Dynamics
With
Mike LovattMike Lovatt shows how dynamics bring Latin trumpet to life, working through mezzo piano and mezzo forte markings and crescendos in pieces like "Cinnamon Tea".
What's in the course
20 lessons (0h 44m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Dynamics in Latin Music
We've taken a look at the shorts and longs, and the even quavers, but as you've heard in this piece and the previous piece, Fiesta Siesta, dynamics are everything in Latin music.
Exploring Cinnamon Tea
Let's take a look at the dynamics in Cinnamon Tea.
- At the beginning of Cinnamon Tea, you can see that Mark Nightingale has written mp, which actually means mezzo piano.
- A lot of people think it means mighty powerful and play far too loud.
Let's try starting this piece off with a nice soft approach.
"Let's see what that sounds like."
I was playing quietly then, as you could hear, but I was also really trying hard to keep the intensity of the music to keep it alive. Maybe you can try doing that now.
Middle Section Dynamics
We've looked at the dynamics in the middle section, where we have the four quavers grouped together:
- Doobie doo da dooby doo da
- Crescendoing through those four notes, arriving on the last quaver with the tongue:
- Doobie doo da.
"Making sure that one's the loudest one of the four that are grouped there."
Final Section Dynamics
Now, let's look at the very last section:
- Notice that MF is the marking for mezzo forte.
- It might also be nice to do a little crescendo in the last two bars.
"I'll play it like that now."
Hopefully, you heard that crescendo up to that last note.
"It's like we're coming home."
Final Playthrough
I'll now play the whole piece, really exaggerating the dynamics. Hopefully, then you can try after and see if you can achieve the same effects.
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Mike Lovatt studied at Trinity College of Music, where he was awarded the Jon Kelly Jazz Scholarship. He has performed and recorded across a huge range of styles with artists including Quincy Jones, Robbie Williams, Eric Clapton, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Buble, Oasis, Michel Legrand, Tony Bennett, Shirley Bassey and Danny Elfman, among many others.
As Principal Trumpet in London's West End, Mike has performed in Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Producers, Billy Elliot, Guys and Dolls, Saturday Night Fever, My Fair Lady and Spamalot, amongst others. He has played on movie soundtracks including the James Bond films, Harry Potter with the London Symphony Orchestra, the award-winning Chicago, Kevin Spacey's Beyond the Sea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Madagascar and The Corpse Bride. He is featured on trumpet and cornet in George Fenton's Mrs Henderson Presents, and on trumpet in Looking for Eric.
Mike is principal trumpet with the Grammy-nominated John Wilson Orchestra and has been featured in their celebrated BBC Promenade concerts and recordings.
Mike is sought after as a teacher and clinician, and is a professor of trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. In April 2013 he was proud to be awarded the prestigious Derek Watkins' Chair of Trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
In his MusicGurus courses, Mike shares the secrets behind his versatility, showing you how to nail authentic swing, rock and Latin trumpet styles so you can play any of them with confidence and the right feel.
