Selected Duets For Trumpet Podcast

Selected Duets for Trumpet, Page 4 Number 4, March in G, performed by David Summer. This "march" is similar to the first duet in the book and features many "staccato", or "detached" passages. The student should note the dynamic contrasts that set off the different sections of this piece from one another. The first repeat is omitted but the Da Capo is taken. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 108.

Selected Duets for Trumpet, Page 4 Number 3, Canon, performed by David Summer. A musical "cannon" is an imitation of sorts. Here, the first trumpet part begins with the melody and the second trumpet part imitates that melody a measure later. This "delay" in the second trumpet part sometimes proves a challenge for students to keep their place in the piece. This is a good duet to have the student and teacher switch parts, with the student taking the second trumpet part, after they have played through the duet twice. Since this trumpet duet is particularly short, the entire duet is repeated. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 100.

Selected Duets for Trumpet, Page 3 Number 2, Petite Waltz, performed by David Summer. This "little waltz" by Korda, is a pretty piece and provides a good opportunity for the teacher to explain just what a waltz is to the student. In performance, it's important to keep this duet moving. It should be played in a flowing style, like most waltzes, with a light attack, particularly in the middle section. There are no repeats in this performance and the metronome setting is quarter note = 116.

Selected Duets for Trumpet, Page 2 Number 1, March Time, performed by David Summer. This first duet in the Selected Duets for Trumpet book, Volume 1, is from Nine Duets by the composer Viktor Korda. The tempo is indicated as "March Time". Like most tempo markings, this one is open to interpretation. I like to interpret it to mean "fairly brisk, but not too fast". This march, like many marches, features a trio section. This is simply the third section of a march. However, unlike most other marches, this trio section does not change key. This may not the best duet in the book to start a student with. Some of the rhythmic figures, particularly the 8th followed by two 16ths can be a stumbling block for a first, or possibly even a second year student. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 96.