My Concept

I believe just because it costs more it does not mean you'll sound better. Because your favorite trumpet player plays on a certain kind of horn does not mean that you will sound like that trumpeter if you play that equipment. And I believe that one mouth piece is all you need.

I know that changing mouth pieces sometimes makes us feel we can do better for high notes or improvisation or classical or whatever the moment demands but changing mouth pieces is not the way I approach the instrument.

Ultimately, I believe that personal confidence is the most important part of sounding good. To be consistant is what we all are striving for. Thinking the right things are important because playing the trumpet is 70% mental.

Be kind to yourself and practice a little bit everyday.

Bobby's Equipment

Trumpet -- Silver Plated California STOMVI with a STOMVI 7C mouth piece (distributed by cambrass.com)

Flügel Horn -- 1981, Yamaha Copper Bell with a Bach 6C mouth piece

Pocket Trumpet -- 1988, Williams (it's now silver plated) (I think it's a Korean made instrument), I bought it in Switzerland

Mutes, case and all accessories by STOMVI (distributed by cambrass.com)

Let's Talk About Your Equipment

Whatever equipment feels good and right for you is always the best equipment for you.

Valve Oil

Al Cass - FAST, Milford, Mass-USA

Study Books

Hubert L. Clark-Technical Studies; Max Schlossberg-Daily Drills & Technical Studies

Warm Up

I believe that most traditional warm ups are really practice not a warm up. What I've found that works good for me is to do what I call a pre-warm up.

My pre-warm up is to play low and slow, soft and gentle, holding a low note and trying to make that sound as complete and beautiful as possible. Your chops will tell you when they are ready to go to a higher note. All you need to do is "listen to your chops."