The maggio method was developed by a man named Louis Maggio, a highly accomplished trumpet player. In a tragedy when on the way to work on an icy day, Maggio slipped, knocking out some teeth and badly damaging his lips. Beyond medical help, he set about rebuilding his chops from scratch and returned stronger than ever! The method that followed can be found in the “Original Louis Maggio System for Brass” book by Carlton Macbeth, an old pupil of Maggios. It includes multiple exercises all based around the principle of air and building range from the bottom up. Most of these exercises include low arpeggios using pedals and false tones, breathing through the nose to keep the chops set, followed by an increasingly high arpeggio or slur.
THE MAGGIO METHOD
BY TOM DUNNETT
WRITE AN ARTICLE ON THE MAGGIO HE SAID. IT’D BE EASY HE SAID. HERE GOES… The “Louis Maggio System for Brass” has been an important part of my practice routine since the start of college. The idea of something useful to start my practice with, was very appealing. I was introduced to the magic Maggio by my teacher at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Ashley Horton. At this early stage, he had but to click his fingers and I was game, but the mention of those such as Gordon Campbell and Mike Lovatt did help things along too! So I began working religiously on the Maggio. Little did I know that Ash was keeping a watchful eye, not only in making sure I was executing this method correctly, but also how it was affecting my playing. As I felt the system working and, ultimately, lived a little longer, I began to understand what the Maggio meant for me. This understanding is of course still a work in progress. One of the main things that struck me was that this method is not the same for everyone. In some ways I feel lucky that the Maggio “worked/ works” for me, although maybe at the time I just didn’t know any better and persisted! Who knows!
Chops and chops maintenance is something I still discuss with Ash today if I’m ever feeling down about my playing, or we’ve had too many pints. I’ve met some incredible players who’ve never touched the Maggio, and others who swear by it: it’d be impossible to open with a sweeping statement. So for me, the Maggio starts the day reinforcing some key principles. It builds range from the bottom, while helping you keep your chops set and ultimately encouraging the “correct” use of air. Its “purpose” for me has changed over the eight years or so I’ve been using it. To start, it was my “go to” thirty-forty minute warm up that appeared to be having positive effects on my playing, consistency was the key. Now I’m not as committed, but it’s still something I return to on a regular basis. It helps me to “realign” and refocus across the range, get the air moving properly and relax. This is particularly evident after a long stretch of tough blowing where I may have been “pushing on” or forcing things in order to keep going! So I’ve found writing an article on the Maggio difficult for several reasons. Like many methods of practising brass, not only does it not work for everyone, but for those where it does, it still appears different for each person! I’m a massive Maggio fan, and all I can say is give it a go! Just make sure you’re relaxed and maybe talk to someone who’s been playing twice as long as me first!