Book: Characteristic Studies for the Cornet Author: Herbert L. Clarke Publisher: Carl Fischer No. Pages: 64 Purchashed @: http://www.claudegordonmusic.com/products.htm

Description:

A book with instructions on how to toungue and multiple toungue. The book offers 24 different characteristic studies and in all different types of keys. To further challenge the players skills the book offers various different trumpet solos including the Herbert L. Clarke arrangement of "Carnival of Venice" witch was also played by Doc Severinson.

My Opinion:

Herbert L. Clarke's Characteristic Studies is pretty much all notes and a little text in the beginning. For the first 5 pages he introduces the book and then remarks on toungueing. He then moves on to explain single toungeing followed by a group of exercises and then the same applies for when he is explaining double and triple toungueing. After explaining all the basics he starts the book off with 24 different characteristic studies in all the different keys, major and minor. After the characteristic studies he leaves the student with a group of well known trumpet solos.

I personally have not use this book too much because to tell you the truth when I bought it I looked at it and became afraid. But with the right practice the book isn't really that hard. I am going to start working on this book from know on. The exercises aren't really as hard as they look. If you really take the time to break them apart and learn them with patience you will accomplish the goal of playing the studies. I think this definitely help the technical abilities and help your self esteem.

Although I haven't used the book I like it because of the fact that it provides something challenging and it has something in all the different keys witch is a plus for learning to play things in different keys. To conclude this I would not recommend this book to a beginner. I would only recommend it to serious players that are looking for a challenge and that are looking into going to the next level.

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