TPTV - Dennis Bubert

Forth Worth Symphony bass trombonist, Dennis Bubert, recalls his studies with Arnold Jacobs, which was preceded by lessons with Ed Kleinhammer. Kleinhammer recommended that Bubert seek out lessons with Jacobs. Bubert had a “colorful” initial meeting with Jacobs. Fairly quickly Jacobs zeroed in on Bubert’s breathing and challenged his knowledge about the subject. Once the dust settled, and Bubert was invited to begin playing again he was shocked at how much better he sounded. Bubert was in a daze and bewildered following that initial lesson with what he had just learned. He ended up at a Michigan Avenue McDonald’s wherein he used countless napkins on which he wrote down what he had just experienced. Jacobs actually having limited use of two lungs (not one lung) was discussed. Bubert described how good Jacobs was at getting students to give up approaching the horn with pseudo-function and move toward an honest way of interfacing with the instrument. Training the brain is key to this. One can sound good using a pseudo-function approach until the aging process catches up with them. Use of imagination. The trombone in the hands should be a mirror image of the trombone in the mind. Jacobs was very interested spending time imagining great quality with the instrument in the mind and then applying that to the instrument in the hands. Recounting an oft-used Jacobs technique – “Can you hear Bud playing Pictures? Play it like Bud!” Bubert was initially referred to Jacobs by Kleinhammer because of Bubert’s isometric approach while playing. Jacobs worked to get Bubert to increase the airflow at the lips and (thereby) decrease the air pressure in the mouth. Jacobs demonstrated in the high register for Bubert on his trombone and encouraged him to palpate Jacobs’s abdominal region in order to sense the relaxed state (rather than a tight gut). Mouthpiece buzzing. A big buzzing benefit is connecting the brain with the chops. The switch of “wind and song” TO “song and wind”. We are in an art form and therefore in the business of communicating with others. We should be product oriented rather than physically oriented. Jacobs worked on slide technique one time with Bubert in a non-physical way. In his initial lesson, Jacobs was able to get Bubert to become less analytical in the moment, and more music product oriented. Discussion of physical-focused pedagogy. We need to use the creative powers of the brain much more. When we do things become much more successful and easier. Discussion of similarities between Kleinhammer, Jacobs, and Emory Remington within the topic of relaxation.