Flexus: Trumpet Calisthenics for the Modern Improvisor

Just received the book heard so much about the book can't wait to get my head into it.

I've had this book for a little while now and I don't know why I hesitated to start with this book first of other trumpet books I purchased. I started using this book this April and I don't know what to say about this book. Amazing! I have been working on "anchored tonguing" or TCE (tongue controlled embouchure) - better called "spit buzzing" for over a year now and have been struggling with endurance. This book hit the jackpot! I am back to working on Theo Charlier #1 and other pieces that are a challenge to endurance and range. I've started practicing everyday for 3 hours split into 1 hour sessions since Jan '16. I work on calesthenics, articulations by Edwin Goldman (single tonguing 16ths at 120bpm or better-cleanly) and tongue level exercises in the morning; afternoon, long tones and scales and intervals, and technique exercise; evening etudes and exerts from various pieces of work.I also must say, since switching to TCE, as used by Claude Gordon, Hebert Clarke and others, after being pointed in the right direction but other musicians, I am playing better than I was in college with less effort. This is also the first time that I have picked up my trumpet and played it consistently for over a year in almost 20 years. It has been pain staking starting out. I had to be consistent in fundamentals. It also helped that I knew what to work on for technique.Last, another book to get that this book is based off of is the Carmine Caruso - Musical Calistenics for Trumpet.

Altamente recomendado. Muy buenos ejercicios

After a 30 year break from the trumpet I began practicing again the way I learned until I found this book. The exercises in this book have helped my trumpet playing more than anything I have ever practiced. If you follow the instructions and practice daily you will see great improvement in intonation, range, flexibility, and endurance. What I like is the book has a nice progression into more difficult playing. The exercises can become a little boring but quick improvement in my playing kept me motivated. The payoff is big if you stick with it. I highly recommend this book for all levels of players.

The success of this book is in direct proportion to ones determination to become a better player.For students of all ages and all levels of expertise it's a tool, a work out book, which requires daily,steady practice following the schedule laid out in the book. For me, this book is much more satisfying than other Carmine Caruso-ish books to which this is related. Used as part of a daily routine this book is invaluable. There are also exercises which will help repair ones"chops" if you have had a hard blow which made your chops feel like two pieces of dead meat. The basis of trumpet playing is stamina, good muscle tone .From that come 1. beauty of tone 2. accuracy of pitch, the two pillars of all great music making without which there can be no success. This is not a "stand alone" book. It should be used in conjunction with the many "finger food" books available which develop technical skills. For the serious student of any age if you have the patience this book requires you will be a better player. "You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence is not an event- it is a habit" ...AristotleIf trumpet is important to you then a copy of this book should be on your music stand.

Nice update of Caruso method. Different exercises than other method books I've worked out of. I like the text explaining the exercises along with the included CD. I've only worked out of the book a couple weeks. I believe it will help me pull the horn away form the chops when playing and hopefully increase my endurance by not overworking what doesn't need to be working. These guys have a good approach to playing. I like the lip trill exercise. It took me four years to develop a decent lip trill. Never thought about increasing and decreasing the dynamics when playing them until this book. I like the slur-tongue exercises to develop the right tonguing approach. I like the emphasis on air stream. I like them stating this is an additional compliment to your daily drills. Not the only workout. Several good things to be gained by purchasing this book. IMHO Good Luck !

I purchased this book on the advice of a fellow local trumpet player. It's only been two weeks of working through the exercises in the book - and several days were gig days so I did not practice this material - but I already feel like I can sense a difference in my flexibility, endurance, and tone production. The material in Flexus is quite advanced and I would highly, highly recommend following the practice instructions in the beginning and before each set of exercises. It could be real easy to overdo some of these exercises or attempt exercises that are not yet possible and create some bad habits, or worse, do some real damage . I think the best results will come from careful, intelligent practice. My plan is to spend about 45-60 minutes a day on Flexus material and use the rest of my practice time on other things - namely music not exercises. I have already found that trumpet playing has gotten a tiny bit easier. I'm hoping that this trend will continue as I progress with the Flexus material. I would highly recommend this book for those who are looking to make trumpet playing less of an obstacle so that musical expression can become easier and more natural.

Laurie Frink = Genius! she was the in-demand tutor for helping NYC trumpet players with their chops and a great person.I use this book as a trombonist and have noticed the difference!

Flexus is an interesting book, and contains a huge amount of excellent technical and calisthenic studies, alongside a unique approach to playing from a holistic perspective. Really great exercises, that have stretched my playing ability.

Brilliant book with a broad range of daily exercises.

Wide range of exercises, probably the best book on basic technique on the market