High Notes...Who Needs 'Em?

High Notes...Who Needs 'Em?

High notes are exciting, impressive, and sometimes the thing young trumpet players chase more than anything else. But are they really the point? In this episode, James Newcomb welcomes Dave Norman back to talk about the trumpet’s upper register, not as a circus trick, but as one part of a larger musical vocabulary. Dave discusses the physical demands of playing high, the danger of brute force, the importance of recovery, and why sound, time, pitch, rhythm, and musical taste matter far more than range alone. High notes have their place, but they are not the whole story. Episode Highlights: * Why young trumpet players often become obsessed with the upper register * The physical cost of forcing high notes through pressure and tension * How compression, coordination, air, and embouchure work together * Why high notes should grow out of solid fundamentals, not replace them * Dave Norman’s reminder that most real trumpet work happens between low C and high C Let's Talk Trumpet is a production of Arete Brass. Learn more about Arete Brass at aretebrass.com.

One Horn. Four Keys.

In this episode, we explore what happens when musicians stop accepting the limitations of their tools and begin asking better questions. Segment one tells the story of a cabinetmaker who creates a specialized tool because the work itself demands it. Then David Hickman explains the development of a remarkable five-valve trumpet capable of functioning in multiple keys, allowing a player to solve practical orchestral problems with one highly specialized instrument. Hickman traces the idea through C/D trumpets, D-flat trumpet experiments, and his collaboration with Cliff Blackburn. We close with William Vacchiano, an orchestral master who understood that the right horn is never a gimmick when it serves the music. Episode Highlights: * Why specialized tools are often born from real musical problems, not novelty * How trumpet players use different keyed instruments to solve orchestral challenges * David Hickman’s path from C/D trumpet to D-flat trumpet to a five-valve multi-key design * The role of Cliff Blackburn in turning Hickman’s concept into a playable instrument * William Vacchiano’s legacy as a practical orchestral craftsman and problem-solver Today's trumpeter you should know more about: William Vacchiano Let's Talk Trumpet is a production of Arete Brass. Learn more about Arete Brass at aretebrass.com.

The Case Against "Diversification".

Most musicians are taught to keep their options open. Be versatile, be adaptable, be ready for anything. But what if that approach keeps you from ever becoming truly indispensable? This episode explores the power of specialization through a story of a cartographer who chooses to map what others ignore. In doing so, he doesn’t just refine his craft, he creates demand where none existed before. We then hear from David Hickman, who reflects on how players like Rafael Méndez found opportunities not by doing everything, but by going deeper than anyone else into one path. Episode Highlights: * Why being “well-rounded” can quietly limit your career ceiling * The hidden cost of keeping every door open * How depth creates opportunities that didn’t previously exist * The difference between being useful and being indispensable * What specialization actually looks like in practice Today's trumpeter you should know more about: Sergei Nakariakov __________ Let's Talk Trumpet is a production of Arete Brass. Learn more about Arete Brass at aretebrass.com.

Straighten the Can, Lead the Store

A single moment of recognition can change the direction of a life. In this episode, we explore how identity is often shaped not by ability alone, but by whether someone takes the time to truly see us. Through a story of a young grocery store worker who rises beyond low expectations, we examine how attention—given rightly—can transform behavior, confidence, and purpose. We then hear David Hickman reflect on his own formative experience, followed by a look at Rafael Méndez, whose playing continues to define what’s possible on the trumpet. Episode Highlights: * Why recognition—not just instruction—shapes identity * The difference between being noticed and being seen * How small moments of affirmation can redirect behavior * The long-term impact of early mentorship in music Today's trumpeter you should know more about: Rafael Mendez Let's Talk Trumpet is a production of Arete Brass. Learn more about Arete Brass at aretebrass.com.

Teach a Kid to Blow a Horn, He’ll Never Blow a Safe

A single teacher can change the direction of a life. This episode centers on a powerful story of mentorship, where a small-town band director saw more than just a student—he saw potential. What began as a kid joining band for the wrong reasons became something much deeper: discipline, identity, and purpose. In this episode, we explore how music education goes beyond technique. It's about shaping character through structure, accountability, and care. Because at its core, learning an instrument isn’t about performance; it’s about formation. Episode Highlights * Why the right teacher matters more than the right method * How competition can elevate rather than discourage * The hidden value of private lessons in early development * Music education as a pathway to discipline and identity Trumpeter you should know more about: Vincent Cichowicz aretebrass.com #Trumpet #MusicEducation #BandLife #BrassPlayers #AreteBrass