@Richard-III said in 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))
Thanks for sharing. Nice article.
Mike
@Dr-Mark said in What's in your mute bag?:
Hi tmd,
I carry a plunger purchased at Ace Hardware, a dampening ring, bubble mute, cup mute, harmon mute, and a bucket mute
Where did you get the dampening ring?
Thanks!
Mike
@Dr-GO said in What's in your mute bag?:
By the way Mike, here is what is in the bag behind the mute bag:
Both of which are the bags of the healing Arts!
Nice. I don't use a medical bag any more. I don't need much in the Emergency Department. Here's a pic of what is actually in my pockets at work ... along with a description of what other people think is in my pockets. 
What's in your mute bag?
Trumcor Straight Mute
Harmon Type-B Mute
$1.95 Hardware Store 4" Plunger Mute
Soulo Cup Mute
Soulo Bucket Mute
Felt Mute (Crown Royal Bag)
I have a few others, probably more than I need. But these are the ones mainly use.
Mike
@Richard-III said in Embouchure Dystonia:
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?
He played a double concert one night, and then tried to do his full practice session the next morning. Regardless of what he could be able to do, or should be able to do, he played well beyond what he normally does.
Mike
@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
@GeorgeB said in Embouchure Dystonia:
The next morning during practice ( I play approximately 45 minutes horn on the face technical stuff every morning and the same time playing tunes every afternoon ) nothing sounded good and the mp on the chops didn't feel right. The next 4 days I struggled to get back my tone, and on the 5th day ( Monday this week ) after playing two songs horribly, there was suddenly nothing but dead air coming out the end of the horn.
What we do the day after a tough gig is important. What you did the next morning may have created or significantly worsened the injury.
I had a tough gig last week. I was sitting in with another band, and by the end of the gig, my chops were spent. The next day, I played softly for 10 minutes, and then put the horn away. The following day, I practiced for 45 minutes (instead of my normal 60-90 minutes), and was careful not to push anything. The next day, I felt great, and resumed my normal playing.
Mike
@GeorgeB said in Embouchure Dystonia:
I have heard about embouchure dystonia becoming a problem after overuse and my symptoms seem to fit that category. There is a website, I believe it is by the gent who wrote The Balanced Embouchure. it is heavy reading for someone who is not a doctor, so I sent a link to the site to a doctor who is a member in our band. I am looking for answers as to what I have to do to make a full recovery.
(I'm a physician. I am making some general comments about dystonias and your post.)
Sorry to hear about your problem. Based on what your saying, it is very likely not an embouchure dystonia.
FWIW, a dystonia is an irreversible neurologic condition. It is believed to be the result of a disease state, although the exact cause is often unknown. It often begins abruptly and without warning. And it never goes away. (It can be compensated for, by doing things differently, but it never goes away.)
Do you have a reason to believe you have a neurologic disease? If so, you should talk to a doctor. And without commenting on any specific embouchure-rehab website, I would be highly skeptical of any non-physician trying to diagnose or treat a so-called dystonia.
But based on what you shared, you're playing the trumpet beyond your normal abilities, and you are suffering negative consequences. You most likely have a soft tissue injury. Based on this, you need rest, you need to avoid the type of playing that caused this problem, and you need to work on exercises to refocus your embouchure.
Mike
@moshe said in no prayer requests allowed:
The heading for the Lounge section says that no religious posts are allowed.
I will obey that restriction by NOT posting my prayer request.
I may be wrong. But a prayer request is not a religious post. You are not debating a religious topic. You are not making negative or derogatory statements. You are simply expressing a need.
Mike
@Dr-Mark said in Never let the bass player pick the tunes:
@Tobylou8
Now that certainly sweetens the deal. There's nothing better than Octave Oil for playing in the upper register. Heck I oiled my valves and blew a middle C and out of the bell of my trumpet popped a high C! That stuff is so slick, high notes just slide out of the horn. I think Maynard used to use it along with DHC Lip Balm. Another great product from Gottcha Inc..
I see a business opportunity. Someone is going to market a valve oil that makes high notes easier. And why not? There are several lips balms that (indirectly) promise high notes to those who use them.
Mike
@Dr-GO said in Never let the bass player pick the tunes:
@Dr-Mark said in Never let the bass player pick the tunes:
@Dr-GO
What! I have to transpose the Bb in measure 6 to a C?
I need a capo.Yes sir. I ALWAYS play from the piano score! Overall it's easier for the entire ensemble when multiple people call out tunes from multiple sources.
"Real men" read from the C book.
Mike
@Dr-Mark said in Never let the bass player pick the tunes:
Dr-GO and I have the Bb trumpet capos for sale at only $29.95.
C trumpet capos are $39.95 and painted in The University of Dayton colors.
Don't delay!!! Buy one today!
I gotta get me one. But I need it in gold plate, so it doesn't aggravate my nickel allergy.
Mike
So I got called to sit in with a quartet this week. The band is run by a bass player, who just sent out the set list. He wants to do an F Blues, but wanted to pick something that was "more interesting" and up-tempo. Here's what he picked ... "Teenie's Blues". Ummm ... nice intervals? Never let the bass player pick the tunes.
Mike
@Bay-Area-Brass said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:
@tmd They older ones are in tune once you pull out the slide a bit. I'm happy to do that in order to keep the classic tone.
Thanks Bill. Just to clarify, low notes on my original Harmon mute are very sharp (especially low G and low F#). Back in the day, it took a lot of effort to get those notes out. With my Harmon Type B, those notes are very much in tune.
Mike
@Pinstriper said in "Star Trek Next Generation":
TNG dealt two fatal blows to my willingness to suspend my disbelief.
The first was when they find a copy of Scotty stuck in the memory banks of an abandoned hulk ship.
The second was the flashback to Piccard getting stabbed in the heart as a young man.
Don't forget William Riker and his "brother" Thomas.
But it's more interesting to bring people back by shifting time. They brought back Tash Yar 3 times ... and managed to kill her off all 3 times.
Mike
@Dr-GO said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:
So that explains it why I love my 1970 vintage Harmon. I always thought I had a Type A personality!
Is your vintage Harmon in tune? Mine is pretty beat up, with worn down corks. Maybe that's why mine is out of tune?
Mike
@Dr-GO said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:
But for me personally, I'll stick with my Harmon Type B mute. For me, it has the classic sound, and good intonation from low F# on up. My aluminium Jo Ral is pretty good, too. I still have my Harmon Type A from the 1970s, but the intonation is bit more squirrely, especially in the low register.
Mike
So that explains it why I love my 1970 vintage Harmon. I always thought I had a Type A personality!
Better to have a "Type A" personality than a "Cluster B" personality disorder.
Mike
@J-Jericho said in Harmon Mute Showdown!:
I realize that you do not stock original Harmon mutes nor Humes & Berg, but I would like to have had these in the mix for comparison.
Agreed. It's hard to have a Harmon mute comparison without an actual Harmon mute. That aside, it's a very good comparison of the alternatives, and a great video. Thanks to Trent for sharing. If I ever wanted a Harmon mute with a warmer tone, I might consider the copper Tom Crown. (I might order one from Trent today.)
But for me personally, I'll stick with my Harmon Type B mute. For me, it has the classic sound, and good intonation from low F# on up. My aluminium Jo Ral is pretty good, too. I still have my Harmon Type A from the 1970s, but the intonation is bit more squirrely, especially in the low register.
Mike
Based on what little we know, I doubt MJ wants to sell the TrumpetMaster.com domain. The domain itself was probably worth $1,000 to $2,000, possibly more with the associated content. It's still probably worth a few hundred bucks. But the more time passes, the more its value will decline.
MJ could have cashed out, and created an orderly transfer. But this did not happen. We can only speculate why. I hope he's okay, and that nothing tragic happened. And I wish him all the best.
The domain is registered through 2023. At that point, it likely will have little value. If you do a whois lookup, you can get the phone number and email address of the domain's proxy owner. Give them a call.
Mike
