In this excerpt from his online classical trumpet lessons, David Bilger analyzes the signature phrase from "Pictures at an Exhibition".

The difference between good technique and great technique when it comes to requisite orchestral excerpts for auditions or competitions, can be a fine line.

Here, Bilger discusses a technique for developing lyrical phrasing through the essential two measures. Though slurring is not the way to attack these measures, a great trick for developing seamless transitions is to practice the phrase slurred.  Then to apply the normal tonguing to the notes.

The exercise is designed  to encourage the same direction of air through the notes when they’re tongued as when they’re slurred.  

The notes should stay open on the end without closing of the sound, or compression. There should be no ending of a note before the next note, even though there is a tiny bit of space between them.

These are the kinds of details judges look for in trumpet auditions.  As Principal Trumpet for the Philadelphia Orchestra, David Bilger judges many auditions and has a keen understanding of what is required at the highest levels.

There are additional free sample lessons from David Bilger’s Online Classical Trumpet School here.