Trumpet Technique By Frank Gabriel Campos

Trumpet Technique by Frank Gabriel Campos provides a comprehensive overview of the main aspects of trumpet playing – skill, breath, embouchure, oral cavity, body use, and performance psychology – with one chapter devoted to each of these topics. Campos begins by exploring the nature of skill. He combines components from three pre-existing models to create his own model that applies uniquely to performing artists; Campos’s model states that skill consists of efficiency, automaticity, timing, knowledge, adaptability, and capacity. In applying this model to my personal practice, I discovered that I am able to improve more quickly when I intentionally address each of these components of his model. Campos continues by describing different types of learning and how to utilize them. One concept that Campos focuses on is that when attempting to learn, one can incite “paralysis by analysis”, a condition in which one becomes so focused on analyzing the physical processes involved in playing that they impede their progress by overthinking. Since I often fall victim to this condition, Campos’s advice to focus solely on making a great sound instead of on what the body must do to produce
While I have already been told much of what Campos says, one point that stood out to me is his explanation of the Valsalva maneuver, which is the closing of the throat caused by tightening the abdominal muscles. Some trumpet players advocate pushing air out forcefully using your abdominals, especially to play high notes; I have never been successful with that approach, and the Valsalva maneuver explains why. After the breath, Campos discusses the embouchure. Much of this chapter is devoted to embouchure problems and potential solutions. I do not think I am currently suffering from any of the issues described, but knowledge of them will be helpful for if I begin to have difficulties in the future or teach a student who has an embouchure