Posts made by Dr GO

GREAT QUESTION OH GREAT ADMINISTRATOR so after sleeping on it... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... here is my response:

To understand how much sleep YOU need, we first should appreciate: What is the architecture behind sleep?
Sleep is divided into 2 categories, each of which is associated with distinct patterns of central nervous system (CNS) activity:
• REM sleep – This is characterized by muscle atony, episodic REMs, and low-amplitude fast waves on electroencephalography (EEG); dreaming occurs mainly during REM sleep
• Non-REM sleep – This is further subdivided into 4 progressive categories, termed stages 1-4 sleep; the arousal threshold rises with each stage, and stage 4 (delta), characterized by high-amplitude slow waves, is the sleep state from which arousal is most difficult

Sleep architecture follows a pattern of alternating REM (rapid eye movement) and Non-REM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep throughout a typical night in a cycle that repeats itself about every 90 minutes. That 90-minute cycle is fairly stable throughout the night; however, it is the ratio of Non-REM to REM sleep that is vital. Non-REM sleep normally dominates sleep cycles in the early part of the night. And as the clock moves toward daybreak, REM sleep muscles move in. This is significant, because research is most consistent that non-REM sleep is deeper and therefore, more restorative than lighter, dream-infused REM sleep.

A shift from Non-REM to more REM sleep happens as the night progresses. AND due to effects of circadian rhythm, if you hit the sack very late at night, you will tilt more toward less restorative REM sleep. So the reduction in deep, restorative sleep may leave you groggy and blunt-minded the next day. For this reason, there is a mantra that: Every hour of sleep before midnight is worth two after midnight.

Okay here is the Science behind this process: People can skip reading this section and not loose sleep over the fact of understanding the importance of sleep.
Disturbances in the pattern and periodicity of REM and Non-REM sleep are often found when people admit to experiencing sleep disorders. Sleep-wake cycles are governed by a complex group of biologic processes that serve as internal clocks. The suprachiasmatic nucleus, located in the hypothalamus, is thought to be the body’s anatomic timekeeper, responsible for the release of melatonin on a 25-hour cycle. The pineal gland secretes less melatonin when exposed to bright light; therefore, the level of this chemical is lowest during the daytime hours of wakefulness. Multiple neurotransmitters are thought to play a role in sleep. These include serotonin from the dorsal raphe nucleus, norepinephrine contained in neurons with cell bodies in the locus ceruleus, and acetylcholine from the pontine reticular formation. Dopamine, on the other hand, is associated with wakefulness.

So is THE ARNOLD correct:
Sleep needs can vary from person to person. It is a “general” recommendation that healthy adults get an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. HOWEVER, (and this is where THE ARNOLD gets the nod) if you look at supportive studies, there are none that validate this 7-9 hour rule. In fact, a study out of UCSD paints a different story. This study instead supports that the secret to a long life lies in getting just enough sleep, which ends up being about 6.5 hours per night. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3010336/

The study looks at 1.1 million people’s sleep patterns over the course of 6 years, tracking the amount of sleep each subject averaged alongside their longevity. Its major finding: Sleeping as little as 5 hours per night can be better for you than sleeping 8. In analyzing life expectancy from the data demonstrates that 5 hours per night is better for longevity and long-term performance.

Once YOU decide how much time you need to sleep here are How To Sleep – TIps that for better quality sleep.
 Follow a sleep schedule. Try to go to sleep at the same time every night. Having a bedtime routine trains your body to immediately rest as it approaches the designated time of sleep.
 “Winding down is helpful” as our brains remain active when going to bed if exposed to too many stimuli. Getting into a more relaxed state can help you drift into deep sleep. If my Science lecture above did not do it than just email me an I will send you some of my prior medical school lectures… Guaranteed to lull you to sleep!
 Avoid naps – If you want to sleep better at night, make it a point to skip naps during the day. After age 5, naps are no longer necessary].
 White noise – If your sleep is constantly interrupted by loud music (especially REM – pun intended) or barking dog, drown them all out with white noise.

@BigDub said in A little humour:

Embarrassing conversations ( well, almost )

Person at the airport check in desk, to me: have a great flight.
Me: you, too.

Saying, "you, too", as a response is not necessarily so good.

I don't know! Sounds to me like you were having a flight of ideas.

ALSO: How are people going to reproduce the original metal alloy. It contained lead. In the mid-50's our government highly regulated leads use in producing brass alloy. That will take away from timbre. How do you adjust for this?

@Zman said in Martin Committee Club:

@tjveloce thanks for your insights.

...I already made one that used a Committee block with an engraved Lawler C7 deluxe bell that turned out fantastic. Now I am looking at BC 9 & 10 and have the parts to make other versions using original bells.

I played the Lawler C7. It does not sound as my Committee, it is only a copy, and not one of the better ones. The bell is as important a key feature as the original bell. It must have the exact taper and dimensions of the original or it will not sound as a vintage Committee.

@Zman said in Martin Committee Club:

@tjveloce thanks for your insights.

I should feel that I should explain myself a little more when I refer to 'cosmetics' as I have something in mind. If the valves were Martin, but the valve casing looked slightly different - would that sway your decision to purchase an instrument based on this?

The valves MUST be original Martin. There is no substitute. This "pistons" (Martin's designation) are unique and are primed by water. They work amazingly well with this design. This is one of the virtues I adore about the original. In addition, the wear better then ANY trumpet I own. My horn is a 1946, 73 years old, and looks BEST of all my horns. Pristine. Don;t change the original. It is perfect.

To answer you basic question: The valve casings would not be an issue.

Hmm... read this on their "About Us" link:

After thorough investigation I learned that, like The Martin Band Instrument CO., Kanstul Musical Instruments, in Anaheim, California was found to be one of the most respected and trusted brass instrument manufacturers in the world today! I like the fact that they are family owned, and that every metal part of the horn is made in house and in the USA. Kanstul is also known for their precision and high-quality instruments, and I want nothing less for my customers. Based upon their reputation, I have selected Kanstul Musical Instruments to be the manufacturer for the Martin Brasswind Co. Though it takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks to build, it is WELL WORTH THE WAIT.

With Kanstul no longer producing horns, is this Committee also doomed to extinction?

@administrator said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

@Dr-GO

Would you say that the paragon of performance was when the flow of norepinephrine through the capillaries of Maynard Ferguson was at its apex? Surely his sympathetic nervous system would concur.

I would say with Maynard's command of the upper range, his muscarinic receptors were most in tone and most active with a huge reservoir of acetylcholine drive.

Tubey or not Tubey: Bohemian Rhapsody played entirely on plastic tubes

I was walking out of a nursing home after visiting a patient there, when I heard a discussion between a male resident sitting out on a sidewalk bench, and an obvious lady of ill-repute scantily clothed.

I heard the woman of the street ask the male nursing resident: Sir, would you like super sex?

The resident's reply was:
Well, I'll take the soup!

I seemed to bring more of the green out from the conductors in bands in which I played!

@administrator said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

When I go cycling, I expect to feel pain in my legs and I expect my cardio system to pick up significantly...

Nah... You don't feel pain as It's your endorphins kicking in.!

AND if you look at the stress per muscle bundle, cycling (weight lifting) uses HUGE groups of muscles so the strain and relief is distributed over many helping muscle groups.

Actually, there is nothing wrong with that if you do a good stretch exercise before and after the cycling activity.

The lips just don't have this same assistance level of coordinated help.
AND you are placing an un-natural strain on the lips by pressing a hard metal object against these muscle groups.

THAT is a BIG difference. Try riding your bike that with each pump cycle while metal bar compress the calf muscles. You would be heading to the local ER in extreme pain with rhabdomyolysis related renal failure.

@SSmith1226 said in A little humour:

@J-Jericho
This isn’t as funny

Here is the story: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/05/microwave-oven-caused-mystery-signal-plaguing-radio-telescope-for-17-years

What isn't funny about the is it took SCIENTISTS 17 years to figure this out!

@MasterWannabe said in How to post pictures ???:

I hate to seem like a dunce but I got to go with what I have. In my first post I posted some pictures but for the life of me I can't seem to figure out how I did it. Could somebody please take pity on an old guy and give me directions ?

There are two ways of doing this.

FIRST try going to the tool bar that comes with the site:

The icon circled is the one you want to choose IF THE PICTURE IS STORED IN YOU COMPUTER:
Once you select this icon, you will be given instructions on going the file of the picture you want to post, then when you select you picture in the file, hit the response button in the instruction window.

ANOTHER WAY to do this is to go to your Search Window on your Windows Program that says: Type here to search. Then type in "snipping tool". A tool will automatically appear. Select "New" then outline the picture you want to post. Next, go up to the Edit command (second choice in), select it and choose "copy". Then go to your TB window you are wanting to post in and just hit "paste". It should post fine.

IF you get ERROR messages with either method, I found this neat trick to do:
Open up your Microsoft Word window, paste the picture in that file, down size it then recopy and try it again. Eventually, you will get a size that TB will accept.

Hope this helps!

@administrator said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

No pain no gain does not apply to trumpet playing!

ALSO AGREED:
However, there is another saying, and that relates to what does it mean to "work through the pain"? THAT depends on the situation and the task at hand (as many of the physical therapists out there will know).

When it comes to lip pain from excessive playing, here is what you do:

1. STOP playing
2. Begin lip massage in the area of pain for a couple minutes or so. This increases blood flow to the area to help move out the "bad toxins", and help prevent further damage.
3. Come back to re-do the massage every 5 minutes until the pain has subsided.

IF you do this early enough into the pain process AND the pain resolves (typically 10-15 minutes), you can try to play once again, but if that pain returns, you are done for the day... OK?

@administrator said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

...it's hard to say what is "too much" pressure and what is not. However, if you feel any pain at all, you are probably hurting yourself....

AGREED:
I always tell my patients, pain is your friend. Listen to pain. It is mother nature's way of letting you know you are overdoing what your body was designed to do. If you ignore pain, you are at a higher risk of doing damage.

@N1684T said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

But whats a good test of what IS too much pressure?
Endurance. How long are you lasting before you loose fine control of attacking your notes or starting to diminish your tonal quality?

@N1684T said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

I read one about palming the trumpet, and another about turning the trumpet all the way around while playing a constant note.
Don't do this. This is a high risk procedure to damaging lip muscle.

@N1684T said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

I have been guilty of using WAY too much pressure when tired... whats a good test?
Your answer is in your question. You feel "tired". This is a sign that is before pain sets it. Being tired is a sing to either cut back considerably or quit for the day (or at least for several hours)

@N1684T said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

...and actually leaving an impression on the lips...

Leaving an impression on you lips (acutely-which is results in plethora (reddened)) is and advanced sign of muscle blood flow into the area to begin "healing" a stress environment. Now a chronic ring that is silver is a sign of healthy adaptation of the soft tissue and collagen that helps protect your lips.

Collagen is the most available protein in your muscles and ligaments. Collagen is a building block that: 1) promotes skin elasticity; 2) holds together your bones and muscles: 3) protects muscle for excessive strain; 4) provides structure to joints and tendons. Your body produces collagen on a regular basis and will particularly lay down fibers in more areas needing protection (such as that silvery ring around you lip).

@N1684T said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

I realize this sounds like a silly question, but if i need clarification, others might as well?
Not silly at all. I hope the above segments help clarify.

@N1684T said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

But whats a good test of what IS too much pressure?

Loss of control. Accuracy of hitting notes falters, tone begins to pinch.

@N1684T said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

I see this all the time, but a definition of too much pressure would be helpful?

Too much pressure in this context with the embouchure relates to actual physical pressure of the metal mouthpiece compressing lip muscle. This does two things:

1. Pinches off blood supply to many muscle unites causing lactic acid build up and chemical anaerobic induced fatigue;

2. Pins the lip muscle directly against the dentition which decreases it's ability to vibrate. The more vibrating that is in contact with the mouthpiece cup, the more effective the wave form created transmits to the air column within the mouthpiece and subsequently the wave that is transmitted down the leadpipe and into the horn.

@Three-Sevens said in No real gains on anything more than 40-45 minutes of practice.:

@Dr-GO
That's a NICE Jeep! Hard to be incognito in that great color!

Hope you take yours out topless often!

Mike

Mike, it's a beautiful day in May and here I am Topless:

@BigDub said in LONG TONES:

Nothing exceeds like excess.

Once again, this was Eugene Blee's exercises he developed to optimize his performance. He was the longest sitting principle trumpeter for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Exceeding in excess this is not. Give it a try. It is not excessive at all.

It takes very little warm up time to get through this exercise series, and if performed entirely in series, truly guarantees preparing the embouchure for a days worthy performance.