S*%! Phil Says...
A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a student about when I first began teaching in quantity. That was fall of 2001. I feel comfortable saying at that time my playing was at a high level and uniquely mine. My experience teaching one on one however was non existent.
I was very aware of how much of my vocabulary seemed borrowed. I would channel so much directly from Charlie and Jeff and other influences. I wondered when that would change. I wondered when it would sound like my voice.
For better or worse after 17 years and 80,000 lessons or so I have a voice. All of the below has been said and often better by others but these are in my voice.
In no particular order I’ve made note of some of the things I often say. Perhaps one or two will strike you in a new and different way.
- Relax your mechanism.
- Accuracy depends on structure
- Only attempt each note once.
- Don’t react to the past. Play the present.
- Air comes before sound.
- Don’t play “faster”, instead play the same in less time.
- Time and pitch are not subjective.
- Rhythm depends on beat.
- Always play like its right
- Confidence is a role you play.
- Notes are only forward. High and Low are meaningless words.
- Choose science instead of superstition.
- Zoom out and observe your story.
- Correctness of embouchure is determined by the beauty of the sound it creates.
- If you’re smart your future self will thank you for today’s practice.
- Act like you’ve learned something since sixth grade.
- My patience is faster than your impatience.
- “Breathe” has a different meaning when the trumpet is in your hand. Train the connection.
- Make calmness the first goal.
- Be willing to start over every day.
- You don’t buzz your lips...the air does.
- Acknowledge the beauty in your imperfection.
- Don’t be boring.
- Play good trumpet.
- Respect your fatigue.
- You get stronger while resting.
- Lack of familiarity and difficulty are often confused.
- Less thinking more reading
- You don’t need to remember it. You need to see it!
- Don’t mark it. It’s already marked.
- Always search for the overlap of ease and beauty.
- Even with the slide in you’re still playing leadpipe.
- Retreat to a point of calmness and control.
- The answer is hiding in the search.
- There was something you didn’t hear yesterday. Look for it today.
- Before you can be beautiful you have to turn in the right answers.
- The discipline to be correct will make you stand out in a room full of mistakes.
- Risks are exciting.
- Don’t confuse completion with mastery.
- Ask for better and you’ll get it.
- Adreline increases with excitement. Sweating increases when running. Don’t be afraid of your biology
- Breathe with awareness and energy.
- You are unique and valuable. Make a sound that reflects that.
- Chase the experience.
- Your playing isn’t something that happens to you like the weather.
- Be correct.
- Decide what you want.
- What are you playing and why are you playing it.?
- Dont keep re-solving the same problem.
- You won’t win a chili cook off with everyone else’s recipe.