Running quavers
Lesson time: (2min 29sec)
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This lesson is part of the course Play Authentic Latin Trumpet
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Lesson transcript:
Understanding Running Quavers in "Cinnamon Tea"
Let's take a look at the running quavers.
There are three bars of four quavers grouped together in this piece, Cinnamon Tea.
Phrase Mark and Crescendo
If you look at the markings above and below those notes, you'll see:
- Above: A phrase mark over the four quavers.
- Below: A crescendo marking.
This means we need to grow through those quavers.
Approaches to Playing
There are two ways we can approach this:
- All short
- All long
Playing Short
I'm going to play them short and try to grow with that dynamic as well. Let's see what that sounds like.
That's it. Short.
Playing Long
Now, let's see how challenging it is to play them long, with the last one being short.
I personally think that playing them long makes it sound and flow into the next bar, which is why I continued into the next bar.
Articulation and Tongue Technique
Now, let's work on how we can use our tongue and articulation to achieve that long note with one short one at the end.
Try saying:
doo doo doo da doo doo doo da do do do da doo da da.
You can even try writing that above the part. There's plenty of space to do that with your pencil:
doo doo doo da doo doo doo da.
Diction Practice
Again, use the D D d of the tongue rather than ta ta ta ta.
If I go ta ta ta ta, the notes become shorter and disconnected.
Here, we're trying to connect the notes while still maintaining a front to each one.
I'm going to play it one more time, and then you can try to copy.
About the instructor
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. read more