Book: Saint: Jacome Grand Method Author: Louis A. Saint-Jacome Publisher: Carl Fischer No. Pages: 350+ Purchased: http://www.claudegordonmusic.com/products.htm

Description: (carlfischer.com description)

First published in 1870, the Grand Method by Louis A. Saint-Jacome (1830-1898) is one of the two pillars of modern trumpet pedagogy. Along with Arban's Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet (O21), the Grand Method has provided trumpet students and players with the necessary tools for mastery of the instrument for generations. Cleaned up, corrected and restored to its original completeness by Claude Gordon shortly before his death in 1996, this new edition is a gold mine of exercises and instructional information (now including the Duets and Studies by Saint-Jacome and Bousquet as edited by Edwin Franko Goldman). This Grand Method is an instructional method that belongs in every trumpet player's library.

My Opinion:

The Grand Method Saint-Jacome is a huge 350+ page huge complete trumpet method. The new version has been revised by Claude Gordon. It covers everything from the very basic things like reading music to multiple tonguing and other many including celebrated cornet duets, 12 grand artistic studies, and 36 celebrated studies. The book is a little more deep then Arban's and is almost like the next step.

I don't usually use this book too much due to the fact that I am more use to using my Arban's, but I do use it. What I like about this book is the 18 preludes because they are just at the right level for me. I like the book because it has lessons so whenever I have a student over I can pull out the book and use some of those lessons. I personally think it does a better job then Arban's when it comes to starting with the very basics of trumpet playing.

I like the book. It is put very well and it gets really into specifics. I like the fact that it gets right into the basics of music and it works it's way up into reading complicated trumpet solos and different studies. It's a great instructional method. I don't really think that the book is a must have, specially if you already have Arban's, but it wouldn't hurt to have Saint Jacome in your collection of books. If you're really into trumpet and just want more challenges and if you're looking for something to challenge just as much as Arban then you should get this book. It doesn't really matter what your skill level is because like I said this book really truly starts from the beginning and basics.

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