I may have just a little bit of knowledge in this area, as both a singer and a trumpet player...

Sight-reading as a singer is, if you can sing at all, MUCH EASIER than playing because you are not combining your "analytical" brain with your "mechanical" brain.

I've always been a pretty good sight-reader because of my extensive singing background. However, since I don't play anywhere near everyday, plus even when I do practice, I rarely practice sight-reading, so falling back on my vocal training is a God-send.

If you are having ANY issues sight-reading a passage, just lay your horn in your lap, and direct the passage (I absolutely agree with the above poster) with your hand as you sing the rhythm. Even if you can't sing well, you can definitely work out rhythms with your voice, and often intervals as well. AND, if you can hear it in your head FIRST, you will never miss that interval again.

I subconsciously find myself conducting myself ANYTIME I have rhythm issues. Of course, I am a working conductor, so I am very comfortable with that role, but still -- give it a whirl. Conducting yourself really is a help.

I NEVER have received even one positive comment about my technique. It is non-existent. However, I often get nice comments about my lyrical trumpet and flugelhorn playing -- it's the "singer" in me.

I was listening to Maynard's "Tenderly" from the Lost Tapes CD today. Seriously, as great as some other players are, they will NEVER mimic Mr. Ferguson's ability to SING in the upper register. It is just amazing playing -- and that f'king Double C at the end. I mean, there possibly hasn't ever been a better recorded Double C in the history of trumpet playing, and it came AFTER playing the whole damn song, LIVE, and not the first song of the set either.

He is totally-unmatched. People who actually can come CLOSE to playing that way, like Waynard and Eric M., totally-understand his incomparable talent. Others, who mistakenly THINK they can play that way, actually choose to record "Tenderly." What a damn mistake that is to your highnote playing career...

JP