"I Was Just Satisfying My Ego" — Eric Miyashiro’s Career-Changing Encounter

"I should give the best of my life... for them." In this episode of the Louis Dowdeswell Podcast, I sit down with one of the most iconic trumpet players on the planet: Eric Miyashiro. While Eric is world-renowned for his "screamer" high notes and his time leading the bands of Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, and Maynard Ferguson, this conversation goes far beyond the mechanics of the instrument. Eric shares the incredible, moving story of an encounter with a 90-year-old student that fundamentally changed why he picks up the trumpet every day. We discuss the transition from "satisfying the ego" with flashy high notes to becoming a "responsible musician" who plays to soothe wounds and bring back joy. In this episode, we cover: The Maynard Pouch: The truth behind Maynard Ferguson’s vintage mouthpieces (and why the gear doesn't make the player). The Buddy Rich Lessons: What Buddy taught Eric about "playing for the eyes" and why the lead chair is a circus act. The "Band Leader Curse": Eric’s hilarious and tragic streak of joining legendary bands right before the leaders passed away. Finding a Voice in Tokyo: Why Eric left the US studio scene to build his own legacy in Japan. High Notes vs. Heart: Why being able to play high is a "gift and a curse," and the importance of playing a simple melody that makes people cry. Whether you're a brass player looking for technical insights or a creative looking for inspiration on how to serve your audience, Eric’s wisdom in this episode is a masterclass in humility and artistry. Key Quote from Eric: "I had that power, but I was just using it to satisfy my ego... that old man opened up a whole new gateway to becoming a responsible musician. You're taking away two hours of their precious lifetime to hear you play. I should give the best of my life to them." Follow Eric Miyashiro: https://www.ericmiyashiro.com/ 00:00 – Intro: Catching up with Eric Miyashiro in Tokyo 03:15 – Meeting the "Trumpet Legends": Wayne Bergeron & Adam Rappa 05:40 – The Mystery Pouch: Maynard Ferguson’s Vintage Mouthpieces 08:22 – "It’s Not the Gear": Why Eric believes the player always beats the mouthpiece 11:05 – Maynard’s Secret: Why his mouthpieces had "no bite" 14:30 – Discovering God: Eric’s first time hearing Maynard Ferguson 17:15 – The Carnegie Hall Audition: Playing Maynard’s part for Maynard 21:40 – Authenticity vs. Showmanship: Was Maynard "acting" on stage? 25:10 – The Buddy Rich School: "People listen with their eyes" 28:50 – Handling Mistakes: Why you should never look "guilty" on stage 32:15 – Eric’s Heroes: From Clifford Brown to the Tower of Power 36:40 – The "Band Leader Curse": Joining Buddy, Woody, and Mel Lewis 40:12 – The Tokyo Transition: Choosing a solo career over the LA studios 44:45 – The Revelation: The story of the 90-year-old student and the suicide pilots 52:20 – Beyond the High Note: Moving from "Ego" to "Responsibility" 56:10 – The Fear of Quitting: Why Eric is still "scared" every day 59:45 – Outro: The "iPhone 17" of trumpet players 🎵 Music & Resources • Signed CD featuring this track: https://www.louisdowdeswell.com/shop-1 • Backing tracks & sheet music play-alongs for this track: https://www.louisdowdeswell.com/shop • Get my ULTIMATE BIG BAND TOOLKIT (all instruments): https://www.louisdowdeswell.com/shop 🎧 My music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2l8Bs... https://open.spotify.com/artist/5B1N4... 🎙️ The Louis Dowdeswell Poscast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VKO6Lp... 🔧 Gear I Use • Hawkins Mutes: https://tinyurl.com/ldmutes • Bach Trumpets: https://bachbrass.com/ • GR T1.0 Mouthpiece👇 UK & EU – https://tinyurl.com/ldmp-uk-eu USA – https://tinyurl.com/ldmp-usa 🎓 Trumpet Coaching & Academy https://www.louistrumpetacademy.com