José Forte
With a network of Artist Centres and Ateliers around the world, Yamaha works with leading players to support their performances and develop instrument designs and new ideas for the benefit of all musicians. Yamaha Artists share with us a passion for inspiring the next generation of players, and a belief that everybody should be encouraged to nurture their talent, connect with others and tell their stories through music.
Get to know Yamaha Artist and trumpet player José Forte
How does your instrument improve your daily life as a musician?
It gives me energy and enthusiasm. I take comfort in knowing that my instrument gives me the assurance that everything is going to be okay. Having this certainty makes me more confident and comfortable in my work.
What are the most outstanding features of your instrument?
It's lightweight and versatile. The sound it produces is full, without losing its brightness. The tuning is stable across all registers. The instrument responds immediately and provides reassurance and control across all dynamic ranges. The airflow is incredibly comfortable and makes you feel at ease at all times, so there's no kind of retention or strain when you're playing.
When did you first come across Yamaha?
I first came across Yamaha in 2003 when I acquired my second C trumpet. It was the Yamaha Chicago model. It left a very positive first impression and helped me a lot in terms of my progression as a trumpet player.
Which musician has influenced you the most in your music career? Are you still following any of their advice?
All my teachers have helped me achieve my goals, especially back when I was starting out. But perhaps the teacher who really made me change my musical mindset was Frits Damrow, trumpet professor at Zurich University of the Arts and former principal trumpet of the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam for twenty years. One piece of advice he often gave that I'll continue to follow was that you should always play in a relaxed, healthy manner. Never force the sound and always blow into the instrument as if you're singing.
What advice would you give to a musician who is just starting out in their career?
It's important to draw on the knowledge of as many musicians as possible, and not only those that play the trumpet, but also those that play other instruments. Listen to music of all instruments and from all periods. In short, open your mind and get to know as many musicians as possible so that you can appreciate music from a much broader perspective.
It's also important to always know what you want and, above all, to make the most of every musical experience. Being enthusiastic to learn and improve, and not being conformist, is also crucial.
Enthusiasm, humility and poise are three key pillars in the future of a musician. The moment we lose one of these three pillars, we're lost.
