Denis Wick once said, "Eventually, when you're talking about playing. you've got to do something with bits of metal because the human body can't do everything." One of the things that most elevates Denis Wicks mouthpieces, or "Bits of Metal" as Denis refers to them, was his understanding of the human body and how it works together with the instrument to make music. Through the lens of a virtuoso trombone player and professor, this simple advice and instruction is universal for every instrument.

When you search for a mouthpiece, what measurements do you look toward to make sure you will find the perfect fit? Our suggestion is to always start with diameter. The 4 dimensions you will see on nearly every mouthpiece manufacturer’s website include diameter, rim width, throat, and backbore. Each of these physical measurements will give you an idea about what level of comfort and support the mouthpiece will offer your individual needs. You’re missing one, though...

Navigating your child’s band/orchestra experience as a parent can be challenging – as a parent of two music students, I can personally attest to this! Many of us may have memories of our own band experiences, and some – like myself – are musicians/teachers who have very specific thoughts on how music students should work. The following are some thoughts on what you should expect from your student’s practice sessions from my experience as an educator and a parent.

Hi, my name is Kate Amrine and I am a professional trumpet player and educator. I also love to cook and eat new foods. One of my favorite aspects of traveling to a new place is exploring the food scene. I discovered a cooking series on YouTube where a food scientist has three chefs of different levels (amateur, home cook, and expert) make the same dish yet in their own ways given their skillset and then it is evaluated afterwards.

Hi, my name is Kate Amrine and I am a professional trumpet player and educator. I also love to cook and eat new foods. One of my favorite aspects of traveling to a new place is exploring the food scene. I discovered a cooking series on Youtube where a food scientist has three chefs of different levels (amateur, home cook, and expert) make the same dish yet in their own ways given their skillset and then it is evaluated afterwards.

Although you might still be considered a beginner, you are actually gaining a lot of knowledge in the first 3-4 months. You've learned how to produce sounds consistently and are getting the hang of scales and rhythm, which means you’re starting to play some songs. You’re also figuring out how to deal with sticky valves, slow slides, discovering the importance of the spit valve, and some of you may have already experienced getting your mouthpiece stuck at least once. While you’re not professionals yet, you’ve reached a stage where it might be time to start considering your first accessory upgrades.

As a professional musician, there is no shortage of things to practice. We have scales, flexibility, sound production, range, articulation, technique, extended technique, etudes, excerpts, solo repertoire, improvisation, ii-V-Is, and on, and on, and on! Sometimes this list can feel overwhelming and like there is never enough time to get everything done.

Unfortunately, I must add one more thing to the list – possibly one of the most important, but often overlooked elements of music: Intonation.

In our many years of service to brass communities around the world, these  might be the 3 most significant questions that are posed by players young and old. You probably have asked these questions yourself, and the answers are waiting for you here.

One is a brass instrument, one is a string instrument. Both are pretty rock-and-roll, but that is not the similarity we are talking about. Think sound production and you are getting close. Watch this Denis Wick Quick Clinic with DW artist Chris O'Hara and gain a new understanding about your trumpet and your mouthpiece too!

With horn players, what we put in the bell is very important. It starts at the very beginning with how to hold the instrument. The right hand position can make or break things like tuning, tone quality, projection, how easily the instrument plays, and even the range.

While muted passages become more common as players advance, the need for a mute in band or orchestra can happen after only a couple years. As with the position of the hand, the mute choice makes all the difference in how the horn plays.