Trumpeting by Nature: An Efficient Guide to Optimal Trumpet Performance [Unabridged] [Paperback]

Jeanne G Pocius (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 18, 2007

The Roadmap to Drive Your Way to Success on the Trumpet!

Discover the secrets to playing trumpet with ease, efficiency, control and finesse. Trumpet Chop Doc Jeanne G Pocius shares her experience and wisdom about trumpet playing, performing, and teaching.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Everything You Wanted To Know About How The Heck To Get a Note Out

P. Olguin (Whittier, CA) All I can say is WOW. This is a complete reference, with illustrations and thorough explanations of how to achieve the optimum set-up for yourself. As a working professional musician, I am always looking for tips on how to make my playing more efficient, more musical, more powerful. It doesn't matter what level you're on, you will learn a great deal here. The best part is, although this book is quite thorough, it is not some dogmatic, rigid, my-way-or-the-highway approach to playing. Jeanne's approach is a flexible (like one's playing should be) cafeteria-style menu of information, technique, philosophy and encouragement. This is destined to be a classic, and rightfully so.

Calling all trumpeters

Martin J. Rooney (Boston MA) This is a great book for any level trumpet player. This book will absolutely help any trumpet player improve their playing. Clear, concise, and best of all, IT WORKS!  Text is excellent and the photos, which are top quality, illustrate her points very well.

I truly have seen everything :-}

Wilmer Wise (Brooklyn, NY) My copy of Jeanne G. Pocius "Trumpeting by Nature" came today. WOW! In clear English Jeanne has addressed every question a trumpet player may have. The fonts are great for the older comeback player. It's a sight for sore eyes.

I Wish I Had This 25 Years Ago!

Ralph Longo (Beverly, MA)  For those of us who learned to play the trumpet incorrectly or inefficiently, this book is a revelation... What is in this book will help you learn to play at your highest level for a lifetime.

 

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press; 1st edition (March 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1432702610
• ISBN-13: 978-1432702618
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #931,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for All Players, June 7, 2007

By 

Pamela Madsen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trumpeting by Nature: An Efficient Guide to Optimal Trumpet Performance (Paperback)

Trumpeting by Nature is a book intended for people of all ages and levels so while some information may seem obvious to the more advanced student, the same information is a great help to beginners looking for direction in all aspects of playing. Jeanne's methods are based on the principle that each player is responsible for becoming their own teacher and her book is a guide to doing so. By providing explanations, photographs and exercises to develop the different areas of trumpet playing (embouchure, air, tonguing, etc.) she helps the reader find their unique "sweet spot" where trumpeting becomes as relaxed and efficient as possible.

The characteristic that sets this method apart from the rest is the way problems are addressed. There are no generic instructions such as "use less pressure" but instead, each common pitfall is described in terms of how it affects one's playing. Suggested ways of overcoming these habits are then presented in clear, detailed instructions, making Trumpeting by Nature a great reference for trumpeters at all levels with the desire to diagnose and overcome inconsistencies in their playing.

The one addition that would make this book all the better is a quick-reference insert or appendix that includes a glossary and a diagram of the muscles frequently referred to in the book. However, this oversight is far outweighed by the positive aspects of the book which is why it deserves a five-star rating.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book. Needs to be in your library., April 23, 2008

By 

bmorris218 (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trumpeting by Nature: An Efficient Guide to Optimal Trumpet Performance (Paperback)

After not having played trumpet for several decades, I decided to pick it up again and see if I could get back into playing shape. I played professionally for a number of years, several while attending school studying physiology and organic chemistry. When I ran across Jeanne's book, Trumpeting by Nature, I was very impressed. Not only did each chapter make a world of sense to me, it illustrated and explained things that had bothered me when I was playing every night, sometimes on a split lip. Jeanne also takes the time to focus on the specific anatomical foundations of the embouchure that had never been explained or addressed at any length by any of my past instructors - several of whom are now considered icons in the trumpet playing world. Her discussions of the various muscles involved in the embouchure are both accurate and interesting. I've spent a lot of time researching trumpet literature on the Net and haven't run across any that discusses the specific musculature involved in an embouchure like Jeanne does in her book. I would recommend this book to anyone who's a beginner, a hobbyist, a pro and especially those, who like me, are once again starting out on the instrument. Reading her book and following her advice and instruction has definitely helped me and can certainly prevent or remedy many of the embouchure problems players experience. Following Jeanne's advice has allowed me to return to playing form quicker than I expected with an increase in range that still amazes me. This is a great book, full of interesting and valuable information and needs to be in your musical library.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Wish I Had This 25 Years Ago!, May 2, 2007

By 

Ralph Longo (Beverly, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trumpeting by Nature: An Efficient Guide to Optimal Trumpet Performance (Paperback)

For those of us who learned to play the trumpet incorrectly or inefficiently, this book is a revelation. Jeanne is known as the "Chop Doc" because of her vast knowledge and her insistence on anatomically correct setup and development. In this book she breaks down absolutely everything pertaining to the playing of this instrument in easy to understand text and using many visual examples. For the past three years my two sons and I have been privileged to be studying with Jeanne and we can tell you that what is in this book works beyond a shadow of a doubt. This book conveys her love of music, the instrument, and the art of teaching in a concise manor and with her trademark positive and encouraging attitude. I have watched her get kids who could barely blow a middle G, to become members of "The High C Club" simply because she told them that she KNEW that they could do it. This is the next best thing to studying with Jeanne. What is in this book will help you learn to play at your highest level for a lifetime.