jazztrumpet.com

Lew Soloff

practice suggestions

Lew is a Student of:

• William Treutel
• Carmine Caruso
• Arnold Jacobs
• Adolf Herseth
• Vincent Chicowicz

Equipment:

• Bach small bore horn made in 1947 (for solos)

• Bach 37 gold plated (for lead work)

• Bach and French Besson Flugelhorns (both gold plated)

• Bach Mt. Vernon 3C (25 throat)

• Giardinelli copy of a Schilke 14A4A (for lead work)

• Bach 7E piccolo mouthpiece

• Bach 3C flugelhorn mouthpiece

Fundamentals:

• Buzzing the lips in short spurts of 7-10 seconds for a total of 2-3 minutes (work as high as possible)
• Mouthpiece buzzing (more musical than technical-try improvising) for 15-20 minutes
• Slurring-Max Schlossberg Daily Drills and Exercises (especially pages 6-8)
• Arbans Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet
• Clarke Technical Studies
• Scales (start with 1 8ve on low F# and work up chromatically-removing the mouthpiece and resting in between)

Fundamental Suggestions:

• When doing the range exercise, try to match each scale to the one below it to re-concentrate and prevent tension.
• Warm up according to the demands of the gig.
• Train yourself on a consistent basis so that when the time for your regular routine gets cut short, you can adapt.
• Don't strain or push the breath.
• Practice in a very relaxed way so that when you get on a job and see a high note, part of the relaxation will stay in your mind.
• Do not judge while playing.
• Deliver your message first and evaluate it later.
• Try practicing with a friend.
• If you trade, you have adequate time to rest.

Jazz Suggestions

• Try warming up by playing on a tune (play a short phrase and rest for 4 or 8 bars)
• Play with the original recordings of the masters (not just the Aebersold play-alongs)