Increasing your endurance by using the small spaces

Increasing your endurance by using the small spaces

When preparing to perform a solo or a whole recital, there are a lot of factors that motivate our practice. To have a polished end product we meticulously learn notes, rhythms, and technique, with metronomes, recording devices, and more. And, if you are like me, I practice getting through the complete solo or program to make sure I have enough endurance.

M Mary Galime
Can your mouthpiece cup size affect your articulation?

Can your mouthpiece cup size affect your articulation?

When we think about cup depth of a brass instrument mouthpiece, we generally think about how they will affect the sound. Generally, a large cup will provide a dark sound, where a shallow cup will produce a brighter more projecting sound. Is sound the only thing that the cup affects, though? We recently polled our Denis Wick community with this question: Does the cup depth affect articulation? Each player is different, and while we here at Denis Wick have some specific ideas about how the right cup contour can assist your performance, we also realize each player has their own experience with this, and feels support from a mouthpiece in different areas.

D Denis Wick Discuss
Which Students do I Switch to Tuba?

Which Students do I Switch to Tuba?

This installment of Brass Advantage was written for music teachers faced with the daunting task of choosing students to switch to tuba to facilitate the orchestration of their band as well as tuba players seeking advice and counsel from a professional tuba player to improve their performance qualities.

M Marty Erikson
New trumpet mouthpiece new skill? A unique tool takes unique preparation!

New trumpet mouthpiece new skill? A unique tool takes unique preparation!

Is it as simple as find a "high note mouthpiece" or the "endurance" mouthpiece, put it in the instrument and you'll have better range/endurance? How do we prepare to play the "tools" in our mouthpiece bag that are not necessarily home base for us? Denis Wick trumpet artists Josh Rzepka, Preston Bailey, Chris O'Hara, and Arnetta Johnson have some thoughts for you if you're looking for an answer! Here is a clip of our recent webinar "It's got to be the mouthpiece... or does it?".

D DWP Artist Group
A new approach to fixing technique issues & practice plan

A new approach to fixing technique issues & practice plan

Playing by ear and working in groups form the foundations of both my teaching and practice. In this article I look to explain why I think it holds so much value and how I think anyone can improve their enjoyment of playing with some time spent playing without music each week, with even more success if you can find others to play with too.

M Matt Lewis
Transforming with Denis Wick

Transforming with Denis Wick

Learn about what triggered Denis Wick to #transform2perform throughout his life as a student, teacher, performer, and manufacturer in this interview with denis, hosted by Ian Bousfield.

D Denis Wick
Mouthpiece Auditions- How to Avoid Injury

Mouthpiece Auditions- How to Avoid Injury

Summer is a great time to look for a new mouthpiece. Adjusting to a new mouthpiece can take a little time, and the summer provides just that. Since a mouthpiece will not teach you to play higher, lower, louder, or softer, the summer is also a great time to hone your skills in these areas. Stay tuned to the Buzz in the upcoming weeks for tips and advice in these areas.

M Mary Galime
A Practical Aid to Beautiful Sound

A Practical Aid to Beautiful Sound

As every teacher knows, a good tone on any brass instrument needs a properly set-up embouchure; these days one may assume that the young player will have a reasonable instrument and a sensible mouthpiece. To this one could add what many teachers would regard as the most important of all – good breath control.

D Denis Wick
The Moral Code of Mouthpieces

The Moral Code of Mouthpieces

Reflecting on the many discussions I’ve had, I’ve come to realize that there is a moral code to trying

M Mary Galime
Mouthpieces 101

Mouthpieces 101

Your mouthpiece is a relationship of measurements, joined together to support you. Understanding the terminology and relationship is key to finding the right mouthpiece.

M Mary Galime
Mouthpiece Auditions

Mouthpiece Auditions

Mouthpiece trials can be a dangerous sport! While we don’t suggest wearing a helmet, there are some steps you can take that will protect the sensitive area of your lips and muscles from damage. Follow the steps below and you should be able to walk out of your trial session unscathed and hopefully with a new mouthpiece!

M Mary Galime
The number one reason to choose trumpet

The number one reason to choose trumpet

"Why would you choose to play an instrument with a mouthpiece the size of a coin...?" asks Denis Wick Products' Mary Galime. Here is Denis Wick artist Chris O'Hara's answer.

C Chris O'Hara
How many different mouthpieces should a trumpet player use: 3 different perspectives

How many different mouthpieces should a trumpet player use: 3 different perspectives

Should a trumpet player just use one mouthpiece for everything, or do we need a different mouthpiece for each style of playing? The answer is not a clear cut yes or no. Here are 3 different perspectives on this from 3 of our trumpet artists, Arnetta Johnson, Chris O'Hara, and Preston Bailey. Let us know how you approach this in the comments!

D DWP Artist Group
Low Range Troubleshooting - Especially for new tuba players

Low Range Troubleshooting - Especially for new tuba players

Anything can be achieved on our instrument, so long as we practice incrementally. I’ve always called this style of practice “incremental,” because it describes how we improve our skills by one unit at a time in an organized linear way. And it’s exactly the mindset you should proceed with when trying to play lower.

W William Russell
Practicing with Drones

Practicing with Drones

Need a new way to improve your intonation. Here are some great tips. Practicing with drones is one of the best ways to improve intonation. There are several good resources on the internet for downloading audio files of drones. There are also a number of drone albums available on popular music streaming platforms. Here are a few exercises to play to get the most out of your drone practice:

A Andrew Hamilton
Accomplish all your 2022 goals with this one New Year's resolution

Accomplish all your 2022 goals with this one New Year's resolution

Are you a musician? Your New Year's resolution might include practice disciplines, range goals, technique goals, career goals, etc. Resolution planning can be tricky; too easy and you feel like you cheated, too lofty and half-way through the year you feel like a failure. If only there was one thing that you could resolve to do that would keep you busy the whole year while improving everything. And there is!

M Mary Galime
What is magical about the practice room?

What is magical about the practice room?

In this #transform2perform interview with Christopher Bill, Chris discusses the power of practice we learn as a musician, and what that has taught him, for better or for worse, in his career.

C Christopher Bill
What makes a great private teacher? Here is your job description.

What makes a great private teacher? Here is your job description.

A great band director is the start to a great music education. However every great band director knows a great private teacher will lead their students to the next level. These private teachers are carefully chosen by band directors because they can mold the future success of each of their students and encourage the growth of their band programs.

M Mary Galime
High Register Remedies

High Register Remedies

Many talented brass players have problems in high note playing which seem inexplicable. Often there is no obvious reason. These days the general standard of teaching and playing sophistication at a professional level is at an all-time high, but there are, of course, many amateurs who have not had access to the best teaching. These brass players who have no aspirations to earn their living at anything so potentially precarious, but who derive much satisfaction and pleasure from 'taming the tubes' can perhaps benefit from a few words of advice from a teacher who has seen most aspects of playing over many years.

D Denis Wick