, fascinating and informative is Chris’ own autobiographical perspective on all of these topics, and his relationship with learning the music, being influenced by it and letting it be part of his own wonderfully informed, and consequently fantastic interpretations and performances.'
~ Eric Ewazen

• Preface to Endurance Drills
• “A Free Walk on Firm Ground”
• Slow Practice (Intro); Focal Point Exercises (Intro)
• Etude Practice; Articulation
• Damage Control; Practicing During the Pandemic
• Transposition; Air
• Perspective; Ensemble Etiquette
• Auditions; Scales and Chords
• A Short History of the Trumpet
• Charlier Etudes; Taps
• Piccolo Trumpet
• Summer Practice 2002; Summer Practice 2015; Summer Practice 2019
• Improvisation
• Endurance Letter I; Endurance Letter II
• Program note - Ewald Quintets
• Ghost Dialogues CD note; Moon Marked CD note
• Timequake CD note
• 2018 Convocation
• Focal Point Exercises
• Long Sets

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