Which is worse: Over Conducting or Under Conducting.

All musicians have been here.

Each conductor brings his or her own unique style to the music. But the main problems that conductors give musicians are the way that they bring you in or keep the beat.

So is it worse being given too much information or too little.

To …

Trumpet Gadgets... No!

Do you struggle with aspects of playing the trumpet?

That new piece of kit not solving your problems no matter how much money you spend and how the fat guy in the local music shop swears by it??

There is a simple solution to your problem that will save your money and …

Double Flats and Double Sharps... Why?

I don't know if I'm the only musician who suffers from this (please leave comments and let me know) but when I'm reading music and someone throws in one of these double monsters my brain slows like a PC trying to open 2 applications at once... well ... an …

Trumpet Technique (No.1)

Trumpet Technique (No.1)

Hold the instrument up!!!!

Why do so many trumpet players lack the ability to hold the damn thing properly!!!

The answer; young trumpeters are taught by non-specialised teachers such as trombonists and French horn players.

This is a subject that …

ME and GR

In 2004 I was picked out from my lead chair at one of the conservatoires Big Bands by Eddie Severn and asked if I'd be interested in some private lessons. This transpired to be one of my most valuable experiences that I had at college.

Eddie played a GR mouthpiece that …

My Favourite Year (Last Night @ LIPA -That's All Folks!)

That's it then. We did our final show last night to a sold out Paul McCartney Auditorium.

It's a shame there were only 3 performances, but that's the way things go.

It's been a great couple of weeks being involved with the guys from LIPA and I've made some great …

My Favourite Year (2nd Night @ LIPA)

One more to go.

It's been a fun show and it's a shame that there are only 3 performances!!

I've managed to meet some great contacts and feel I've made a bit of an impact at LIPA with some great comments from Matt Baker and Graham Hubbard.

In fact in his notes from the …

My Favourite Year (1st Night @ LIPA & The Morning After)

1st Night

Well after a shakey dress rehearsal prior to the show (on the technical side) last night's performance went pretty well.

The audience responded well and the word in the bar after was it was really enjoyed.

Again, if you're in the Liverpool area check out My …

My Phone's Coming Home

I have had a mobile phone for nearly half of my life now and I've been through a fair few.

As of a couple of years ago I started getting quite nice phones since I've been using it more and more. However over a year I've managed to get the worst and best phones I've …

Thoughts of a Beginner Trumpet

I have a couple of days of teaching in a private school in south Birmingham with some of the nicest primary school kids you can imagine.

I have 15 trumpet students ranging from 7 year olds starting out to my top student who is to take his grade 8 next year at the age of …

EuroBusk 07

What is EuroBusk 07 you may ask???

Well before I left for college I played in a brass quartet with 3 other friends who I grew up with in Derby and despite taking different paths and being scattered around the country we get together to busk and gig in Derby the week …

The Idiots Guide to a Damage Free Instrument

I usually get comments about packing up my trumpet (e.g. after the sound check) and taking it with me when we grab a drink or a bite to eat.

The simple explanation for this is that by doing so my trumpet won't get kicked over by some bumbling fool walking past to check …

My Favourite Year (Rehearsals @ LIPA)

My Favourite Year is part of LIPA's public show season which is put on by their final year acting students and supported by students on the music, management and sound technology courses but to name a few.

The show will no doubt be a great success under the direction …

New Origins - Live at LIPA

Neil Yates played at LIPA yesterday with his group New Origins.

New Origins is made up of Neil Yates (trumpet/ flugelhorn/low whistles and vocal) Stuart McCallum (guitar), Les Chisnall (piano), Gavin Barras (double bass) Rob Turner (drums/ percussion and vocal) Martin …

X Factor Fact or Fiction?!

My Experience of the X-Factor has always been catching the odd show at the "Audition Stages" and laughing as mouthy chavs with no talent get told they can't sing. We all love it.

And then once they've selected the ones that they can give lessons to and who can make an …

Standard Strad

I went to the Birmingham Conservatoire playing on my Callichio Trumpet this was not only a great trumpet that suited the way I played but was another characteristic that set me apart from the other players, who all played, you guessed it!!! Bach Strad's.

After a year of …

Matt's Opening Blog

So you might ask what a young professional trumpet player at the start of his career would write in his first blog?

Well to find out just read on.

As you might have gathered from my site so far I am Matt Roberts - and not that fitness and vitamin supplement bloke who's …

Matt's Opening Blog

So you might ask what a young professional trumpet player at the start of his career would write in his first blog?

Well to find out just read on.

As you might have gathered from my site so far I am Matt Roberts - and not that fitness and vitamin supplement bloke who's …