Do Long Tones! (Here's Why)

Hi! Please like and subscribe!
Intro/Outro Music: Lulu's Playground - Yeti - lulusplayground.bandcamp.com/
0:00 - Intro
0:55 - First Off....
1:15 - What is a long tone?/Why long tones?
4:50 - Expanding scale long tones
14:38 - high notes advice for long tones
14:59 - Practicing with a drone
17:15 - lots of birds, one stone
18:20 - using G altered scale over a drone
Website: adammeckler.com
facebook: adammeckler
twitter/insta: @adammeckler
Adam Meckler Orchestra: amorchestra.bandcamp.com
Radel Shruti Box:
amzn.to/2KSxGRy
John Raymond's Jazz Trumpet Routine Book: john-raymond.com/store/jazz-t...

[@pvillez]

I'm not even a trumpet player. I'm a retired university professor of music/music tech. I play guitar and percussion...and now, thanks to you, I'll happily learn the trumpet. RIP Jon Hassel.

[@AdamMeckler]

It’ll be a great way to spend retirement!! My first student was an 86 year old beginner and he had a blast!

[@MrRezillo]

Allow me to jump in here. I'm a 78 year-old comeback player. Playing any instrument when you're older is good for your brain. Trumpet is physically challenging -- but it gives you strong lungs (meaning the musculature of breathing) and better "air" - something that becomes more important as we age. I picked up trumpet again 14 years ago and am going strong. Best wishes for you as you take up the challenge. Thank you for the vid, Adam. I'm not new to long tones, but I can always use a bit of reinforcement and a different teacher's approach. Best wishes.

[@AdamMeckler]

@@MrRezillo awesome to hear that you are playing and going strong. No doubt there health benefits related to breathing and lung capacity!!

[@MrRezillo]

@@AdamMeckler Thanks, Adam. I played in high school, loved jazz but wouldn't practice and gave up on trying to develop chops. Some 40 years later, something told me to pick up the horn again, and things are moving right along. I've at least gotten good enough to get paid for my efforts a lot of times (LOL) and back up a number of vocalists singing the great American songbook. I just listened to this long tones vid again; very helpful. I bought a sruti box, haven't used it that much, but you've just inspired me to get on it. Best wishes for your career.

[@joelekelow5380]

yeah, so this is actually just like yoga or meditation. that's super interesting!

[@AdamMeckler]

yeppppp

[@ChrisAucoin1401]

Great video. In addition to Cat Anderson playing long tones, I understand that it was the favorite exercise of Bill Chase as well. For those who struggle with starting a sound without tonguing, I know some great players who start the long tones using a soft "Doooo" syllable.

[@MrCrescendo]

You are a really good educator. These videos are excellent and much appreciated.

[@AdamMeckler]

Thank you, Erik! Very much appreciate you saying so. Thanks for watching!

[@dbryn2]

Hey this is great! The expanding scale long tones sound helpful, and hearing you practice with a drone is cool. I never thought before about how playing the trumpet can be meditative. The drone really brings that out and it's wonderful. I do have a thought about the video. The title of the video suggests you will explain why we should do long tones. The only answer you give is that it's because you can always feel the difference in your quality compared to when you don't. I have found that that's true in my own experience, and that's enough reason to do them. However, when I found this video, I was hoping for something more in-depth about why long-tones are beneficial. Then I think to myself: well it must be that they are vital for developing stronger lip muscles, long and steady breathing abilities, good air control and tone. So I have answered the question myself, unless there is more to say about why? There probably isn't. Thank you for the video!

[@AdamMeckler]

Ha! You are right! Tone, breath control, stamina, strength, confidence, mental well-being…all of those things are wrapped up in to long tones. You’re right, I should have mentioned those things!

[@djuneconley5569]

great to have the meditative music in the back! feels like I am actually making music just with long tones it great

[@FMRebs]

You're a great teacher, intelligent and intuitive. Glad I stumbled into this video at this point in my learning journey (5 weeks in)

[@AdamMeckler]

Thank you for those kind words! Good luck on your journey! 🙌🏼🎺

[@xavitrompeta]

Adam this is the second video I watch from your channel. Great work, and thanks! Regards from Chile 🇨🇱 🎺

[@AdamMeckler]

Thanks for watching!! Appreciate you!

[@musicalzen9105]

Yes!!!! So important and meditative. Thank you 🙏

[@AdamMeckler]

A big part of my mental stability, no doubt about it!

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

Hi Adam! I didn’t know you had a channel until last week or so. I like this video! Here’s a tip for you, brother! Add 0:00 to the beginning of your time stamps, give it a label, and then each section will be inserted in the video timeline. Check it out!

[@AdamMeckler]

Thank you for this! I just edited the description. Hope that works!

[@AdamMeckler]

Just peeped your channel. Great stuff. Can’t wait to watch some more!

[@zidoncuber8986]

Really is helping me when I practice, thinking about how to drone and make a good clear and crisp sound

[@tonyprice1612]

Excellent video! Thank you, Sir!

[@gabeholguin630]

Very helpful! Thank you for an important basic concept explained in a useful and logical way......

[@cole_bh0373]

Just did a 20 minute G, very relaxing

[@AdamMeckler]

Good for the chops, good for the soul!

[@chew_tunes]

Great video Adam! Do you usually do your long tones at the beginning of your practice session? or at the end? Thanks! -Chris

[@AdamMeckler]

Beginning!

[@benjaminplafker4476]

Awesome video! Could you explain what you mean by using tongue versus using only air/lips?

[@AdamMeckler]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. You start notes with your tongue on trumpet. That’s how you get a clean sound articulation. I explain it in some of my more beginner-geared videos. Instead of using my tongue to start notes, I often do something called “breath attacks” and just get my lips close together, move some air, and wait for the sound to start. It’s important to be able to get the buzz working with and without the tongue!

[@stevenhogenson840]

Cat Anderson also advocated playing with your front teeth clenched together...not many folks who know about the 20 minute G typically mention that particular foible that was also a part of his playing.

[@AdamMeckler]

He played with his front teeth together only for the whisper g exercise, is my understanding. He’s not playing with his teeth together when he’s screaming high notes in Dukes band. It’s an interesting idea, but it’s not something I do, so I didn’t talk about it.

[@FusionStarcraft]

I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask you about your horn, but do you feel like the X-13 is versatile? Is there any music you wouldn’t use it for? Your videos are fantastic! Thank you for putting these together!

[@AdamMeckler]

Hey Tom! I find it to be quite versatile, yes. I admittedly do not do much classical playing anymore, but small group jazz, trumpet section, funk, lead...this horn is killer!

[@Wanielyo]

Highly recommend iTabla Pro if you’re not already using it

[@AdamMeckler]

Very cool! I’m a bit old school in that I have a physical Ridel Shruti box with boatloads of drone and tabla options but I will def check this out for when I’m on the go. Thanks!

[@damiann6740]

I have a question, does it matter what note I'm doing the long tone for, I'm trying to build my range my highest note i can hit is a Bb above the staff and im trying to hit a D above the staff

[@HJAproductions]

Go T wolves! Great lesson

[@AdamMeckler]

Yes! Wolves! Let’s go!!

[@newunderthesun7353]

I love long tones, but not fond of the drone tones. Instead I'll take a clean trumpet G, or other note, and use my music editing software to stretch it out to a minute, and then I'll loop it.

[@AdamMeckler]

Huh, interesting. I’m obsessed with playing over Indian Sitar drones, but any drone will do. If you’re going to use your own horn tho, make sure you play in tune consistently. No use practicing to a drone that fluctuates in pitch!

[@newunderthesun7353]

@@AdamMeckler I know better than to use my own tone. And I misunderstood your use of the word 'drone'. Drone tones to me are usually synthetically generated tones out of a computer or keyboard. Those are the ones I do not like. But playing to a long tone from a Sitar or other acoustic instrument works for me, too. Typically I'll grab a note from Charlie Porter or Greg Spence, two players whose instructional formats work well for me, especially Spence and his breathing in the Mystery to Mastery series. Also trying to grasp the Yoga / Wedge Breath as taught by Bobby Shew. I've just started following you...frankly I'm amazed at the lot of you. I still can only imagine playing anywhere close to your level of musicality, but that is the goal and why I practice - every day.

[@AdamMeckler]

@@newunderthesun7353 That's great, love it! I'm constantly working on improving every day. It never ends!

[@deonejohnson7351]

John is a William Adam student 🎺

[@AdamMeckler]

John studied with Bob Baca, who I think was a William Adam student. I could be wrong, but I don’t think John studied with the man himself.

[@deonejohnson7351]

@@AdamMeckler I do Bob’s Tuesday trumpet class and have done several with John. He may have had a few lessons with Mr Adam.

[@AdamMeckler]

@@deonejohnson7351 word! I’ll have to ask John about that. Very cool. Sounds like we might know a bunch of the same people, too. Good luck to you on your journey!!

[@deonejohnson7351]

@@AdamMeckler We do Adam. Played with Free and Easy, Gypsy, Westside for years and all jobbing stuff. Still honking 🎺

[@siegfriedwifling907]

How do you know the best Sound if never had…😎

[@justinjohnston8729]

sounds like the bill adam's technique am I right?

[@AdamMeckler]

I never actually studied Bill Adam stuff, but I've been around a lot of trumpeters who did so I'm sure some of that stuck with me along the way. Expanding scale long tones might exactly be a Bill Adam thing but honestly I don't know for sure.

[@justinjohnston8729]

@@AdamMeckler Bill had a similar technique to warming up with lead pipe buzzing and long tones. The pattern he used for long tones was similar to the pattern you showed so I thought that's where you got it. I would be curious to know who you learned it from and if they were a student of Bill's or if you just came up with this yourself.

[@siegfriedwifling907]

Try to avoid music in the background …😁👋

[@kittykaaat11222]

summer break ahhahahahaahhahahah last summer break i practiced 2 times

[@kittykaaat11222]

am i commenting too much ill stop for today

[@AdamMeckler]

😆😆

[@AdamMeckler]

But seriously…practice over summer break!!!