By Mitch
Hey all you ska band trumpeter/trumpetesses. I've noticed that many trumpeters are interested in the fine art of spinning one's trumpet. So being board because my bands practice was cancelled, I've decided to share what I have learned and what many other trumpeters have told me about spinning.
Why does one want to spin a trumpet?
Well its part of that deck of cards bands use during a show. The band is there to make some music and get people to dance around to the beat. Spinning is one of those crme of the crop things that a trumpet player can do that makes people say: "Holy smoking Moses that looks awesome!"
I friggen already know. But HOW DO I DO IT?
OK, now we get to what this is all about. To spin a trumpet you use the ring of the third valve's tuning slide. WAIT!! Don't try it yet. The third valve's tuning slide has to be secure. That is it can't move while you're spinning your trumpet. There are several options that come up here to make sure that tuning slide doesn't move on you. Also before you spin make sure that your mouth piece is in well. And let's be a little caring for the crowd empty your spit valve first otherwise some of that spit might go a flyin.
- (This is the best option) There are trumpets out there that have a small metal rod that can be adjusted holding the tuning slide and the rest of the trumpet together in this case you shouldn't have any big problems.
- Poor maintenance. This means keep everything about your trumpet nice, neat and up to speed. Except the third valve's tuning slide. You want the grease that makes the metal slide to (in lack of a better term) junk up. This will happen through use and over time. You might even try wiping some of the grease off of the slide. (keep in mind though that if you're a good trumpet player your should be using that tuning slide for a little info on what it's there for skim down to the *)
- Tape. Yes tape is a magical thing. You put a little strip on your trumpet (I'd recommend duct tape... MMMmmm.) and it holds that slide on like nothing else. Double check it to make sure before you spin cause you never know when it might get loose.
- Tie that bis down with string so it can't go anywhere.
- Don't worry about that whole third valve tuning slide and skim down to where I talk about a different kind of spinning.
Ok, so you got the whole "third valve's slide must stay attached to trumpet" thing. Let's move on. You're going to want to practice over something soft. Such as a bed, a big pillow, a cat. Whatever won't damage your trumpet. Put your index finger in and throw the side of the trumpet that you play with up in the air. Immediately afterward give a slight jerk downward with your left hand (nothing too powerful). There are probably a myriad of different techniques you can use to throw the trumpet up just right. So it's time for you to experiment find a way that your comfortable with and you think looks good. See how many times you can get it to go around. See if you can catch it and play almost immediately, but be careful on that one. That's all there really is to that.
*
The trumpet is made out of key. At least that's how I like to say it. They put the third valve tuning slide on there so that whenever you press down the third valve you can adjust the note so that it's the correct tone. In simpler terms whenever you press down the third valve you should actually slide the third valves tuning slide out a little bit to get the right pitch. (The wrong pitch is extremely close to the right pitch so you would barely notice the difference anyway. That's the reason most trumpeters don't know about it or rarely use it)
That's great and all but I'm a moron and I don't want to worry about my third valve tuning slide and all that. Is there any other way to spin a trumpet?
Yes, but this might not work out as well. This is one way that I discovered on my own but a cool dude named Smooth Steve had an idea near to it so I'll use an illustration (just a little touched up) that he made with this. You put your left ring finger between the second and third valves.
000..000..000
.0....0.XX.0._ Your finger being the X.s
.0....0.XX.0. and the 0's being the trumpet valves
0000000000000
Then you just spin it like you would using the ring on the tuning slide. The problem here is that depending on how your trumpet is. You could end up hurting your finger. But hey! If that's how you wanna do it go right ahead.
There is also a method of using both hands when spinning but I'm sure most people will tell you it doesn't look as cool. You just use the third valve slide.s ring again and also the half ring that you use for your right hand's pinky finger. Have fun experimenting with that one.
That's all I can really tell you about spinning. Hope it helps out.
Mitch. Trumpet player in Spur of the Moment
http://spurska.tripod.com/
(If you have any comments or suggestions you can go to the Spur of the Moment website. Find the contact info. Use that address. And put "for Mitch" in the subject line.)
I give credit to those awesome trumpeters who gave their suggestions on the boards of The Trumpet Tabs Page. I give to myself only about 10% of the credit for putting it all together in my own explanation.
I take no responsibility in any damages that could occur to your trumpet, furniture, friends, and pets, or anything at all under the instruction of this article.
(Neither does the owner of this website ;))
