I've tried to describe to players I know how the tongue arch coordinates with the aperture, air, articulation points and general feeling of the oral resonant chamber. Trouble is, everyone's perceptions are so different and frankly, most people are quite unaware of what they are doing. Plus the style of music may also dictate the settings of the above factors. There are high note players that have everything happening in the first half inch of space behind the lips. There are other players with huge oral resonant chambers and need that for the style they play. And everything in between. I know what I do. But apparently that doesn't ring any bells when I try to help others.
Posts made by Richard III
-
RE: What Does The Tongue Do When The Trumpet Is Played
-
RE: Best Valves
@Dr-Mark
Bias and familiarity of different systems or lack of it. I have an affection for bottom sprung valves. I love the feel. They seem simpler. Easy to switch out the springs for different resistance. But they are not common with modern instruments. So many have never tried them. I have an old trumpet with short stroke, bottom sprung valves and the action is fantastic. Though the trumpet is 70+ years old, they are still in great shape.
-
RE: Embouchure Dystonia
Good read and a very good site for musicians:
[link text](https://www.musicianswell.com/stories/2019/4/16/michael-atkinson-overuse-and-the-pitfalls-of-going-it-alone[link text](link url))
-
RE: What about non-trumpet Brass players
@ButchA said in What about non-trumpet Brass players:
I am slowly doubling on "treble clef" Baritone, as I am succumbing to assorted lower dental problems, which is starting to affect my trumpet playing - especially in the upper register.
The bigger MP of the Baritone (and Trombone as well) are both incredibly different and (obviously) need a new approach to trumpet embouchure.
I have a friend that was gifted an Eb Tuba from around 1885. We took it to the repair store and they concluded they couldn't make it playable. While there we tried an old baritone. We also tried many tubas. Both of us were surprised that two trumpet players could easily play the baritone. My friend is still playing it. The baritone is very forgiving. Have fun with it. Baritones have a beautiful sound.
-
RE: Embouchure Dystonia
@Dr-Mark said in Embouchure Dystonia:
@Richard-III said in Embouchure Dystonia:
I think that anyone who can't make it past 45 minutes of playing has an issue.
Hi Richard III,
I would think that what the person is playing and time behind the horn would factor in.
45 minutes of Paganini or Bach can reduce a person's lip to Jell-O if they are inexperienced or, they're just not use to the repertoire. If the person has no experience at a particular genre than the task at hand can become a real monster! When something becomes a monster, we often tighten up, begin to force the air, forget to take relaxed breaths, start using more mouthpiece pressure and the list goes on. Tension negatively affects endurance.I think you are right on all points. I currently play in a section where at 60-90 minutes, the other players are starting to flap the lips to get feeling back. When I look around I see deep rings embedded in their lips. Sure signs that they are resorting to pressure to make it through the session. I always recommend the method that allowed me to not have that happen anymore, but I've never had anyone work on it. They just keep jamming the mouthpieces into their faces.
-
RE: Embouchure Dystonia
@tmd said in Embouchure Dystonia:
@Richard-III said in Embouchure Dystonia:
@GeorgeB said in Embouchure Dystonia:
Once I am playing again, I intend to take off the day following practice or tough gigs.
Okay, I'm going to say this again. If this is required, your approach to playing has something wrong with it. Please find a teacher who knows embouchure formation and go there. I've know many players who take lessons year after year and make slight improvements but the same faults continue. I think those teachers shouldn't be allowed to keep teaching. A teacher needs to to be able to say what the basic issue is that is holding you back.
Richard, maybe I've misunderstood you. Are you saying, that if someone has the right fundamentals, he/she can play infinitely and without consequences?
Many of us have had tough gigs, where because of the needs of the moment, we overdid things, and needed a recovery day. I don't thinks this is due to a lack of fundamentals. And I don't think it's the result of bad teachers.
Mike
I think that anyone who can't make it past 45 minutes of playing has an issue. And if they go past that and play for 90 minutes are having prolonged issues days later. I get the tough gig problem resulting in feeling tired the next day. But damaged sounding embouchure from what was described doesn't sound reasonable. Does it to you?
-
RE: What about non-trumpet Brass players
I play french horn, or "horn" all the time. I see people all the time that should be switching to other instruments. I have a trumpet playing friend who plays baritone much better than trumpet. I could go on, but imagine beating your head against the wall for years on one instrument and then you try another and all things come together. Do you stay playing mediocre with the original instrument or excellence with the new one?
-
RE: Embouchure Dystonia
@GeorgeB said in Embouchure Dystonia:
Once I am playing again, I intend to take off the day following practice or tough gigs.
Okay, I'm going to say this again. If this is required, your approach to playing has something wrong with it. Please find a teacher who knows embouchure formation and go there. I've know many players who take lessons year after year and make slight improvements but the same faults continue. I think those teachers shouldn't be allowed to keep teaching. A teacher needs to to be able to say what the basic issue is that is holding you back.
-
RE: Embouchure Dystonia
In addition to a possible medical checkup (which I don't think you need) it is time for a teacher who really understands embouchures. It sounds like your approach is wrong from the start. Playing more should make you tired but not damage you.
-
RE: Huge mouthpiece sale!
@flugelgirl Thanks. It worked. I put in a bid for one.
-
RE: Huge mouthpiece sale!
I went to the link and found tons of mouthpieces for sale. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like wading though tuba and other instrument mouthpieces trying to find the one I might be interested in. Is there a way to search for a specific instrument in that format? If so, I'm missing it. Thanks.
-
RE: Set lists
All the drummers I know wouldn't have any use for sheet music anyway. Why? None of them can read it. Of course the drummers I've used had another problem. They couldn't keep time. Seriously. After the last one, we just gave up having a drummer. Life is so much better. Same story with guitar players.
-
RE: Jazz is still alive in New Orleans for the passing crowd
The tuba is the backbone of the band. A good player is worth his weight in gold.
If you are in NOLA, you gotta hit Frenchmen St. Once there, you will never want to leave. Don't miss The Spotted Cat. For the price of a drink, you can listen to so many great bands. Have fun.
-
RE: Set lists
I have a friend that runs a big band that has been together for years. Their book is in the low two hundreds. All numbered. He'll call out the tune by number. Everybody flips to that page and away they go. I suspect they could almost do them from memory.
My small band has currently 33 songs in the book. The other horn player wants to number them. When I call the song, he wants to know the number. All well and good except I keep adding songs, so the numbers change. Poor guy ends up flipping around. Piano player looks around (all memorized) and asks if we're ready. Waiting on the other horn player is always the reply.
Why so few songs? My fault. All of our songs are originally just for piano. It takes me a bit of time to re-work them for our instrumentation and get the kinks out. We've been doing this for 6-7 months.
-
RE: Set lists
I forgot to also add, my band usually has a set list for the first set but after that we adjust because the audience may change. Or we get a very good response to one tune so we pull out ones that will appeal to that crowd.
With regards to memorization, my piano player memorizes everything. Works until I want to call a section or change. Oops.
And then there's the aging brain. Usually once in a gig I'll have one of those moments where I look at the music in the middle of a song and forget what I'm doing.
-
RE: Set lists
@Mike-Ansberry +1 for the iPad Mike. All charts for all bands in the one place. Set-lists can be put together quicker than sifting through a folder.
Real Books are there if someone calls an unfamiliar tune at a jam - or if you need to pass a chart to someone who doesn't know a tune. Can take a screenshot and email a chat in an instant.
But wait there's more... With an AirTurn Ped there's no problem with page turns.Funny story, a local pro player sat in on an outdoor gig with my community band a while back. He explained that he didn't trust the technology and had stories of it going awry. The wind blew up and everyone was frantically trying to keep their "reliable" charts on the stands while my iPad didn't budge.
I know a guy who every time I see him perform, the pedal thing loses connection with the iPad. Plus I have songs that are three or four pages with repeats back to page two or some other thing. I'll stick with the book of paper.
-
RE: Favorite Cornet
@adc said in Favorite Cornet:
@Richard-III
Yea I say one on ebay..figured it would play like the 36A or the MasterI have mine listed on Ebay. I've hinted that it's like a King Master but I can't say it is exactly the same as I've never played a Master.
-
RE: Favorite Cornet
Has anyone played the Reynolds Professional back to back with a King Master? They have the same configuration as Foster Reynolds helped with the original design of the Master.
-
RE: Could you have a metal allergy?
@Dr-GO said in Could you have a metal allergy?:
@Richard-III said in Could you have a metal allergy?:
Thanks for all the info.
Richard-III you are so welcome. Hope all does work out for your current mouthpiece. If you do notice any of the symptoms starting, one option is gold plating. Gold chops does this for $35. I think it would be worth the try as gold has a great feel and less of a chance of developing a contact dermatitis. Plastic mouthpieces would be an alternative.
Thanks. I was just asking for others and out of curiosity. I've never had an issue or allergic reaction with any mouthpiece. I don't know why as I've had reactions to metal everywhere else on my body. I've also played really old mouthpieces that were quite worn and the plating very thin with no problems. And I'm talking about many hours a day, every day for years and no reaction. I also play on horns with the lacquer removed with no problems. True that wearing a ring or watch for 16 hours a day is not the same as playing 2-5 hours a day. Exposure level is obviously different. The people who are reactive must be extremely reactive. I would ask them if they have the same issues with rings, watches and piercings.