Tip From The Top

By Don Lusher

Former BTS President, Don Lusher, made his name with the Ted Heath Band, appearing with them at Carnegie Hall and on many coast to coast tours of the USA. As a much sought after studio musician he has worked with Henry Mancini, Robert Famon, Ronnie Haziehurst and Michel Legrand among others, and has toured on many occasions with Frank Sinatra. As a soloist he appears with Brass Bands, Wind Bands, Jazz Groups and Big Bands. He fronts his own band, the Don Lusher Big Band, also the re-formed Ted Heath Band.

Don has premiered several important works: Rhapsody for Trombone by Gordon Langford (1975) and Dance Sequence by Gareth Wood (1980), both at the Royal Albert Hall; Gordon Carr's Concerto for Trombone at the Queen Elizabeth hall (1980); and Concertino for Trombone, Strings and Percussion by Scott Stroman, at Lichfield Cathedral.

Having topped many musical polls, he was voted BBC Jazz Society Musician of the year in 1976 and was nominated in 1986 for the Wavendon All Music Special Award. In 1987 he was awarded The Gold Badge of Merit for Services to British Music by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

He is a professor at the Royal College of Music, teaching the college Big Band, and in 1992 was made an Honorary Member of the RCM by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. In February 1993 he was made a Freeman of the City of London.

Many times people have said to me: "How much practice do you do, what do you do, and when do you do it?"

Well, the first thing is that I do it whenever I can; secondly, I try to be an all-round player, so my practice must cover a lot of departments. Therefore I think that balance is the thing to aim for.

No matter how much time I have, I try and keep to this routine. I start off with a little warm up, a few gentle slurs, no force, followed by some simple tonguing, single at first, both legato and staccato, then on to double, triple and doodle tonguing. I then move on to some flexibility studies trying to cover the full range of my playing.

By this time I have had a couple of breaks. I think it's better to pace yourself - no point in having bruised chops when you don't need to.

At this point I play some scales, all types and various articulations.

I have to say that some of this playing has been from study books and other parts I play from memory or make up myself.

Maybe now I will play a hymn tune. I use three keys so as to play in the middle, upper and lower range, using no vibrato and then some vibrato. I also use different dynamics.

Another rest, and then a couple of studies from a book as I like to practice my reading. And so on to some jazz, some from a chord book and then play along with a tape etc. Then I play a ballad; I try and play it as if for a 'red-light' situation, both muted and open.

I have to spend some time on repertoire or new pieces for the future. During all of this I pay attention to breathing, tonguing and intonation.

I like to listen to and watch the great trombone players around these days. I hope you enjoy playing and making music as much as I do.

Sincerely, Don Lusher.

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