I’m not usually one to blow my own trumpet, but last night I played my own trumpet pretty sweetly! It’s been a while since I’ve managed to get a decent tone out of the trumpet; I don’t usually have a problem with that on the cornet, but the trumpet does seem more hit and miss. I’m sure it was helped by the fact that I was playing alongside my good friend and former tutor Ken Bache, a professional trumpet player. I find that when I’m playing alongside players I look up to I tend to up my game and play a lot better.

I’ll be glad when Eva’s a bit older then I can get back to practising at home and that should help with consistency, and improve stamina.

Talking of stamina. The test piece that Watford Band has to play at the upcoming regional qualifying contest in Stevenage demands a lot of the Repiano part; very loud dynamics followed by soft dynamics in the low register. By the end of the piece I’m having to blast out at fff in the highish register, the trouble is, by then my lip’s knackered. Fortunately the soprano part is playing the same and for her the register is not so high, so I can leave the hard work for her and just play the bits that stand out and no-one else is playing. That’s what playing in a brass band is all about, team work :)