Taught by renowned trumpet player
Brandon Ridenour
The trumpet is capable of playing a truly vast range of styles. In his massive course on Style, Brandon Ridenour teaches some of the greatest hits (Hummel, Arutiunian, Rhapsody in Blue, Tartini) and more, tracing an arc from the Baroque era through present day. What are the fundamentals that allow us to play music convincingly in a wide variety of styles? More importantly, how do we convey the right musical message when we play?
Introduction
Brandon kicks off the entire series with a discussion of why listening to a wide array of music is at the heart of accessing a wide variety of styles!
Tartini: Concerto in D Major for Piccolo Trumpet
Much of the piccolo trumpet repertoire has been stolen from violinists and oboists, but it is nevertheless musically rich and endlessly fulfilling! Brandon discusses some trademarks of Baroque trumpet playing, how to taper notes, and how to be sure you're singing in the second movement, despite working with such a small instrument.
Hummel: Concerto in E-flat mvt. I
What does it mean to play "classically" correct? Brandon shares some ideas on how to give this well-known piece an appropriate style, how to treat the opening material, and plenty of applicable technical advice.
Hummel: Concerto in E-flat mvt. II
The second movement of the Hummel concerto is special... it's in a less common key, yet this somehow makes it feel more tender and passionate. Brandon points out the key moments, discusses pacing, and demonstrates with his own thoughtful rendition.
Hummel: Concerto in E-flat mvt. III
Hummel's energetic third movement is akin to a drinking song. Brandon shares the story he associates with this piece as well as his thoughts on gestures and articulation.
Hindemith: Sonata
Brandon discusses the context in which this piece was written, and how that might inform the way we play it. Going through the work's key sections, he shares insight into vibrato, pacing, interpreting chromaticism, and more.
Arutiunian: Concerto in A-flat major
The often misspelled (and mispronounced) Arutiunian Concerto was written in 1949-1950, yet exemplifies the Romantic style better than almost anything written for trumpet. Brandon shares insight into the cadenzas, the main theme, slow section, the muted passages, and more.
Charlier: Study No. 2
The first of three Style etudes in Charlier's book, and among the most famous pieces in all of trumpet literature. Brandon teases apart the elements that make this etude tick, with the goal of always bringing out individuality and moments of expression.
Charlier: Study No. 4
While sharing some features in common with the more famous Study No. 2, the fourth Charlier Study is packed with rapid shifts in character that make it unique and challenging. Brandon demonstrates his personal approach.
Charlier: Study No. 6
Brandon urges you not to overthink this music! He shares some thoughts on this delightful etude by Charlier.
Click here to download the course workbook PDF and see the full syllabus →Click below to access hundreds of exclusive cello courses, available only on tonebase.
Unlock Course →Brandon Ridenour, faculty at Juilliard and member of the American Brass Quintet, is stylistically diverse trumpet soloist, collaborative artist, composer, and arranger also known for his time spent with Canadian Brass.
read full bio →Preview our curated selection of courses below. With lessons covering fundamentals, technical training, style and interpretation, you won't find a more thorough and enriching learning experience anywhere else.
Our members rate us at 4.8/5 stars. Here’s how a few of them transformed their trumpet skills since joining tonebase.
“Instead of scouring the internet for hours for performance tips and tricks, I now have access to a wealth of high-quality content from renowned artists at my fingertips!“
“Sincerely speaking, a few months with tonebase help me solve many issues I have had with my fingers for years if not decades.“
