Book cover of 'New Orleans Trumpet' by Jim Thornton, with a gold trumpet illustration on a teal decorative background

New Orleans Trumpet: A Down-Home Conservatory Method

By Jim Thornton

New Orleans Trumpet: A Down Home Conservatory Method offers an insider’s view of what you need to know in order to play New Orleans-style trumpet. Along with details about living the good life in the Crescent City, this book presents often-elusive music theory concepts in an easy-to-understand, enjoyable manner.

This method: 

  • Provides a personal explanation of all the building blocks necessary to play New Orleans-style jazz trumpet, from a working jazz musician in NOLA.

  • Provides correct chord charts for essential trad jazz songs, to be used in conjunction with the iRealPro play-along app.

  • Gives a local’s perspective on the Big Easy’s history, culture, food, and customs and how these all relate to jazz. A most enjoyable read!

  • Does not contain endless technical exercises, it teaches how music works, so you can start to create your own!

Spiral-bound, 110 pages, Table of Contents.

Sample Pages:

Sample Audio Track: Bourbon Street Parade

Endorsements:

“This book is an indispensable guide to nearly everything a trumpet (or cornet) player needs to know about playing traditional jazz. It's taken me a lifetime to learn much of the material in Mr. Thornton's book – which is a treasure trove of information covering everything from the basics of playing the trumpet, to the theory of traditional jazz, to how to lead a band. This is required reading for anyone interested in playing traditional jazz. I could've used the book 50 years ago when I started playing!”
— Chris Tyle, jazz educator, early jazz expert, and trumpet/cornet player who's recorded 50+ New Orleans style jazz albums

“An excellent book, which deserves to be read cover to cover by any trumpet player, amateur or professional, wishing to learn about New Orleans trumpet. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in a valuable insight into the world of the New Orleans trumpet player.” 
— Peter Rudeforth, trumpet player with the legendary Chris Barber Band

Format: Print
$26.00
All Books Spiral-Bound to Lay Flat on Any Music Stand
Instant Digital Downloads
Primary Instrument: Trumpet
Primary Instrument: Trumpet

“I have looked at the book and think it is wonderful. You simplify and present many unspoken and overlooked facets of New Orleans trumpet playing. You are creating an approach for building music vocabulary, not only theoretically but also by valued life experiences. I wish you the greatest success!”
— Kevin Ray Clark, Dukes of Dixieland trumpeter and bandleader

“For fans of the music of New Orleans and the History and 'Mechanics' of American Music in general (which hopefully means YOU!), this book is interesting and quite different in approach. There's something in here for beginners, intermediates, and pros alike.”
— Randy Brecker, world-class recording artist

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