jazztrumpet.com

Bobby Shew

practice suggestions

In my opinion, Bobby Shew is one of the great teachers of our time. It is difficult to really categorize the advice he offers because it is constantly changing. The material presented here will hopefully act as some kind of guideline to those who are interested in Bobby's teaching and playing. If this material interests you, seek him out at one of the numerous clinics or workshops he offers every year across the country!

Equipment:

• Yamaha 6310Z Bb Trumpet

• Yamaha Bobby Shew "Lead" and "Jazz"

• Yamaha 6310Z Flugelhorn

• Yamaha Bobby Shew Flugelhorn Mouthpiece

• see a list of Yamaha users

Fundamentals:

• Flutter
• Buzz Lips
• Buzz Mouthpiece (glissandos)
• Range (harmonic glissandos: slur octaves-up by 1/2 steps)

Fundamental Suggestions:

• Use the Yoga Complete Breath!
• Lay off the compulsive practice routine aspect of trumpet playing every now and again and do some things that will nourish your spirit (watch a movie, go on a walk)
• Sing
• Buzz tunes on the mouthpiece or your lips
• See yourself doing what it is you want to do on the trumpet
• Notes are "further" not "higher"
• Visualize an object at a distance and peg it!
• Be sincere in your efforts (not necessarily "serious")
• Keep the "game" clean (what goes around comes around)
• Practice what you can not yet do
• Practice is to solve problems (Don't sweep anything under the rug)
• Find the "pearl" (sweet spot) on every note by varying the size of the apiture inside the mouthpiece
• Blow up in the cup when ascending, blow down in the cup when descending

Jazz:

• Spell, write, sing, and play all the triads in the chord progression of a given tune
• Play all the possible inversions of the triads
• Repeat this process with 7th chords
• Repeat the process with possible upper structures (9, 11, and 13)
• Find common tones and moving lines and use them to write/play some simple 1/2 note lines
• Play some simple, lyrical melodies through a progression based on your study of the above elements
• Use the melody as a departure point and hear it always running in your head
• Improvise a second part to the melody using counterpoint and harmony
• Summarize/generalize harmonic areas of a tune as a means for creating fluency in phrasing

Jazz Suggestions

• Play only what you hear!
• Play with the metronome on 1 and 3 to propel you foreword
• Tap your foot on 1 and 3 while playing
• Listen to the greats and absorb their sound and approach!
• A jazz player is the sum total of his listening experience
• Practice the keyboard
• Practice the drumset or Sing ride cymbal patterns
• Sing bass lines
• Learn the lyrics to a tune and phrase your statement of the melody accordingly
• Do ear training exercises with a friend
• Apply shadings and brush strokes to written and improvised lines

Bobby Shew has compiled and written an excellent book of patterns for finger flexibility that is available through Bauquidder Music

Visit Bobby Shew's Web Site