Maynard Ferguson, I miss you very much! How I tried for hours to sound like him on my trumpet. I still practice to this day because of him. The only trumpet player that can stand by himself in the world of jazz and playing the trumpet so amazingly! When I saw him in concert the first time in San Antonio , Texas - wow!!!! He played so effortlessly for two straight hours. I remember saying to myself “the first song would have wiped me out for two days.” How I miss going to the record store, as I did back in the day, to buy his next album or go to my mail box to receive his latest Cd from the fan club. I miss spending a day reading all the liner notes on the album or cd and then re reading them over and over as I heard his music. MF rules! Thank you for posting this video! - Dr. Z
I need Maynard videos to remind me why I once loved playing. Strangely enough, this would've been right around the time I was learning to play seriously. Thank you for this. I wish I'd seen it then.
My main takeaways: Stand balanced like an athlete Take all the work that's possible away from your hands It doesn't matter how strong your lip is, it's how well coordinated you are and how well you can use your airstream Find a system that has the fewest rules Have a healthy mental attitude: you do the best you can and laugh when you miss Double pivot: body and jaw (He pushes the jaw out in upper register because of overbite) Lower register, knees are locked because there is very little energy demand As soon as you have energy demand, unlock your knees: increases body power instead of using hands Correct breathing creates energy: more likely to miss on the first tune than the last because of correct breathing Know what you want to sound like before you play Maynards mouthpiece 38:37 No grip (bite) on the rim, 18 or 19 throat, round rim with V cup You should be able to play in the upper register romantically. That means you are totally in control of that register. What happens in your head is that it's normal You never reach for a high note 53:50 Learning to play in the upper register in minor/major 3rds Playing romantically is better than long tones Try to imitate players If you have no fear of missing, most of the time you won't miss. When you do miss, brush it off and get back in it
MF - this is so Awesome. “They don’t say Work the Trumpet, they say Play the Trumpet. So you mustn’t be too serious, because you have to handle Missing: Big deal (laughter). So that has got to be your healthy mental attitude. You do the best that you can, and then you laugh when you miss. The band director won’t be too turned on by that (laughter). I’ve missed a million times. So, I laugh a lot. An important thing to remember is that us jazz musicians can cover it up better than the classical guys can.”(laughter) … he’s just so much fun to listen to. -- “Thinking while you’re playing is an interruption.” (After hitting DoubleHCC): “I’d like to let you all know, that’s Not the way to warm up. OK? Normally I don’t do that.”(laughter) --- “I wouldn’t want to do that for some of the symphony conductors I know. ‘You’re outta here!’”😢
Maynard Ferguson, I miss you very much! How I tried for hours to sound like him on my trumpet. I still practice to this day because of him. The only trumpet player that can stand by himself in the world of jazz and playing the trumpet so amazingly! When I saw him in concert the first time in San Antonio , Texas - wow!!!! He played so effortlessly for two straight hours. I remember saying to myself “the first song would have wiped me out for two days.” How I miss going to the record store, as I did back in the day, to buy his next album or go to my mail box to receive his latest Cd from the fan club. I miss spending a day reading all the liner notes on the album or cd and then re reading them over and over as I heard his music. MF rules! Thank you for posting this video! - Dr. Z
Thanks for posting, the best recorded clinic of Maynard's I've seen. What a life the guy led!
I’m not a trumpet player, but I really enjoyed his clinic.
HAHA - MF: “they call this a “clinic”. It sounds like there’s something wrong with us.”
A master class put on by the greatest trumpeter of all time. Excellent, doesn't get any better than that.
I need Maynard videos to remind me why I once loved playing. Strangely enough, this would've been right around the time I was learning to play seriously. Thank you for this. I wish I'd seen it then.
I love his stories 😂❤
The Master!
My main takeaways:
Stand balanced like an athlete
Take all the work that's possible away from your hands
It doesn't matter how strong your lip is, it's how well coordinated you are and how well you can use your airstream
Find a system that has the fewest rules
Have a healthy mental attitude: you do the best you can and laugh when you miss
Double pivot: body and jaw (He pushes the jaw out in upper register because of overbite)
Lower register, knees are locked because there is very little energy demand
As soon as you have energy demand, unlock your knees: increases body power instead of using hands
Correct breathing creates energy: more likely to miss on the first tune than the last because of correct breathing
Know what you want to sound like before you play
Maynards mouthpiece 38:37 No grip (bite) on the rim, 18 or 19 throat, round rim with V cup
You should be able to play in the upper register romantically. That means you are totally in control of that register. What happens in your head is that it's normal
You never reach for a high note
53:50 Learning to play in the upper register in minor/major 3rds
Playing romantically is better than long tones
Try to imitate players
If you have no fear of missing, most of the time you won't miss. When you do miss, brush it off and get back in it
The BOSS...
MF - this is so Awesome.
“They don’t say Work the Trumpet, they say Play the Trumpet. So you mustn’t be too serious, because you have to handle Missing: Big deal (laughter). So that has got to be your healthy mental attitude. You do the best that you can, and then you laugh when you miss. The band director won’t be too turned on by that (laughter). I’ve missed a million times. So, I laugh a lot. An important thing to remember is that us jazz musicians can cover it up better than the classical guys can.”(laughter)
… he’s just so much fun to listen to.
--
“Thinking while you’re playing is an interruption.”
(After hitting DoubleHCC): “I’d like to let you all know, that’s Not the way to warm up. OK? Normally I don’t do that.”(laughter)
---
“I wouldn’t want to do that for some of the symphony conductors I know. ‘You’re outta here!’”😢
“ Bob Sommers Trumpet 🎺 Professor 👨🏫
That's Bob Odneal here-wonderful player from Houston-played on Maynard's band in the summer of 1980 for the European tour