The 2020 Kentucky All-State Band Music, specifically the trumpet audition music, is pulled from The Arban Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet and Theo Charlier 36 Etudes Transcendantes. Both excerpts are advanced etudes that will take careful practice to master and most importantly will take time to capture the musicality, both written and unwritten, to be successful at the highest level. My hope is these recordings and descriptions help you prepare and give you some professional thoughts for an accurate presentation.

Preparation thoughts:

1. Be able to play the notes and rhythms early. You do not want to spend time a month before the audition learning the notes. The majority of the practice time should be on the details of sound, articulation and musicality. Get those notes learned NOW!
2. Start SLOW. Do not try to play the etudes at the given tempos right away. While preparing, only play as fast as you can play accurately. Get all the details in your slow practice.
3. SET GOALS. Use a practice journal and set goals and keep track of your progress. You need something to hold you accountable in your preparation.
4. Play in front of people often. While this years audition will most likely be virtual, practice putting yourself in situations that put you on edge to see how well you really are prepared.
5. RECORD YOURSELF. Invest in a quality mic for you phone and record yourself often. If you are serious about being successful you must consistently record and listen back to how you sound.
6. Seek professional help and advice. Get in some lessons or ask for someone QUALIFIED to listen and critique. Also, some of the best advice comes from professional players NOT on your instrument.

TECHNICAL ETUDE – Charlier No. 1

Some things to consider in this etude. Articulations must be correct and the quality of the tongue needs to be consistent. The slur placements are tricky. Take great care in playing the exact right slurring.

Do not over articulate the accents. While those notes should be stressed, the style of Charlier and French music should not be overdone. Be musical with the accents but do not bang them.

At the end of line 5 and line 10 Charlier uses a small “v” symbol to give the performer a slight break. His exact french words are “Ce signs v indique une respiration.” Make this slight rest or respiration musical and beautiful and take advantage of this to help you continue along without running out of air.

The beginning direction in the original book says “sans force” which means without force. Be light while still playing big. Again, do not overdo the accents.

Look for ways to be musical inside of the technique. When you record yourself listen for your own flair and musicality while noting the dynamics Charlier has written into this etude.

Most importantly, the tempo is marked at 108-120. This recording is at 104 because I felt the tempos given are too adventurous for most students to be successful. The tempo really doesn’t matter as much as the cleanliness. Only go as fast as you can play accurately and beautiful with stellar articulation control and consistency. Fast and dirty is worse than slow and clean. Do not think you must go 108-120 to be successful.

LYRICAL ETUDE – Arban Characteristic Study No. 11

Some things to consider in this etude. This etude hangs around the start of the upper register on the trumpet, and while it is not really high, it takes strength and endurance. Consider practicing the Db Major scale up to high Ab. Normally high school students only practice the Db Major scale in the middle register. Work on these patterns in the upper register prior to practicing this etude.

Lip slurs and flexibility. You can certainly get by in measure 12 using alternate fingerings but take this opportunity to practice lip slurs and flexibility. The only way you can be successful with these measures is by not pressing and forcing. Do not work too hard on the lip slurs. Let them happen with steady air flow and very slight movement of the tongue/aperture.

This etude should sound dark and rich and more cornetish. Try not to play too bright on this etude and bring out the soloistic and rich qualities that the cornet would display.

Be musical and with the dynamics given and also do not be afraid to add your own flair.

Lastly, the tempo is marked at 80-88. In my opinion it is too fast. I recorded this slower and took a bit of liberty at times to make a musical statement. Keep a steady tempo and do not change the tempos, but consider what you can do within the steady tempo to make this more beautiful and lyrical. Have fun playing gorgeous music.

If you are interested in lessons either in person or virtual, please contact me. I would be happy to help you have a successful All-State audition.