The world's best interviews. The world's best lubes.
Interested in watching all of our Brass Chats Teasers? They're right here:
Brass Chats Episode 33: Mark Hughes
/Mark Hughes: Principal Trumpet of the Houston Symphony. Baseball enthusiast. Audition prep master. Lap dog owner. Doc Severinsen fan. Master Swimmer. Texan.
Those highlights say a lot about Mark, but they don't say it all. Click on in to get closer to the full truth, including Mark's advice on how to record yourself, his favorite piece of music, the "polishing" stage of audition prep, and much more. Oh, and we almost forgot—the always-illuminating Monster Round. The June 2017 installment of Brass Chats. Enjoy!!!
Brass Chats Episode 32: Trent Austin
/If trumpet star Trent Austin had a baseball card, the back of it would show stats like:
Pitches: R (click for proof)
Bats: R
Owns: Austin Custom Brass (click to visit)
Teachers: Findlay Brothers, Clark Terry, Thomas Stevens, Gabriel probably
Usable Range: seventeen octaves
Position: All around, every style, every note
Equipment: Adams Instruments (linked), makes his own mouthpieces, but could play any music on any trumpet ever made with any mouthpiece
Number of lips needed to play actual music on the trumpet: one, possibly zero
We were super excited to score an interview with Trent, who's a renaissance man, an incredible trumpet player, and an all-around great dude. Tune in to see how Trent does it, and also to hear him talk trumpet technique, mouthpiece/equipment selection, his longtime friendship with Clark Terry, his dream jazz combo, and much more, including the always entertaining Monster Round.
After you're done learning tons from Trent, go check out his FANTASTIC shop Austin Custom Brass (linked). Go drop by for a visit in person too—Trent's a great hang and interactions with him makes you a happier, better person and trumpet player.
Enjoy!
Brass Chats Episode 31: Chris Martin
/Can you walk and chew gum at the same time? Rub your belly whilst patting your head? Triple-tongue three-octave arpeggios while sitting on the shoulders of a unicycle-riding bear in a party hat? Hmm...you're tough......how about: can you be principal trumpet of both the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic at the same time? HA! ...then you're not Chris Martin, our 30th guest on Brass Chats.
Lots of trumpet (slash brass) nuts and bolts in this one. Watch and learn all about how he warms up, what he works on every day, how he develops his sound, and of course---how he navigates the looming minefield of the Monster Round. This one easily gave us about 6 months of stuff to work on in the woodshed. Enjoy! ...and then go practice.
Brass Chats Episode 30: Jim Pandolfi LIVE
/Red Pill, second dose. Most people thought the second Matrix movie wasn't quite up to the challenge of living up to the original; we promise a different experience here. Hit it with Dolf (Jim Pandolfi, former third trumpet in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) in Monster Oil's first-ever LIVE interview/Brass Chat.
Read MoreBrass Chats Episode 29: Jim Pandolfi
/In our interview, Jim Pandolfi offered us the 'Red Pill' of trumpet pedagogy. You might *think* that you know correct trumpet playing technique... but after you hear what Mr. Pandolfi has to say, you might start to question EVERYTHING you've been taught before.
Watch the interview and see how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Read MoreBrass Chats Episode 28: Joe Alessi
/The master of trombone talks about his life growing up in a household of musical influences, his challenges and breakthroughs in regards to playing trombone, and...his dream car.
Read MoreBrass Chats Episode 27: Phil Snedecor
/Associate Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School, co-founder of the Washington Symphonic Brass, founder of the DC Pops Orchestra, and author of the widely used "Lyrical Etudes for Trumpet" book. We asked Phil Snedecor what he did to get good at trumpet and he told us all about a heck of a journey he went on to figure out this trumpet thing. Guess what?! He told us exactly how he did it!
Read MoreBrass Chats Episode 26: Allan Dean
/Allan Dean - Professor of Trumpet at the Yale University School of Music - talks about forging a career outside the "safe" orchestral world of music. He also dishes about early music, why he wouldn't bring his horn to a deserted island, and tennis. Yes, tennis.
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Brass Chats Episode 25: Louis Hanzlik
/Word association time! You know how it works; I say a word, and you respond with the first thing that jumps to mind. Examples: Peanut Butter? Jelly. Star? Wars. Opera? She dies at the end. Okay...so....Louis Hanzlik? American Brass Quintet, Aspen, Juilliard, UCONN, Columbia Teacher's College ...yep, the list goes on. Today, it only takes 27 minutes and 14 seconds for you to become a better musician; what are you waiting for???
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