The Soundboard

[ksievers]

If you want frank, carefully thought-out answers to your trumpet related questions, this is the place. I will give your questions my best effort, based on many years of experience and a career that's gone pretty well so far! So...fire away, and enjoy reading the answers given to others who may share your experiences.

Since the world of spammers seems to have found us, new security restrictions are in place. If you have trouble establishing an account, make sure you say something in the profile that convinces me you're a trumpeter, or, email me directly and I'll try to take care of it. I have more to do than babysit spammers as I'm sure you can understand! :-)

Realize too that here we are not trying to recreate other wonderful forums, such as TPIN or Trumpet Herald and the like. It is my charge as a Conn-Selmer Artist/Clinician to handle the answers... If you are looking for wide open give and take where all advice is welcome, try one of the other trumpet sites. Here, I will do the lion's share of the answering. People I know and trust will chime in occasionally, and that's OK... but in general I am very protective of the advice disseminated here. I represent Conn-Selmer, my own teaching, etc., and I take all of this with a great sense of responsibility.

The link to my pedagogical materials is ready. If you want to hear if the Doctor can play (!! :-)) there are some MP3 files there now too - feel free to download!

Go to:

http://music.ou.edu/applied/trumpet/trpdf.htm

If you are interested in the playing you hear on my website, and/or the pedagogical information you receive from me, please tell your band director, and consider having me come to your school to solo with your band or orchestra and to work with your brass sections. You may contact me at my office, at 405-325-1863, or via email (KSievers@ou.edu).

There is an addition to the new feature on the Bach site that tells about the history of the making of the Bach Trumpets. Check it out at http://www.bachbrass.com/content/bachology/index.php.

Also, this site is enjoying great popularity and getting lots of hits. So, thanks to all of you for that, and keep it coming.

And, anyone that is a strong soloist looking for a wonderful competition in which to participate, or who has a strong trumpet ensemble, needs to check out the National Trumpet Competition (http://www.nationaltrumpetcomp.org/). Conn-Selmer, Inc. is one of the sponsors.

You don't want to miss this event!
This is a great event, very positive, constructive, etc., and always features great artist/faculty as well.


Go to:

http://www.nationaltrumpetcomp.org/ for more information.

Phil Smith has a new website up and running, and it is really great. Check it out at: www.principaltrumpet.com

Please don't ask me to price a horn for you. We are not here to sell anything... If you want to sell a horn, send an email to: TPIN@parnassus.dana.edu and make a post there.

Along those lines, don't ask me to give you an opinion about other brands. We're not here for that either! :-)
_________________
Karl Sievers, DMA. Professor, School of Music, University of Oklahoma; Principal Trumpet, Oklahoma City Philharmonic; Bach Artist/Clinician; General Manager, National Trumpet Competition