Graded Exercises and Studies for Trumpet and other valved brass instruments

In the foreword Phil Lawrence says his aim has been to provide the essentials for a solid technique from the earliest stages, covering all the basics in one concise set of warm ups, exercises and studies. I think therein is the strength of this book, in that all exercises to do this are contained in a book where you don’t have to waste time skipping over page after page to find the essential study or exercise you need to keep your playing on track. There are 63 exercises, all designed for a set purpose such as warm ups, slurs, embouchure, agility tonguing, fingering and sound.

I particularly like the attention given to articulation/tonguing which I believe many such study books tend to neglect and as we all know is so important.

In this book there are exercises explaining the differences between and how to improve staccato articulation or legato articulation, semi-staccato, semi-legato etc.

In the real world of playing we meet all aspects of note production depending on the type of music we play and it is good to find a book meeting this challenge.

This book is very clear and well laid out and, as it states, it is a fundamental tool for us all; pupils, teachers, advanced students and professionals.

The Brass Herald, December 2012