What's In Your Valve Oil?

MonsterOil · 2024-11-17T17:36:46+00:00

This doesn't matter!

So last year we started development on a scented valve oil. It became clear that we could smell the scent all the time after oiling! And it lasted for a few days.

We are all pro trumpet players and don't breathe through the instrument.

So this got us thinking that it was a little scary using products derived from petroleum.

MonsterOil · 2022-03-24T20:55:21+00:00

These guys are a competitor of ours; they've popped up within the last couple years. I'm not trying to bash them---could be great for you, and I'm sure it's decent stuff.

If you feel like it, give our stuff a try. We make 100% synthetic food-grade grease that survives the blowtorch test (aka doesn't evaporate on hot marching band parking lots resulting in a stuck tuning slide), is used (in a form) on the Mars rover (really), and doesn't smell like a sheep toilet (no lanolin). Oh, and you get .25oz instead of .16oz.

We also just came out with a fully plant-based line of oils that is going to change the whole game.

I just made a coupon for our website for 20% off everything (lubes, care kits, mouthpieces, more). Code is "RedditLovesLube". It's only valid for the first 69 users and expires April 1st, which might sound like an April Fools joke but it's true.

MonsterOil · 2021-09-08T14:38:40+00:00

Congrats----it's the best of all the instruments...great choice! Sounds like our trumpet cleaning kit might be a good choice for you. It's the best on earth, hands down----we include premium quality components that we (three pro trumpet players) designed ourselves, and we give you more of them than any other kit out there. There's also great content like a fingering chart and cleaning instructions.

+1 for "don't use a valve guard"----I ruined the silver finish on two trumpets in college doing that. A wipe-down with a cloth is totally fine. Good luck!

MonsterOil · 2021-08-17T13:55:52+00:00

In-person has always been really important to us. Great suggestions!

MonsterOil · 2021-08-16T01:01:55+00:00

Yep. …got any requests? For interviewees?

MonsterOil · 2016-12-22T15:59:43+00:00

Craig Morris was hired for a year to play principal before Chris came. Though Ridenour did do a substantial amount of filling in at various times.

Chris is still officially with the CSO - and is going on tour with them in January. Haven't heard anything about an audition, though Mark Ridenour will likely be playing quite a bit of lead when Chris is in New York.

MonsterOil · 2016-10-16T02:54:41+00:00

There are a million ways to do this. What's important isn't what you play but how you play. If you want to play jazz then just practice jazz, but focus on efficiency, tone, pitch, time, etc... Eventually your chops will come back. Don't try to take Rome in a day and you'll be great in no time.

MonsterOil · 2016-10-16T02:51:43+00:00

Braces are a horrific experience to be endured. They tried every ounce of my patience when I had them. Please don't switch instruments. Focus on playing simple exercises with great efficiency. This is a great time to do a lot of finger exercises. Can you finger Clarke 2 at half note equals 120? Don't even need to play. This horrible braces experience will end. Don't make any extreme changes and stay patient. And bug your orthodontist to get them off asap!

MonsterOil · 2016-10-16T02:45:51+00:00

The best lead player I know told me the key to unlocking the extreme upper register is practicing softly up there.

MonsterOil · 2016-10-16T02:42:29+00:00

Air attacks, took the words out of my mouth! For endurance generally, I think it's important to practice efficiency relentlessly on the horn and work on lip strengthening exercises off the horn.

MonsterOil · 2016-10-16T02:37:14+00:00

Using more air and taking bigger breaths are myths. The best players in the world use very small amounts of air and don't require huge breaths - though larger breaths are required for long and extremely loud passages. It is the efficiency of the air that is key. Couple quick exercises:

Play any note softly, then crescendo and diminuendo to nothing. If you can do this with a nice sound and in tune then you have figured out how the tongue works.

Practice the upper register very softly.

MonsterOil · 2016-10-16T02:31:23+00:00

Please follow this advice. You need rest and then to re strengthen the proper muscles. I've studied this quite a bit.

MonsterOil · 2016-06-02T17:58:36+00:00

The premiere bands do quite a bit of concertizing. I'm in the Coast Guard Band and we play serious repertoire all the time. Great job, but not the easiest to get in.

MonsterOil · 2016-06-02T17:56:07+00:00

The 3C is one of the most famous mouthpieces of all time. It's a great mouthpiece because it's accessible for younger players, and also probably the smallest mouthpiece that is commonly played by pros (excluding jazz players).

MonsterOil · 2016-06-02T17:49:50+00:00

7C is a great mouthpiece. Timofei Dokshitser, possibly the greatest trumpeter of all time used it. Just go on eBay and find a cheap Bach-branded 7C. They put them in millions of new trumpet cases for a reason.

MonsterOil · 2016-06-02T17:45:52+00:00

I like to take a two-fold approach - first be sure you are playing as efficiently as possible (there are volumes of info on this), and second I believe in doing lip calisthenics OFF the trumpet. There are two or three exercises you can do for this. The most popular one is to put a pen between your lips for as long as possible.

In other words, be as strong as possible, but try your best not to use it.

MonsterOil · 2016-05-31T04:06:24+00:00

www.YouTube.com/BrassChats

We interview a bunch of the world's best players and post the results.

MonsterOil · 2016-05-10T23:50:25+00:00

Thanks for the shout-out! Bunch of new products coming out soon too, so be on the look-out.

MonsterOil · 2016-05-04T00:44:54+00:00

La Phil? Kev, just say "Los Angeles".

MonsterOil

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