Taught by renowned trumpet player
Charlie Porter
The world's most famous trumpet method book can also be one of the most daunting. Most of us are given this book as children, yet few of us manage to keep up a well-rounded study of it throughout our careers. In this course, Charlie Porter picks a subset of Arban exercises and demonstrates how they come together to form a balanced, effective practice routine. The course culminates in a study of Arban's Characteristic Study No. 1.
Overview and Long Tones
Charlie kicks off his course recounting how he got started practicing out of the Arban's book, shares how he warms up with a bit of buzzing, and discusses the long tones at the beginning of the book.
First Studies
Next, Charlie looks at some of the tonguing passages that make up the "First Studies" portion of the method. He explores how we can practice syncopation and various rhythms with a stylistically correct attack, as well as strategies for improving our time and accuracy.
Slurring and Legato Playing
Beginning with a simple major scale in thirds, Charlie breaks down the simple yet challenging skill of slurring on the trumpet. He also demonstrates a more complicated slurred arpeggio exercise to discuss how to integrate slurring with tonguing.
Major Scales
Arban wrote dozens of interesting patterns for our scales, and Charlie shows us how to practice them. How do we get to all twelve keys? How do we increase the speed? What about minor and chromatic scales?
Ornamentation
In this lesson, Charlie simplifies trumpet ornamentation. As the purpose of Arban's method was to develop the cornet virtuoso of the mid-19th century, turns and appoggiaturas are a key part of what the method prescribes. These also serve as gateway exercises to more advanced solo pieces in the cornet literature.
Intervals, Arpeggios, and Melodies
Charlie shares how to practice wide leaps, explains why arpeggios should be part of every trumpeter's routine, and discusses his approach to the infamous 150 Classic and Popular Melodies.
Multiple Tonguing
Multiple tonguing starts by developing a strong 'K' tongue. Charlie constructs a progression of exercises from the Arban method to develop this vital skill.
Characteristic Study No. 1
The capstone lesson of this course is Arban's first Characteristic Study. Drawing from every chapter of our course, this piece tests your endurance, accuracy, and precision. Charlie shares some practice strategies before performing the full study.
Final Thoughts
Charlie offers some thoughts on range and a few parting words of wisdom before concluding this course,
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Unlock Course →After studying at Juilliard with Wynton Marsalis, Charlie Porter has made a name for himself as one of the most virtuosic and exciting trumpeters in the classical and jazz spaces, teaching today at New York University.
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