A Traditional Bullfighting Song
La Virgen de la Macarena is a traditional bullfighting song made famous by the great trumpet virtuoso Rafael Méndez. Many wonderful players have recorded this standard trumpet solo including Doc Severinson, Vincent di Martino, and members of The Canadian Brass Quintet.
A Solo for Advanced Players
La Virgen de la Macarena is an advanced solo. I don’t recommend that beginners try to play it. To start, I suggest listening to as many different recordings as possible in order to get ideas for how to execute a convincing version later when you are ready. There are many inspiring recordings of La Virgen de la Macarena available for review. Watch each video below and compare. What makes each artist’s interpretation unique? What is common among all of the recordings?
Speed After Accuracy
Take the time to practice the runs slowly, with both rhythmic and harmonic accuracy. This is so much more important than speed. Remember that speed always comes after accuracy. Make sure that you own a good metronome in order to keep from rushing! Increase the tempo slowly, by just a few clicks at a time just once a week or so. Notate the tempo and track your progress in the margin with a pencil.
Include Mouthpiece Buzzing in Your Practice Routine
Along with exploring various recordings, I recommend a daily routine that includes mouthpiece buzzing. Mouthpiece buzzing is a great way to improve efficiency, leading to increased endurance and range. Use as little pressure as possible by holding the mouthpiece at the very end of the shank using the thumb and forefinger.
Record Yourself
Recording gives musicians a way to benchmark improvements and make adjustments. I’ve recorded a short clip from Le Virgen de la Macarena and posted it below. Leave a comment and let me now what you think!