Frink/McNeil: FLEXUS FLEXUS:
Trumpet Calesthenics for the Modern Improvisor

 
by Laurie Frink & John McNeil

The first book to deal with
the unique physical demands
of improvising on the trumpet.

As every trumpet player knows, playing an extended solo often results in playing the trumpet less correctly as the solo goes on. Flexus addresses this problem with new and progressively challenging routines and ten specially written études!

To improvise effectively, the physical act of playing needs to be a conditioned reflex.  Freedom of expression is only possible when the physical demands of playing are under control.  To this end, Flexus asks the student to momentarily put aside the study of music itself and instead practice the musical movements involved in playing the instrument.

     Buy now at the OmniTone store     

What jazz trumpeter Ray Vega recently wrote us (and said in a Down Beat interview):

Flexus is the most important trumpet method book of the new millenium. It stands with Arban, Clarke, Schlossberg, Stamp and Caruso as standard material for any serious student of the trumpet. Thanks to Laurie and John for creating the new standard. By the way, this book has totally changed my playing for the better!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Preliminary studies   Pedal tones
  Flexibility   Quick register changes
    1 -  Basic flexibilities     1 -  Consistent intervals
    2 -  Flexando     2 -  Spiders
    3 -  Advanced flexibilities       Étude 6
    4 -  Interval studies     3 -  Chromatic displacement
      Études 1-3     4 -  Target practice
  Articulation     5 -  Octave displacement
    1 -  Slurring/tonguing       Études 7-10
      Étude 4        
    2 -  Developed scale     Plus a special bonus CD with the authors talking about and playing examples from the book!
    3 -  Arpeggios/direction changes    
      Étude 5    
©2008 OmniTone LLC