It sounds like you're very tense when you play.
Relax your body, mostly the lungs. Air finger the passage, then half valve it. The airflow should be steady and focus on volume of air passing through instead of speed or pressure of air.
Issues with my playing...
-
ufoneum
- 3 valves
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:58 pm
- Location: Evansville, IN
Alex,
Not knowing much about your playing, let me tell you a problem that I had (have?!?), and that is playing by 'feel.' So often we as brass players just push down the valves with little regard for the actual pitch of the notes. We see an F, and we play the note - but, are we hearing the F? Or, are we just playing by where we remember that F being?
The reasoning for my post is that I found in slurs (like the Clarke studies), my fingers were pushing the correct valves at the correct time, but I lacked a connection between my EAR and my hands. Meaning, I really wasn't hearing those descending chromatic passages. Here is what I did to fix it.
I took the mouthpiece off of the horn. I put a tuner to the mouthpiece, and slowly buzzed chromatic scales on my mouthpiece. Also, I sang the exercises (not for rhythm like we usually sing, but for pitch - - - it is much more difficult), and then put the mouthpiece back in the horn. Also, if you are having problems with a note that is "bad" on your horn, this works to make it not so "bad."
I think you might have this same problem - it worked really well for me. Don't take my advice - get in the practice room or in a lesson with someone who is better than you. That is usually a great way to fix these fundamental problem. Best of luck!
- Pat Stuckemeyer
Not knowing much about your playing, let me tell you a problem that I had (have?!?), and that is playing by 'feel.' So often we as brass players just push down the valves with little regard for the actual pitch of the notes. We see an F, and we play the note - but, are we hearing the F? Or, are we just playing by where we remember that F being?
The reasoning for my post is that I found in slurs (like the Clarke studies), my fingers were pushing the correct valves at the correct time, but I lacked a connection between my EAR and my hands. Meaning, I really wasn't hearing those descending chromatic passages. Here is what I did to fix it.
I took the mouthpiece off of the horn. I put a tuner to the mouthpiece, and slowly buzzed chromatic scales on my mouthpiece. Also, I sang the exercises (not for rhythm like we usually sing, but for pitch - - - it is much more difficult), and then put the mouthpiece back in the horn. Also, if you are having problems with a note that is "bad" on your horn, this works to make it not so "bad."
I think you might have this same problem - it worked really well for me. Don't take my advice - get in the practice room or in a lesson with someone who is better than you. That is usually a great way to fix these fundamental problem. Best of luck!
- Pat Stuckemeyer
Assistant Prof. of Music - Kentucky Wesleyan College (Owensboro, KY)
Buffet Crampon and Besson Performing Artist
Conductor, River Brass Band (Evansville, IN)
Treasurer, International Tuba Euphonium Association
facebook.com/stuckemeyer
patstuckemeyer.com
Buffet Crampon and Besson Performing Artist
Conductor, River Brass Band (Evansville, IN)
Treasurer, International Tuba Euphonium Association
facebook.com/stuckemeyer
patstuckemeyer.com
-
iiipopes
- Utility Infielder
- Posts: 8580
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:10 am
steady or slightly more constant air, firm the corners, raise the back of the tongue ever so slightly, and pivot so that if you were playing trumpet or trombone, you would be lowering the horn so the mouthpiece anchors to the bottom lip a little more firmly without pressure.
Jupiter JTU1110
"Real" Conn 36K
"Real" Conn 36K
-
iiipopes
- Utility Infielder
- Posts: 8580
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:10 am
OK, bloke, so occasionally the syntax slips that I have an 8-year old son! In spite of my just getting along after all these years, a friend of mine who used to be an elementary school band teacher before he got the call and took up the cloth looked at my son and said he has the best natural brass embouchure he's ever seen, so I bought him a Bach CR300 and we have fun making noise at this point, with a real note here and there over time.
BTW: the last time we played croquet at my inlaws, he gave a mighty whack and had the perfect natural follow through - looking straight ahead, front leg straight, back heel raised, mallet relaxed over his shoulder, etc. It's about time to go with my stepfather (country club member) to get the obligatory set of Snoopy beginner golf clubs as well!
Thank you for the opportunity to brag about my son.
BTW: the last time we played croquet at my inlaws, he gave a mighty whack and had the perfect natural follow through - looking straight ahead, front leg straight, back heel raised, mallet relaxed over his shoulder, etc. It's about time to go with my stepfather (country club member) to get the obligatory set of Snoopy beginner golf clubs as well!
Thank you for the opportunity to brag about my son.
Jupiter JTU1110
"Real" Conn 36K
"Real" Conn 36K