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If you buzz on a mouthpiece while driving, what do you buzz? Do you have a specific routine? Buzz along with the radio or CD?

I sometimes buzz along with some of my Lenny Kravitz collection when I'm going down the road. It's good practice, as long as you don't get to light headed and, "Fly Away", into a ditch.

This is one of my biggest pet peeves-buzzing while driving. I can't understand that people will try to do something so important (the creation of the sound of you and the instrument) with only a small part of your brain involved in the process. The buzz and the sound you get from the mouthpiece, for ME, is one of the most important fundamental aspects of playing that I work on, paying attention to the attack, the inhalation, the exhalation and the quality of the sound. If I were to try to drive and buzz at the same time, all my focus would go to the function of the buzzing process and I would wreck the car in about 30 seconds. If your attention does not go to the buzzing process, then how do you know that you are doing everything correctly??? You may wind up reinforcing bad habits that you already have because you are not able to fully pay attention to what you are doing.

But, then again, some people say I can't fart and chew gum at the same time either. Think about this before you do it is my main recommendation.

In agreement with Roger's comments, I can't concentrate on driving and meaningful, purposeful buzzing simultaneously. However, it is productive to pick up the mouthpiece and buzz while standing still at red lights and traffic jams (there are PLENTY of those in Chicago!).

Paul M wrote:My question is, how do you hold a mouthpiece and put two hands on the steering wheel?

All the three-handed tuba players can do this with ease. Or so I've heard.

If you're driving please dont buzz.

There is no point in doing that.

It is phisiologicaly and psicologicaly impossible to do both those things well.

Hold the mouthpiece cup over your thumb with your index finger curled around the top to position and stabilize it. Then curl the rest of your hand around to enclose the shank and just vary the flexion of your middle, ring, and pinky fingers to provide appropriate resistance. You can obtain just the right amount of resistance with a minimum of practice. Your hand is the best BURP available. Do this at home, not while driving.

Better yet, you might try buzzing while riding...
(it's not any fun if you can't annoy the driver!)

...

I sometimes will buzz to warm up if im on the way to play or practice

I find I can manage to buzz some "sirens" while having some brain power left over to steer the wheel

On long road trips by myself from Florida to north Mississippi, I usually buzz low stuff like the Fountains of Rome or the ride of the Valkyries... that is until I get dizzy.

A good friend, and great tuba player, was buzzing in Tempe AZ one day while driving on I 60. He looks and sees a Cop behind him blaring his sirens. Mike pulls over. Cop comes out with GUN DRAWN and telling Mike to get out with his hands above his head. Apparently a mouthpiece is easy to mistake as a CRACK PIPE when doing 60 miles an hour. Cop apologized and we all had a good laugh.

Tom McCaslin

It is playing with fire to combine mouthpiece buzzing with the operation of a motor vehicle.
This kind of activity can interfere with the more important task of eating and driving. Don't take a chance on spilling tom yam soup, or ceviche, just to get through some flow studies. If you must buzz and drive, be sensible - adjust the
rear view mirror to monitor your corners/cheeks. If you are unable to do your whole routine from memory, use music.
You may easily modify a wire stand for placement on the passenger side of the vehicle.
If you require both hands (to get at the soup for example) drive one of the smaller compacts (automatics only) such
as the Ford Escort Wagon, early versions of the Honda Accord, Bricklins, and the old AMC Pacer. These vehicles make steering with your knees much safer, and ultimately liberate you for the task at hand.
This writer does not endorse PREPARATION of food while driving. This is obviously dangerous, and invites a collision.
If your meal is prepared beforehand, you can jump into your warm-up routine as soon as you begin your trip.
NOTE: Some of the more exotic foods can distract you from the quality of buzz you are producing. If you do attempt
both activities (for experienced players only) bring something simple at first: trail mix, sandwiches, fruits/cookies,
and "morning pizza".
Don't ever perform your routine with your students in the vehicle, they can do everything better than you.
Cordially, Kathott

I remember Gene Pokorny speaking on this subject in '91 in Keystone, CO. I think the subject at the moment was driving to auditions and buzzing in the car on the way.

He thought maybe a windshield wiper inside the car might help.


(I wish I could remember this verbatim.)

I need to be clear on this. It is okay to buzz and drive; but only if I eat while driving first. So, after eating and before buzzing, do you brush your teeth while driving. If you do, what toothpaste do you use?

kathott wrote:It is playing with fire to buzz and drive at the same time!
This kind of activity can interfere with the more important task of eating and driving. Would you take a chance spilling tom yam soup, or even ceviche, just to get through some
"flow studies"?
If you must buzz and drive, be sensible: adjust the rear view mirror to monitor your corner/cheeks, modify a wire stand for placement on the passenger side of the vehicle. Don't try to
do your whole routine from memory. Use music.
If you require both hands, to get at the soup for example, drive one of the smaller compacts (automatics only), such
as the Ford Escort Wagon, early versions of the Honda Accord,
Bricklins, and the old AMC Pacer. These vehicles make steering with your knees much safer, and ultimately liberate you for the
task at hand.
This writer does not endorse PREPARATION of food while driving. If your meal is prepared beforehand, you can jump
into your warm-up routine as soon as you begin your trip.
Note: Some of the more exotic foods can distract you from
the quality of buzz you are producing. If you do attempt both activities (for experienced players only) bring something simple at first: trail mix, sandwiches, fruits, cookies, and "morning pizza".
Finally, please don't perform your routine with your student in the vehicle. Most students cannot afford to operate a vehicle, and your flaunting such activities ultimately reflects on you.
Cordially.

You are my hero.

russell wrote:
Another thought I had-- what about airbags? You'd probably have a mouthpiece-sized hole in the back of your head if the airbag went off while buzzing. Or at least a very profitable visit from the tooth fairy.

Russell

Even barring airbags, I've had nervous moments where I certainly wouldn't want a piece of brass on my chops.

I've been forced to talk on the cell phone without an earpiece a couple times while driving (literally a "couple" -- I hate it), and buzzing is much less distracting.

I've got recorded stuff that I buzz along with, or I'll just buzz other stuff. The important thing for me is to give the muscles enough of a workout so that my days off aren't so detrimental.

Charlie Goodman wrote:

russell wrote:
Another thought I had-- what about airbags? You'd probably have a mouthpiece-sized hole in the back of your head if the airbag went off while buzzing. Or at least a very profitable visit from the tooth fairy.

Russell

Even barring airbags, I've had nervous moments where I certainly wouldn't want a piece of brass on my chops.

That could be a real "pain in the brass" ...

Buzzing for me has become mostly an exercise in posture, air flow, and intonation, all of which would be too difficult for me to focus on or execute properly while driving. I used to think of buzzing more in terms of embouchure strengthening, and was able to do it pretty much anywhere.

-Zack Zeman