Posts made by Dr GO

An interesting article published in the medical journal, Chest, had a couple of articles that described the respiratory symptoms noted in the Thread title and did an investigation that found fungi and atypical micobacteria growing in the brass tubing was responsible for patient's symptoms AND pulmonary findings on CT scan. After adding a periodic 91% isopropyl rinse cycle to a scheduled cleaning routine of the instrument, ALL symptoms resolved and ALL chest findings reverted to normal. This was a game changer for me, and even though I did not have the signs or symptoms, every three months when I clean my horns, I use a 91% isopropyl alcohol an all tubes AND valve casings before reassembling the horns. Here a summary of the original article:

https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(10)60500-4/fulltext#intraref20

I have had amazing experiences with the Harrelson 5MM system. They are a bit pricey, but if you wait for a sale you can get a couple hundred dollars off the price. I have now two such modular mouth pieces (the first one came "for free" with the price of my trumpet purchase).

Let me try to put into my own words the creativity behind this mouthpiece. First and foremost, it is modular and comes in several pieces. There is a variety of rims. These screw onto a variety of cups. The rim and cup assemblies screw onto the front end of a body. Within the body you then insert a shaft connecting the cup to an additional backbore that that screws into the back end of the body at which point the entire assembly is then ready to insert onto the leadpipe. Finally there is a nut at the distal backbore end that locks the mouthpiece into a snug fit with the horn.

The first one I had ordered, I requested a Jettone studio B "vintage" copy. The Harrelson had the EXACT rim, cup combinations that PERFECTLY matched my original 1970's vintage Jettone Studio B. Then they provided a selection of shafts and backbores until I found the combination the best sounded with my Harrelson Summit. Just amazing, as the feel is EXACTLY like the original Jettone AND with using a wider shaft, I no longer bottom out my airflow after hours of playing on such a small cupped mouthpiece as I would do after hours of lead playing on the original Jettone. Just amazing!

For my second mouthpiece I asked Jason to copy my Kanstul G2 (the Miles Davis Heim copy). He actually scanned my original Kanstul G2 in case the modular components could not exactly duplicate the flat rim and deep V cup design of this mouthpiece. No need to do this as the modular components he used gave me the feel and performance characteristics of the original Kanstul G2.

This is just an amazing system where any player can customize a classic mouthpiece's feel and then enhance the performance by working with the modular back end components to actually optimize the air column resistance and vibration amplitude to best optimize to the leadpipe characteristics of any horn. So it is a bit pricey, but for the serious player, it is a game changer.

And oh yes, if you do purchase this system, do ask for the tool set that accompanies the pieces, as they really do make the changes to adjusting the components a lot easier. Here is a link to the Harrelson 5MM Mouthpiece site:

https://www.whyharrelson.com/store/p30/5MM_Mouthpiece_(19pc_%26_20pc_Kits).html

Me playing my Harrelson with the Kanstul 2G 5MM modular adaption:

For several TM Martin Committee Club members, they found the Owner's Manual I received with my 1946 Martin Committee helpful, especially for maintaining piston (valve) performance. So I thought I would post it on TrumpetBoards as it may be of interest to people reading this thread.

@SSmith1226 said in Unsafe Sax-To Circular Breath or Not:

@Dr-GO
...the following July, 2017 case series report on the use of “Musical Endotrachial Tubes” equally as enlightening.
https://gomerblog.com/2017/07/musical-endotracheal-tubes/

Interesting. I have heard some interesting sounds come from ventilators so this tongue in cheek (or endotrachial tube in airway) article could resonate with some validity. I am wondering if this really was done with family present as to how the families would really respond.

On another note: Would love to hear audio clips of your ICU band!

[Originally comments edited after much appreciated feedback from SSmith1226. Thanks so much Dr. SSmith for the messaging. Very helpful and great to get your feedback!]

Another observation I made during my 3 week ICU admission is that the nurse caring for me noted he did not have to change my bladder irrigation bags nearly as frequently during the times I was practicing my pocket trumpet in my ICU bed. So I decided to do an experiment. I followed the drip rate of the flow from my urethral catheter. If readers recall, in my other medical post I acknowledged that I had tubes coming out from all over me, and I was not kidding. Here is what I observed:

As long as I remained below the C on the staff, the urinary flow remained unchanged. However, as one proceeded from C to the F at the top of the staff, the urinary flow steadily dropped in rate. Once I played above the F (above the staff) ALL urinary flow stopped.

So, for lead players that have their parts that hang a good part of the time above staff, I imagine less bathroom breaks are needed.

@Tobylou8 said in Tom Green:

One of the best looking trumpets ever!!!

And the sound is even better. Not sure if anyone has ever played a Power Bore, but it has laser sharp accuracy. It was the PERFECT horn for 2nd Trumpet big band charts where the harmonies are so tight between the lead and 3rd part. You did not have to rely on your ear with this horn, you just aim the valves on the right note, and bull's eye, there it was.

The horn projects like no other traditional horn and I used it a lot as a lead horn as well until I got my Harrelson.

@Richard-III said in How many measures on a tank of air?:

Gimmick is right. Every time I see a player do that, I'm bored immediately if all they are doing is holding a note. In my view, at that moment, the music has stopped and the gimmick has begun. Time for me to move on to some other venue.

I must say, of all the techniques I use in a performance, this one gets the most response out of the audience. They are definitely not board if you incorporate the technique into the form. I do use it sparingly and only once a performance, but if you choose the right note through the right chord structure, that note really speaks out. It also helps to have a kick-ass rhythm section behind you to play around with that note as well. Definitely not boring if you place it into the right context.

I also use the circular breathing behind very soft harmony lines (playing complete phrases and not holding one note only) behind our sax soloist ("But Beautiful" is one of the songs I use for this accent). It really puts a smooth, uninterpreted line behind the lead part.

I must admit, I don't see many trumpet players use this, but when working trough my trumpet lessons with Claudio Roditi, I would transcribe sax solos for him in my lesson assignments, and that is where I perfected the circular breathing style. Claudio loved it, as he was working with me to develop my own solo voice, and he agreed, using sax phrasing in trumpet soloing really was a game changer.

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

...My son wanted me to watch old school vs. new school muscle car 1/4 mile showdowns. He's gonna be a Ford guy, that's fine - put me on the list for a new Supra or Tesla...

In staying with the theme to the thread (and not to be charged with taking the thread off track) this is the CURRENT muscle development I use when not working on my lips:

AND my muscle development PRIOR to that one:

@Doodlin said in Unsafe Sax-To Circular Breath or Not:

...Another study may be in order!

Already done. In 2014 I had the misfortune of being in an ICU bed for 3 weeks with tubes coming out of many many parts of my body. I had my wife bring in my pocket trumpet with my Yamaha silent mute, and I played in my hospital bed for hours a day. I decided with all the monitoring devices to "study" the circular breathing effects on my lung and heart function. The results: My pulse oximeter reading should my oxygen saturation INCREASED on average by 6%. So pulmonary function increased. My pulse actually dropped by 10 beats per minute (relaxed cardiac function) and blood pressure remained in normal range. So, I personally feel pulmonary function is enhanced by circular breathing.

This actually reinforces the benefit of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) on increasing (not fibrosing or decreasing) alveolar function. This increases the volume of our end airway sacs and improves the surface area for oxygen absorption. This would counter any physiological argument for interstitial thickening (or fibrosis) as is suggested in that BMJ article.

The discussion of this article in the Editorial section by many actually suggest the author was a bit light hearted (joking) regarding his conclusions as to cause and effect for earlier mortality for sax players.

@Doodlin said in Unsafe Sax-To Circular Breath or Not:

...just keep in mind that Kenny G. will most likely be the outlier here. He can circular breath with the best of them....!

I believe Kenny G holds the world record in holding the longest note, I believe it was for 55 minutes!

It is even possible to play an infinite number of measures on a continuous tank of air. This is possible through the technique of circular breathing (See the Medical Concerns Section for a disclaimer - which is really more tongue in cheek - so to speak). I find this technique works very well for extend phrases. I also like to use this technique about once a gig, and usually on a blues solo, to hold one note whereby I start a blues note that holds true through the I, IV, V progression for at usually two cycles through the progression. At the conclusion I blast through a series of 32 note runs for contrast and then take a more traditional blues solo. That has always been an exceptional audience crowd pleaser.

Here is a link to the discussion of the technique:
https://www.wikihow.com/Circular-Breathe

There was an interesting article published in 1999 in the highly respected British Medical Journal on the lower life expectancy of sax players compared to other musicians and looking for reasons as to why this may be so. The authors come to an assumed conclusion that it may likely be do to the damaging effects of circular breathing on the lungs. Give it a read and see if you agree (or not).

https://www.bmj.com/content/319/7225/1612

Then Discuss!

@administrator said in New Categories:

https://www.trumpetboards.com/category/34/medical-concerns

And Dr. Go is moderator

Ready to serve sir, ready to serve!

Agreed:

I bought this one from ANA Mendez and he had Charlie rehab this one for me (My 1940 Super Recording)

This is what Tom had done for me (in the order shown: Olds Recording; Olds Ambassador; Martin Committee):

That Getzen Power Bore in his photo gallery is now mine!!! All mine!! Thanks to Cyber_Shake (old TM Member)

I highly recommend Tom. I have given him lots of work sending several of his kids to college don't ya know. He is the man that does Harrelson's Midnight Summit trumpets. Here is his website link:

https://www.greensbuffing.com/About-Us.html

From his "Testimonials Page"

The Harrelson Summit Midnight:

@mafields627 said in Welcome to TrumpetBoards!:

...and now getting close to wrapping up my 13th year as a middle & high school band director. I hope I can make a positive contribution here as well!

Matt, you will make positive contributions for sure. I worked with a middle school band director for 8 years as an assistant volunteer through the middle schools "mentor-ship program". I would come in early morning to assist the band director and run sectionals two days a week before I would drive off to work to start may regular day gig. What an amazing impact that band director had on those young minds, not only musically but taught them a world etiquette (from the perspective of music performance) that they will take with them into the rest of their years. I personally missed doing this for the past 5 years when I moved out of that school district.

Of interest, I was at a big band concert last week and a woman come up to me out of the audience, gushing with praise for me for helping teach her son on trumpet when he was in middle school with that school system. She then told me he is now in college getting an arts degree and how much of an inspiration I had been to him. So yes Matt, you are making positive contributions and making a difference in young people's lives!

@trickg said in Welcome to TrumpetBoards!:

I've been digging this new board lately - some really good stuff on here, and it's cool to see the same screen names and avatars. I don't know who created this board in light of TM's demise, but I see this as sort of the new and improved TM. Let's hope that it becomes a place that newcomers to the world of the online trumpet forum can find and easily learn to navigate.

Agreed Patrick and somehow we have to convince our friend TrumpetMD to join. I have tried but he has yet taken the bait. Maybe if you too do a little nudging!

THEN there is my current favorite contemporary musician that I must admit has most recently augmented my prior musical voice into a bit softer direction, Till Bronner:

Also had the pleasure of playing on stage with till at the ITG Convention in Columbus in 2015 and have a picture of the two of us together after the session: