Spitballs and Trumpets: pg. 3, Tackling Kennan's Trumpet Sonata Mr. Smith didn’t get into spitballs right away with Eli, age 15. Eli started by playing the opening measures of the Sonata by Kent Kennan. Then Mr. Smith pointed out the words the composer wrote at the beginning of the piece: “With strength and vigor.” He asked Eli to proclaim those words to the audience. “Say it like you’re a preacher, exhorting the congregation,” suggested Mr. Smith, implying that Eli needed to play the piece with the same kind of strength. “You kind of played it like, ‘I’m terribly sorry to bother you today.’ It’s got to be—Wham!” Mr. Smith felt the trumpet in this sonata needed to sound like it was calling troops to battle. He quoted the following passage from the Bible as an illustration: “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” He asked Eli, “Do you think soldiers would be woken up by what you played?” So Eli tried again. Then Mr. Smith played the opening measures himself, showing the strong attack he had in mind. Eli played again and this time his sound was more forceful. “Very good!” said Mr. Smith, who then introduced the spitball exercise to help Eli make his attack on certain notes even stronger and more focused. More-->	Inside the Philharmonic Philharmonic Journal Spitballs and Trumpets: pg. 3, Tackling Kennan's Trumpet Sonata