I was fortunate to play in a few trumpet sections with Eric at Berklee in 1983. He was as sweet and kind then as he appears on this video. He is a natural teacher and helped me improve my music reading. He had a powerful presence and was wise beyond his years, even though he was only 20yo then.

This guy is amazing. He was lead trumpet in the "McDonald's High School ALL-AMERICAN Band" the year I played in it. McDonald's corp use to sponsor the band of 2 HS students from each state. It was very competitive, and it was an extremely high level ensemble. We performed in Carnegie Hall. Eric Played he Hell out of the Jazz Band Lead Trumpet book!!! AND he was a VERY nice guy too. If you read these comments Eric....Hi, this is Joe the Principal French Horn player from Miami, FL. I am now a Yamaha Artist as well! Great to hear this awesome interview! You're still "The Man!" All the best my friend!

Eric is the complete package deal. He has a fantastic warm, fat sound whether he's playing low and midrange or off in the stratosphere. His jazz chops are magnificent -- listen to some of the runs he does in his solos --- it's just so delicious to listen to - and as an arranger, he is top shelf. How can someone be so humble? His contemporary horn players also love him.

I just started playing the trumpet at age 41 and I cannot believe it took me so long to discover how great of an instrument it actually is for me. I loved to sing before I started playing, but somehow, playing the trumpet opened up my vocal range and I can now sing harmony, simply by training by ear on the trumpet. I am worried about my lips. Already I feel the inside of my lips getting raw from the pressure of the mouthpiece. Listening to Eric Miyashiro talk about his progression into music is so much like me, and his way of doing things, his approach is how I approach music too, like your friend and teacher. Glad I found this interview!

I love the fact that he wasn't afraid to admit his mistakes and the way he approached them. Cool, dude!

I had the good fortune to stand six feet away from Eric while he rehearsed Maynard's version of MacArthur Park. He navigated the entire chart beautifully, and when he played that famous bridge-wow. The few times I've chatted with him, Eric's been incredibly nice and just plain cool. Phenomenal player, good guy.

Eric sounds to me like a very kind, soft spoken man. I'm very impressed!

A real good interview. It was great to hear Eric’s story and opinions on the trumpet. The interviewer was great because he let Eric talk a lot.

What a wonderful interview! Eric you're far too modest! If you had problems playing lead for Buddy, I've yet to hear a clip showing that on all the KZfaq videos that feature you on his band or any others for that matter. When I played lead trumpet on Buddy's band in 1984, at the end of our first tour I developed a major cut on my upper lip. Buddy told me, "Kid, put some Nu-Skin on it! " I looked at him like he was crazy, as it had just come out and I'd never hear of it. I discovered it's very much like SuperGlue!™ Idiot that I was, I went to the nearest drug store, bought it and put it right on the cut just before going onstage. Though it did hold the skin together like cement, it was so brittle, I couldn't get a sound from the horn, because it wouldn't allow my lip to vibrate! I thus had to pull it off, making the cut worse than before, but I somehow tried to play with less pressure and more efficient breath control and somehow God got me through it, until the end of that tour which was only a few days away! I learned to play smarter and let my wonderful 2nd trumpet player Dana Watson do the heavy lifting, though I never laid out of any unisons, just dropped the volume to influence but let him lead those sections, so that I could play the key lead parts with command without running out of gas. Love your Maurice Andre story and your comments on warming up! The only thing I might slightly differ with you about is the Claude Gordon Systematic Approach which saved my career after I had a really terrible slip and fall accident. To me of all the grunt work "chop" books, Claude Gordon at least also has one playing; Arban's, St. Jacome and Herbert Clarke materials with it, so it does include more actual music than say the Louis Maggio System or James Stamp (which I also like along with Boyde Hood's mouthpiece buzzing exercises). In the last couple years I re-discovered open buzzing (without the mouthpiece) and like you, prefer to start with it! You are essentially correct! it's far better to find a way to musically play in the upper register incrementally like Maynard did picking a melody and transposing it into higher keys after mastering it in the lower key, than just pursue them like a power weight lifter. Have a great remainder of your European tour! Wishing your lip speedy healing! You're on of today's finest trumpeters, need I say more?

Eric, you made a great decision when you refused to study with the negative teacher at such a young age. I am sure that many of us might have gone farther had we been smart enough to do the same. You are a great example to all of us. Thank you!

It is so amazing that Eric learned to play trumpet without lessons! He is such a great player and has such a beautiful sound/tone. Great interview. Thanks!

What a fresh breeze..his obsession with music..boy, it’s stunning. His approach to instrument, clearly opposite to many brass musicians. I feel Eric can play on any horn and be a champion. Specially, I like his thoughts about warm up v.s good tone memory, PHENOMENAL! (‘french horn amateur here, me playing in between jobs, biotech is stress, my horn is a getaway…)

I first heard Eric when we were in high school in opposing football/pep bands at a game. Their band played "Gonna Fly Now" and I heard the Maynard solos flying away. I grabbed a pair of binoculars from someone, looked at that person playing the Maynard licks, and said to my friends, "Damn, that girl can play!" Although Eric didn't have his signature long hair yet, his skin was very... shall I say... smooth. I met him a few years later, as he was really making a name for himself locally. Since then, it was great to see him flourish year after year to international heights as he is now. Great guy. Right on Eric! Thanks for posting this interview... great perspective on horn playing... as always. Aloha!!

very interesting fellow that Eric Miyashiro

I've watched this interview a number of times over the last view years and it gets better every time! Thank you, Eric! Such a valuable set of ideas and experiences!

He's a national treasure.

Wow. Mouth piece warm up so contrary to what all brass teachers ever said but his explanation makes perfect sense.

Love this guy. Very humble and has some great insight.

Man is a legend. Love this interview

Eric seems like such a kind, down to earth guy, what an incredible trumpet player!!!!

My mom her cousins husband is friends with Eric and it is great to see this many people knowing him!

VERY NICE ! THIS GUY IS AMAZING ! Mr. MIYASHIRO IS A BIG MAN !

Mr. Miyashiro seems like such an interesting guy to me. I definitely look up to him not only as a trumpet player, but as an individual.

Thank you for the share. Eric is always inspiring, could listen to him play and to his stories endlessly.

What a wonderful , unbelievable modest fantastic human being !!💕

Fantastic interview - Eric makes trumpet feel very comfortable over the years of following him.

Eric is a bad ass on trumpet .. great interview from both sides .. great job!!

That warmed my heart.

This was a lovely interview. I enjoyed it very much. Although I am a recorder player only, I have always liked the sound of the trumpet. I had never heard of Eric Miyashiros until today and found him to be a very pleasant person and amiable. It was so moving to hear him speak briefly about Miles Davis, too. Thank you.

Miyashiro is a legend. he can perfectly imitate Arturo Sandaval's style when he wants to, and its amazing

Eric is a friend, with whom I attended Berklee College of Music. He is a crazy good musician!

Fantastic interview! Thanks for getting this together. Eric brings a lot to the table!

I'm a self-taught bassist for 8 years now, I've faced many challenges in improving and expanding my musical knowledge. I often feel inadequate when talking to or playing with school-taught musicians. I've never gone too long without playing bass, but recently I've thought maybe this just isn't for me or that I'm not improving. Seeing this was really inspirational especially since I very much enjoy Eric Miyashiro's work.

I really admire Eric Miyashiro, cool to hear his thoughts! He's very cool and inspiring. So down to earth. I totally agree with everything he says!

Thank for this interview it’s such a treat!

This finished waaaaay too soon! Thank you so much.

Eric is such a wonderful trumpet player! This interview was a great trumpet lesson in of itself! Eric I always look forward to your fabulous screaming trumpet!

Whatt?! This is awesome! And great to see you doing this Gary. Miss your playing!

Eric is a completely wonderful man! Great trumpeter too! I can relate to all of his stories, some of which I went through too.

Really enjoyed this interview. Eric has a similar lip structure to my own which is a little thicker in the middle than many players, yet he still soars the tall notes.

Very informative interview! Thanks

Thanks wonderful, que bueno escuchar un gran maestro con tanta capacidad musical y a la vez ,tanta humildad. Mil y mil gracias 🙏

I played trumpet 40years ago and starting back up at 68.Great info. Thanks. I’ve learned one thing so far. The Bach 7c is not for me

Wonderful interview, thanks for sharing.

Great interview, I liked, but miss He play the Horn, my name is Octavio I live in ATL, GA. But I’m from Guadalajara Mex.34 years ago I had a one class day as well with Bobby Shew, in St. Louis MO. Big trumpeter and Teacher!!! Thanks 🎼🎶🎺🎺

Great Interview, Thank you for Sharing

a very nice insights, especially in your warm-ups.... thanks for sharing...

What a wonderful trumpet player👏👏👏

Wow, great interview! What a humble and nice man. ❤

I ve always wanted to know more about Eric, thats my first interview of his....very informative...superglue on the lips?!!!? wow! never heard of trumpet players doing that. Mille merci a Thomann Music! keep up the great work!

Fantastic!

It’s been a while since I played so hard that I couldn’t play anymore and still had to sound decent. Eric Miyashiro still does this on a regular even with decades of playing.

Super interview; very interesting

Great interview. I've wanted to get to know Eric a little bit. Now I'm an even bigger fan.

In the small combo gigs I played in the fifties, sixties, seventies I was pretty ignorant about what it took for the horn players to play more or less continuously for 3 or 4 hours. I recently spent time thinking about my late friend who played trumpet. My hands and arms would get tired but I just didn't appreciate how hard it would be to be a horn player.

Awesome interview!

Very cool interview. Any chance of a followup interview? Eric has a lot more stories to share ... hah, some mischievous ... some more colorful ... all are interesting if not hilarious. I played with his brother throughout highschool and had fun hanging and playing with him a few times. One story about Eric I have to share isn't about anything he said but something that he did. I remember his brother and one of our band directors telling me to listen to this record of one of our school concerts. They watched me in anticipation as I listened closely to the featured soloist of a high instrument ... I don't remember if the piece was a flute, clarinet, or violin feature. I told the guys I couldn't make out which wind or string instrument it was but it sure sounded like a trumpet. When they told me it was a trumpet I didn't believe them. It was beautiful, perfect, music, confident, and balanced. Turns out it was Eric filling in for the featured soloist who for whatever reason couldn't perform that night ... Flu or something. On trumpet. Amazehiung! Insane! And then in later years I heard a handful of recording sessions he made while he was still in high school, joking around with his classmates Probably in the band room ... Chameleon (which I also got to perform alongside him in a benefit concert some years later), Chattaway's Don't Let The Sun Go Down, Rocky, and Birdland, that's all I can remember.

I really enjoyed listening to you Eric. I could relate to so many topics that you covered on the aspects of trumpet playing and being self-taught. Even the same feelings about some of the books. I had to laugh. All the best to you.

a recommended video im happy with!!

I played trumpet for quite a while and haven't been lately, and have a Yamaha student trumpet. But my dream horn is the Yamaha "Shew" horn, it's got a model number but everyone knows it as the "Shew" horn.

Great artist, he has a lot of style

Cool Interview

I always enjoyed seeing/hearing him play with the Japanese Fusion band T-Square.

I love that video

Terrific interview, I learned a lot. Interesting that great trumpet players can have bad days also🎺👍

Great interview, thank you for sharing this!

Very interesting concept for making unique horn and thinking outside of the box approached building it. I'd agree that different styles of music shouldn't require special equipment for each and it all should came out from you as a musician. Interms of Claude Gordon because of him I finally get going and play and knowing how to play and what to play is main objective of CG teaching.

A good interview

Great Interview! Eric seems like such a great guy. So down to earth. Side note: although his trumpet is custom made for him you can see that its not some super fancy thing. Its the player not the trumpet.

Self taught! Way to go! Now show others how to do what you did. That way we can all just do what you do.

That was a great interview! He seems like a wonderful guy!

He seems like such a lovely guy. Thanks for this

THE BIG MIYASHIRO !

"I did it not realizing it was 4:00 in the morning LA time", "okay I'll wake up Bobby, hold on", "what!" That absolutely has to be some of the funniest stuff I've heard in a while 🤣🤣🤣

Nice 👍

NICE ...VERY NICE !

Nice man 👋🏻☺️

So once again we hear about the Eric Miyashiro signature model trumpet without hearing about what that z-shaped tuning slide brace is supposed to accomplish as compared to a conventional slide brace.

Awesome interview! By the way, how much would you sell that black strat for??? :-)

More! When is part 2 PLEASE?! Lovely gentle guy with some great ideas.

The only time I warm up with just the mouthpeice is on my way to 7am gigs when ever Im at a red light 😂

and to think that in the middle of the pandemic, Nintendo brought Eric in to play the theme song to the new Animal Crossing game

Good interview, but I had hoped to hear him show how he put his lips on the mouthpiece. And I had hoped to hear him play something...different styles, a few bars of this & that. Maybe, next time.

Ah, extra points for spell check!

HOW CAN I TEACH MYSELF?

Warm up 11:15.

Maynard “ 😁

That DB meter is really distracting! haha

If Eric received help from people like Bobby shew, wouldn’t that not make him 100% self taught??

The. Japan is good. Trumpet

I don’t understand the “it won’t make you play higher” statement because I can play a 4th higher on the piccolo than the regular trumpet

Um.. he's mentioned many times his father played trumpet so......

I had the impression that he liked to talk a little bit more. The interview wa almost interreptuded at the end to soon.

How did you train that cat to sit still on your head?

Man I thought my upper lip was messed up. Eric's looks like hamburger. Lots of scar tissue in there. It could have easily went very bad for him. He's very lucky.

Completely self-taught. With a professional trumpet player as dad. Haha. Bit of a joke. Continues to tell about all his teachers and mentors after his dad...

FYI -- don't put crazy glue on your lips.

Damn, got a big scar on his lip.

“Self taught” is a ridiculous phrase - you’re always learning from someone even if they’re not there. Whether you are just listening to music (yup somebody else made it) or reading/listening to a lesson.