What have Brahms and the Blues got in common - their music has the power to connect with audiences and give them an unforgettable experience. Recently I had the privilege of performing with Scottish Sinfonia and the Edinburgh Bach Choir and The Blues Bros over the past fortnight and have seen the effect of music on us all - energising, moving and inspiring in different ways.
Great Trumpet Teachers
My lesson with Kristian Steenstrup gave me inspiration to continue to progress with my studies - he is a master teacher who can instantly diagnose the student's problem and suggest a solution. So In my case I now know exact what I need to work at and have been putting it into practice. Kristian teaches on a week's trumpet course in Italy and I have paid my deposit to attend in the summer. You can access some of his work here at Play With A Pro
Hearing Loss
Recently one of my brass playing colleagues expressed concern about his hearing - having been placed directly in front of a big band trumpet section, level with their bells. I referred him to an article on this issue by the great lead trumpet player Roger Ingram. He recommends trying a simple, cheap and hygienic solution, which is cotton wool balls; placing one (for me part of one) in each ear works well if you play with amplified instruments  - I just tried them on stage with a 20k watt PA and found they took enough edge of the volume and allowed me to hear my trumpet. Also our UK Musicians' Union offers a bespoke hearing service that gives access to an expert who can recommend the correct ear plugs.