Erik Veldkamp’s Flow Studies Big Book is a focused expansion and extension of his original method, The Chop Building Big Book. It takes one of the most important pillars of the original system, continuous airflow, and develops it in far greater depth, with a full, progressive curriculum devoted to keeping the air moving, the sound resonant, and the chops responsive. The goal is not simply to “play with more air,” but to build the kind of efficient, uninterrupted playing that supports endurance, flexibility, and a consistent tone across the horn. This is the book for players who want their practice to feel musical while still delivering real, measurable chop development. As in The Chop Building Big Book, the approach is daily, structured, and grounded in balance rather than brute force. You begin with warm ups that establish an open, centered sound and reinforce the habit of playing through phrases instead of at notes. From there, the book moves into short “flow starters” that lock in resonance and continuity, and then into flowing scales that build coordination and stamina without sacrificing ease. The emphasis throughout is on keeping the tone alive, the response immediate, and the body free of unnecessary tension. The second half of the book expands the musical and harmonic dimension of flow work. Pentatonic flow studies encourage smooth motion, strong time-feel in the line, and natural finger efficiency, while flowing triads strengthen slotting, intonation, and harmonic awareness through patterns that still feel like music. The book culminates in flow and range studies that extend the concept into a broader register, reinforcing the idea that the upper and lower parts of the instrument should be approached with the same resonant air and relaxed control you use in the middle register. Practiced consistently, Flow Studies Big Book helps you develop a freer sound, smoother connections between notes, stronger endurance, and a more dependable response across the trumpet’s full range. Used alongside the original Chop Building Big Book or as a dedicated flow-centered track within the same method, it delivers the series’ central promise: chops that strengthen through musical playing, and technique that grows out of ease. Listen to Erik perform from the book below, and click the cover to read the full forward and sample pages include. When you are ready click above for an immediate digital download. Listen to Erik Play “Flowing Triads 10” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Flowing-Triads-10.mp3 Listen to Erik Play “Pentatonic Flow Study 7” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Pentatonic-Flow-Study-7.mp3 Listen to Erik Play “Range & Flow Study 8” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Flow-Range-Study-8.mp3
