Doc Severinsen Trumpet Clinic - Part 3 of 3

Final part of the clinic by Doc Severinsen on trumpet playing. He goes through his entire warmup routine, actually warming up during the clinic. I believe this clinic was given in the early 1990's.

More Doc stuff on my site, including a searchable database of recordings and links to more videos and to the Amazon Doc Severinsen Store: http://www.dwerden.com/doc/

This was during the time when Doc was leader of the Tonight Show Band with Johnny Carson. Prior to that, Doc was a first-call trumpet player for studio work in New York City.

See part 1 of this video here:
http://www.youtube.com/dwerden#p/c/68/7u95lHDPqwI

See part 2 here:
http://www.youtube.com/dwerden#p/c/AF360307CB1EB9BE/69/ALVZ0HpgcFc

Category:

Music

Tags:

• carl severinsen
• tonight show band
• trumpet technique
• trumpet lessons
• doc severinsen

[dwartyclone]

With all due respect to your uncle,Please tell me you're not comparing him to Louis Armstrong. Have you ever seen one of those early period mouthpieces? Louis played on one the size of a bathtub and so did Miles. Freddie Hubbard said he needed to use pressure for the effect he was trying to get. Btw,where can you play 5 to 7 shows a day? Also, Louis did not die from lip cancer. He died from a heart attack at the ripe age of 71 and played well into his late 60's.

[dwartyclone]

@steevojackass You may not know this but cocaine was a consider a legal remedy of sort at some point in time. He used it because there was no time for rest as he was under contract and as they say the show must go on. With that much horn playing day in and day out, it's a wonder that his career lasted as long as it did. As for Dizzy's eye popping out,that sounds like a exaggeration or a fabrication. I'll have to seek out my resource of people i know who were close to him for the truth.

[dwartyclone]

I agree with you 100% regarding the physical approach to trumpet playing but that's not my argument here. My point is that they were physically correct but obviously not in the way you or Doc would think. I'm sure if they had to do it all over again they wouldn't change a thing and rightfully so. Louis Armstrong played like 4 to 5 shows a night in his heyday. You would have to admit that at some point he used some pressure after fatigue inevitably sat in.

[dwerden]

@steevojackass Yes, but even with great air, you still need a good head on your shoulders to help you develop a great sense of phrasing. Doc combines AIR with GREAT PHRASING, and it is a very effective combination. When I hear him play things like his nice tasty middle chorus on the theme from Black Orpheus ("High, Wide, & Wonderful" album), I can just relax and float along with him. Great stuff.

[dwartyclone]

Respond to this video... If a person wanted to emulate the trumpet stylings of Miles and Diz they would have to have the technique of a virtuoso because that's what they were. If you don't believe me just ask Brad Goode who is the trumpet professor at CU-Boulder.

[dwartyclone]

@steevojackass Somehow you've manage to contradict yourself and make my point. Doc even mentions himself that his way is not the only way to approach trumpet playing. We all have different oral cavities,facial structures,physiques,lip sizes that will effect what type of embouchure and sound one will have. Miles and Diz transcended the technical aspect of trumpet playing,making the tangible seem intangible.

[dwartyclone]

@steevojackass My point was to enlighten folk like yourself,but you obviously missed my point. You need to understand that there is no one way to play the trumpet. My objective was not to make comparisons here. I'm sure Clark Terry would disagree with Doc's "lousy embouchure" statement. Mies and Diz,with there "lousy"embouchures,have had more influenced on the jazz genre and jazz trumpeters than anyone this side of the millennium.

[dwartyclone]

Great clinic from the great Doc Severinsen! I would have to disagree about Miles and Dizzy having lousy embrochures though. You don't get accepted to the Julliard school of music with a bad set-up and Dizzy didn't always play with puffed cheeks. It was his way of achieving a certain effect on the instrument including circular breathing. Miles had one of the most warm,poignant,round and personal sounds you ever wanted to hear on the trumpet in my humble opinion. Great post by the way!