Introduction

Trumpet players often face a challenge: traditional practice routines (long tones, scales, etudes) can feel sterile—until you plug in and play the blues. Michael Droste’s Play the Blues! CD is a trumpet play-along, instructional backing-track experience that injects emotion, groove, and improvisation into practice. With six stylistically varied tracks, built-in lesson examples, and immersive 12-bar arrangements, this resource is an essential bridge between technique and musical voice.

Hosted under the My Books/CDs section of your store, the CD complements offerings such as The Ultimate Warm-Up, Technical Study, and Wedding Book—creating a holistic practice ecosystem for jazz, blues, and expressive trumpet styles.


Why Play the Blues! Matters for Trumpet Players

Breaking Free from Mechanical Practice

Long tones and closure studies build control, but few prepare you for musical expression. Play the Blues! offers real-time, stylistic backing tracks—Rock Blues, Chicago Blues, Calypso Stix, Rhodes Shuffle, and more—each delivered in 12-bar format so you can practice tone, phrasing, creativity, and endurance while staying engaged.

Real-World Skill Building

Each track uses 12 choruses in the key of Bb concert (ideal for Bb trumpet). You’re encouraged to mimic crafted licks, then improvise your own lines. As Droste explains, practice becomes about feel and context—not rote repetition. Expect choruses to focus on arpeggio targeting, rhythmic phrasing, and thoughtful rests to build musical tension and resolution.

Teacher-Friendly & Repertoire Ready

Educators can leverage this CD for group or private teaching—warm-ups with ensemble feel, improvisation training, and tonal development—all built into a single resource. It’s a tool for both student growth and performance rehearsal.


Inside the CD: What You Get and Why You’ll Use It

Six Distinct Styles

Each track presents a unique flavor: Classic Blues for soulful expression, Chicago Blues for punchy brass energy, Calypso Stix for rhythmic exploration, Rhodes Shuffle for smooth groove, Gritty Slide for growl and edge, and Rock Blues for endurance and projection.

Built-in Educational Examples

Michael includes three solo examples in the CD booklet. Example 1 outlines melodic arpeggios across chord changes; Example 2 focuses on lyrical movement through chord tone runs; Example 3 emphasizes rhythmic phrasing with space and repetition. These become springboards for your own solos and improvisational style.

Backing Tracks Designed for Growth

Instead of overwhelming you with 40-minute jams, each track offers 12 manageable choruses, allowing players to warm up, solo, rest, and iterate across forms. Each chorus builds endurance, control, and musical vocabulary while keeping focus sharp.


Technical and Musical Progression

Start your session with your Ultimate Warm-Up routines for breath, long tones, lip-buzzing, and flexibility. Then move into this CD—where those technical gains meet expressive playing. Apply tonguing syllables from your Tonguing Techniques guide and phrasing awareness from your Skill Building lessons.


Lesson Integration and Coaching

Offer the CD as a recommended resource in your Private Lesson listings. Include a prompt: “Want fast feedback on your blues phrasing? Bring your recorded solos from Play the Blues! to your lesson and I’ll help you refine rhythm, timing, and style.”


Benefits Across Learning Levels
• Beginner players: Learn blues structure and scales through simple soloing. Gain confidence improvising within form.
• Intermediate players: Focus on rhythmic variation, ear training, and phrasing.
• Advanced players: Use the CD for high-register endurance, stylistic nuance, and expressive solo voice.
• Teachers: Assign specific choruses for lesson goals—tone, articulation, stylistic phrasing, rhythmic discipline.


Real Results: Why Players Love It

Players consistently report that Play the Blues! refocuses their practice from repetition to musicality. Live performance often becomes more confident; improvisation feels less mechanical. That’s because the CD encourages active creation—not just execution. It invites players to craft their own lines, not just copy others, fostering a lasting sense of ownership over musical expression.


Final Perspective: Why This CD Belongs in Every Trumpet Player’s Practice Setup

This isn’t about replacing technical drills—it’s about bringing them to life. Play the Blues! adds structure, ear training, and stylistic nuance to practice. When players use it regularly, they don’t just improve—they begin to speak musical language through their instrument.

For students drawn to expression over mechanics, and for veterans seeking a routine that challenges both fingers and soul, this CD is a transformative resource.