LONG TONES

administrator

I like these long tones because they remind me a lot of Stamp studies. In Stamp studies, you use the same embouchure to go down as low as possible and then back up, as high as possible.

BigDub

I'm conflicted about long tones.
On the one hand, my mind knows they are good.
On the other hand, I hate doing them. I tell myself, oh, go ahead and just start playing. You’re pretty warmed up from yesterday ( or some other nonsensical reasoning )
When I do them for several days in a row, I see tangible improvement. Range, for one, endurance for another.
Yet, the other side of my brain still wins out once in a while and I start skipping them.
The flesh wins too many times. I have to resist and do what is right.

Kehaulani

Well, as they say, "Sounds like a personal problem, to me".

I'm back to long tones because I'm rebuilding chops, but "in my day", I substituted long tones with "moving long tones", like the Cicowitz exercises and Concone, paying attention to all the processes and goals of static long tones, just moving; definitely not as boring and more musically nuanced. Maybe you can try that and see if it gives you more incentive.

Dr GO

@BigDub said in LONG TONES:

I'm conflicted about long tones.
On the one hand, my mind knows they are good.
On the other hand, I hate doing them.
When I do them for several days in a row, I see tangible improvement...

I don't hate them. Long tones are my friend. If I do not do my long tone exercises before a performance, that performance becomes difficult to make it all the way to the end for a demanding gig.

Long tones... they are my insurance plan.

Brian Moon

@BigDub said in LONG TONES:

I'm conflicted about long tones.
On the one hand, my mind knows they are good.
On the other hand, I hate doing them.

Watch TV when doing them. They will go by easily. Nothing is the same as long tones. Long tones are all about being as steady and efficient as possible. If you move it is a different skill set.

ROWUK

We can play longtones intelligently or carelessly. That is the difference between working or wasting.

Kehaulani

@ROWUK Well spake, Nave!

N1684T

I have been gone too long. Welcome rowuk, and any more refugees from TM