I don't play anything shown so far in this thread, but it is sure interesting to look at the instruments and read about them.
I tried trombone for awhile in my teens, but using the larger mp affected my trumpet embouchure so I sold the trombone.

@flugelgirl said in [reading the road map]

Wow, I sure miss gigs.......️

I know how you feel, flugelgirl. Playing with your band mates is okay, but playing for an audience...that's something else altogether and was the reason I picked up the horn in the first place.

Also, you were fortunate to have those private teachers. I had very little instruction when it came to sight reading. My teacher, a pro trumpet player, concentrated more on playing the instrument.

I was watching a video on dead air ( stale air, residual air, whatever you want to call it ) and wondered if other players use the method I apply to avoid having dead air issues, and God knows I had plenty of them in the past.

My method is simple, I keep the tank full to ensure I have good air when I need it. So, no matter how well I know a piece of music, I read each song or piece of music like a road map, before I play, looking for those bars that have notes that take sudden jumps above the staff, or where a series of tied whole notes are called for. Then I go back 2 bars and put a breath mark. It's my warning sign and extra air will be needed, so time to top up, buddy.

Other than reasons as noted, I don't use breath marks per se. I know when it is time to top up while playing a piece as a whole, but more important to me is the unexpected twist or steep hill ahead.

I'm not recommending this. I am just stating this is what works best for me.

What may be a bit nicer than a book would be Wynton Marsalis' dvd on History Of The Trumpet. I rented it not too long ago and found it extremely interesting. I'm thinking about buying it.

UPDATE

Just want to let you all know that last night during the 20 minute break from practice, I went to my car in the parking lot, sat in the back seat and played a variety of easy exercises that included long tones, lip slurs and some scales including chromatic scales. I took a good rest between each exercise and figure I played about 12 or 13 minutes of the 20 minute break. When practice resumed I played the remaining 40 minutes of practice without any embouchure problems.
I guess not playing for 20 minutes was encouraging edema. I don't know, but I do know I will be continuing to play during the breaks from now on.

Kehaulani's reply has given me an idea. Since I have never had a problem when playing our 90 minute band practice non stop before the Covid change, tomorrow, during the 20 minute break I am going to my car, sit in the back seat and play a series of easy exercises for about 15 minutes, taking rests between each exercise. Then we'll see what happens when we resume playing for the last 40 minutes of practice.

I'll let you know how it goes.

@Dr-GO
Thanks, Doc.

The thing is, when our practice sessions ran for 90 minutes without a break, my endurance and playing was just fine. This weirdness just started when we had to take a 20 minute break and leave the room so the air could be changed to get rid of the aerosol.
Thanks for your input and suggestions.

@Kehaulani
I have no problems with my chops when I practice at home, and never had problems with the band until we started that play 30 minutes, break 20 and play 40 minutes. I just find my chops don't always work well during that last 40 minutes and never had a problem before the Covid changes when I had to play 90 minutes pretty much non stop.

It's weird but I'm hoping it will work itself out once my old chops adjust to this new arrangement.
As far as blowing gentle long tones coming off the break, I don't get a chance because the minute we are back in the practice room we start playing again. But I'll try to sneak a few of those in next week.

Well, looks like I have lots of options. But I'm really not so sure it's swollen lips, and even if they were swollen, shouldn't they recover during that 20 minute break ?