Abstracts Category : Other

Trumpet Practice| Habits and Goals

by Anthony Belletti

While spending many hours of vigorous practice, it is possible for trumpet musicians to develop bad habits which inhibit growth and discourage their inspiration. In a trumpet players daily life, their constant goal is to sound better in their practice routines than the day before. However, without setting realistic goals and dream goals, reaching a level of perfection can be daunting and many fundamental problems may occur such as lipping, tension, or insufficient air flow. Applying goals to everyday practice is essential for the fundamental and musical development of an aspiring trumpet player. According to Claude Gordon, practice should always be done with a goal in mind, just like constructing a tall building. First you dig the trenches. Next the forms are built. Then the cement is poured followed by the floors, sides and finally the roof. Too many students try putting the roof on before the foundation is built. By examining the many fundamental problems trumpet players potentially face every day, I will express how to efficiently tackle these obstacles by describing how to install good practice habits while having a desired goal in mind. Second, I will discuss how humans are creatures of habit and how it effects daily practice. Alva Noe describes habits as environmental, in the sense that they are triggered by outside forces and they vanish in the absence of the appropriate environmental setting. In the case of practicing, a novice trumpet player might only practice in preparation for an event, instead of maintaining their skills every day. The methodology of trumpet pedagogy and educational studies will supply evidence-based theories on practice and observation, which will illustrate how habits and goal setting effects trumpet routines. I will also partake in field work by practicing and analyzing different trumpet method books.