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We Are Not What We Eat, But We Are What We Think About!Bill Pfund, University of Northern Colorado

The following information is from my Trumpeters Pedagogical Guide and is at the heart of what you must striveto remember whenever you play the trumpet!

I have always loved the sound of the trumpet and the feel of the instrument on my face! Somehow, I have

always thought it strange that this love of the trumpet could determine the direction of my life, my goals, my

work and provide motivation and meaning!

The Basic Idea:

I advocate a beautiful sound as the basis for nearly everything learned on the trumpet. Beautiful sound is

the greatest measure of correctness!

Always strive for a beautiful sound through ease and correctness. An easy, correct and beautiful sound should

help with range and endurance and should be the foundation on which to construct a unique style of playing.

Be careful not to be too anxious for the work to be done. The work of creating art is never done and it is never

perfect. We must constantly strive for perfection but we never achieve it!

Art and music are representative of the highest level of mans existence on this earth. I think art is the most

valuable asset man can leave behind for future generations. For me, art is frequently more real than mortar,

brick and steel. The emotion of the music is real and yet the specifics of the message elude description. The

language of music is primitive in the sense that it can communicate its message through emotion and the

senses even if one is not familiar with it!

When I talk of a beautiful sound, I relate to love and a sense of order. Every note must be beautiful and must

be melody. I remember being asked to play that more like a trumpet player and less like a musician. This

insulting statement indicates a lack of sensitivity (in more than one way)! Even the most powerful and poignant

statement made musically on the trumpet must show a sense of love and order.

What You Need To Do To Be A Good Student:

1. Always be positive and enthusiastic with your love for the trumpet and demonstrate this in your playing.

2. Always be well prepared! Be early to lessons with all your materialsready and with plans about what you will do in the lesson. Haveany questions written out so that you ask them at the beginning



any questions written out so that you ask them at the beginningof the lesson. Do not schedule an appointment or a classimmediately before or after your lesson.

3. Begin work on your next lesson the same day you get theassignment and before you forget what to do! Over prepareeverything so that you have a good chance to do it all right. Workcarefully so that you get things right. Remember what you areworking to correct or trying to do. Just playing through anassignment is a waste of time.

4. Make sure everything you do really counts toward being a betterplayer!

5. Bring a cassette tape or a mini disc to each lesson and place it inthe recorder the teacher provides or bring your own recordingequipment to record your lesson.

6. Write in all appropriate breath marks, practice tempos, and theEnglish translation of all musical terms. (Use pencil only!)

7. The teacher will probably keep some record of your lessons andassignments. You should also keep your own records ofassignments and jot down comments made in your lessons that willhelp your understanding and your playing.

8. Be resourceful!

What You Need To Do To Be A Great Player:

1. Always play great!

2. Work toward artistic performance always and play with a beautifulsound in every situation from warm-up to warm-down.

3. Listen to and emulate the music you hear from the greatest artistson many instruments.

4. Play everything on the highest level possible!

What You Need To Do To Get A Job And Make A Living With The Trumpet:

1. Play well all the time.

2. Have a special love for the art and for the trumpet.

3. Play the trumpet for all the right reasons.



4. Commit yourself to the art and to the trumpet.

5. Know what the standards are for the trumpeter in all styles.

6. Make yourself unique and valuable.

7. Demonstrate your ability to others and share your ability

8. Convince others of your artistry (use playing, not talking)!

9. Be a truly wonderful person.

10. Be in the right place at the right time.

Common Pitfalls For The Student:

1. Apathy.

2. Listening the wrong way or to the wrong people

(performance).

3. Taking advice from the wrong people.

4. Poor planning.

5. Lack of effective practice.

6. Being late or ill-prepared.

7. Not asking questions.

8. Asking the wrong questions.

9. Lack of resourcefulness and imagination.

I hope this material will be particularly helpful in the quest

for making beautiful music!

Bill Pfund is the author of The Trumpeters Pedagogical Guide, Bill Pfunds Problem Solving Exercises, Bill

Pfunds Beginning Trumpet Method, and Bill Pfunds Intermediate Trumpet Method.

Mr. Pfund has been an active member of ITG since its beginning and is currently on the Board of Directors. He

lives in Greeley, Colorado, where he plays in the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Rocky Mountain Brass

Quintet, and teaches trumpet at the University of Northern Colorado. If you would like to reach Mr. Pfund, you

may contact him via email at [email protected].

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