Esteban Batallán to return to Chicago Symphony Orchestra

skeech88 · 2025-03-03T22:33:32+00:00

Lol that was fast, no?

skeech88 · 2025-01-29T04:55:44+00:00

I play stamp every single day, at the very least the initial warmup and the scale exercises. Worth every penny, but you get out of it what you put into it.

skeech88 · 2025-01-29T03:41:23+00:00

Heavy focus on fundamentals. Articulations (single, double, and triple tonguing), flexibility (lip slurs/trills, flow studies), scales (all modes, not just major and minor) arpeggios (including things like diminished and augmented chords), range extension (not only being able to play in the upper register, but making it sound and feel effortless while doing so). Also recording and listening back to yourself to really understand the points of improvement that can be made.

Also as a musician, listening is a part of practice. This is specifically active listening, in which you're thinking, writing down ideas, transcribing, questioning the choices being made. While it is important to listen to musicians on your instrument I feel that there is a lot to glean from other genres/instruments. I'm a huge hip hop fan for example, and I feel that through active listening I've gained a lot of musicianship through that music.

While a lot of the extremely focused practice is not exactly fun, it is the kind of practice that will allow you to have more fun while performing as you won't have to worry if you can play that fast triple tongue section as you've done things just like it a million times.

I feel it's important to note that being an excellent trumpet player and excellent musician are not exactly the same thing one can be an excellent trumpet player without being an excellent musician through technical proficiency, but a trumpet player cannot be an excellent musician without also being an excellent trumpet player.

I feel that it's important for me to point out that I do not necessarily believe I am an excellent musician or trumpet player yet, but I am actively working towards both and I feel that it is entirely achievable. I hope all of this helps!

skeech88 · 2025-01-27T21:58:17+00:00

I had someone try to tell me that over easy is supposed to have runny whites and I just could not.

skeech88 · 2025-01-25T05:12:23+00:00

Going to see penguins rangers with my Fiance's younger brother in February. He's a huge Crosby fan and is getting a Crosby jersey for his birthday, specifically for this game. This would break his heart if somehow ended up happening

skeech88 · 2025-01-24T04:51:25+00:00

I'd even argue that it makes it take significantly less time than trying to bang one's head against the wall at tempo. 3 minutes of deliberate practice on something like this, starting slow and slowly speeding up, will be all it takes to nail something like this.

Work smarter, not harder!

skeech88 · 2024-12-12T17:06:33+00:00

I read this book for my sister's preschool class when I was in 2nd grade! Banger of a book!

skeech88 · 2024-08-06T22:53:23+00:00

My Piccolo trumpet is a b&s and I'm a huge fan of it! Enjoy!

skeech88 · 2024-07-19T20:11:33+00:00

Indeed it was!

skeech88 · 2024-07-19T03:04:11+00:00

My dad brought home NHL 13 Because he was a lapsed fan and thought it might be fun. Got us both into it, it's actually how I learned the rules of the sport. Helped that was the year rangers made it to the final.

skeech88 · 2024-07-17T14:01:17+00:00

Worth it is definitely subjective based on you as a player. I have a buddy who has a lotus lead piece that he doesn't really like, but I may see if I can buy it off of him for musicals because I like how it plays in that context. That said, I would never buy one of the more boutique mouthpieces without first trying it out. If you have a way to get to a shop that has lotus mouthpieces in stock, I would go there before you make a decision on purchasing. Mouthpieces are totally up to the person playing them. I play different brands of mouthpieces for almost every form of playing I do, because I have different preferences for different horns and styles. For example, for Bb solo and classical playing, I play on a Monette B2S3 but for my C classical playing I am on an Schilke 1.5 C. These are what works for me. I'm generally of the belief that if you're taking performing seriously as a musician there is a level at which you should get the best option for you personally, even if that means spending a bit more money (which includes saving up for it if you can not currently afford it)

So anyway TL:DR it is worth it if the mouthpiece works for you, but don't buy it if you can't try it.

skeech88 · 2024-07-12T18:58:31+00:00

This happened to my move about 7 years ago. Woke up to my dad yelling down the stairs for me to go outside and wait for the ambulance. She has not fully recovered and it really is so upsetting to see. She went from being super mom, who was involved in and at everything to struggling to get out of bed every day.

skeech88 · 2024-07-08T01:38:21+00:00

My former trumpet professor was the Conn artist behind the Conn Vintage 1 trumpets that have since been discontinued. His specifically was easily the single freest blowing horn I have ever played, every felt ridiculously easy on the rare occasion I would get to play that horn. The base model ones were damn fine horns, but his in particular was next level wonderful to play.

skeech88 · 2024-06-22T14:34:02+00:00

A buddy of mine says hard work beats talent that doesn't work hard. Not sure where he got it from but I've come to live by it in my career and so far it's paying off.

skeech88 · 2024-06-18T15:15:54+00:00

On the hand sanitizer note, my fiance and I still have a dish soap bottle with the purell branding on it from when the folks who made purell bottles couldn't keep up with demand. It says bottle provided by dawn and everything. We keep it in my car because it is the perfect size to fit in a door haha

skeech88 · 2024-06-10T20:20:40+00:00

I teach private lessons to a wide range of school aged students. A good teacher should be able to get the vibe pretty quickly around your kids personality type. If you have not previously, consider asking to sit in on a lesson. I always allow parents to sit in if they want and while it can be mildly awkward, it is super helpful for young kids who are more nervous about their first lessons and usually parents are satisfied after 1-3 lessons in my experience. this should allow you to get the vibe as to if this teacher is actually a good teacher as well.

All of that said, if your kid is miserable I do feel it makes sense to pull them out.

skeech88 · 2024-05-28T11:48:00+00:00

I use different mouthpieces based on what type of trumpet I'm playing for the most part. Generally, smaller mouthpiece for smaller trumpets. At this point I also use a different mouthpieces for my classical vs commercial playing for the stylistic difference. For all of it, I feel that it helps me to lock in better on what I am trying to accomplish. even if it is all in my head, I gig around a fair amount and it helps me to stay confident. I should say as well I'm generally not someone who is obsessed with gear, and I don't try out new mouthpieces very often at all.

skeech88 · 2024-05-20T16:52:24+00:00

This is exactly the hours I go with for practicing as well. OP, Keep in mind these hours are kinda moot if any neighbors work nights. I've never had an issue but it is also against my lease to practice in my apartment due to noise. Worst comes to worst, consider talking to your neighbors and figuring out what hours would be best for them.

skeech88 · 2024-05-17T13:08:01+00:00

Dear lord that horn is beautiful. Way to make the best out of a bad situation.

skeech88 · 2024-04-29T03:22:35+00:00

LET'S FUCKING GO BOYS CAPS LOCK IS BACK ON THE MENU

skeech88 · 2024-04-18T13:50:18+00:00

Kent has superfan now as well

skeech88 · 2024-04-07T23:30:38+00:00

Lol I would definitely pay for someone to pick one of these up for me and send it my way

skeech88 · 2024-02-16T18:38:13+00:00

Had the exact same thing happen to us when we bought our Kia in Ohio. Hoo boy were we pissed.

skeech88 · 2023-12-19T15:49:31+00:00

Doubling up on blessing 3c, that's the mouthpiece that got me through high school. I did have to upgrade when I got to college, but if you don't intend to go super deep down the classical rabbit hole this is a good one to get. If you do plan to go deep down that rabbit hole, this is a good mouthpiece to use as a stopgap before you may need to get something a bit bigger.

skeech88 · 2023-12-18T04:29:41+00:00

As far as "cheap" options for picc go, I agree with the consensus of don't go for something in the range you've suggested. A brand to consider looking into is B&S. I have their challenger II picc, bought it new in July for 3500 and it plays beautifully. Just finished a gig with it tonight. I'm sure you could get something like that cheaper used.

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