All Pressure System

tubaman5150 · Post by **tubaman5150** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:11 pm

From the Rice Marching Owl Band website:

The All-Pressure System
By: Greg Cannella

Introduction

There are many resources available to today's trumpet player. From method books to mouthpieces, there are virtually hundreds of ways a trumpet player can be steered away from the "correct" method of playing the trumpet. This book will set straight all those ridiculous concepts that many trumpet players hold true. For example, most teachers say that "breathing is the key" or "airflow is vital" - or the best one of all: "use more air and less pressure". They are all liars!!!! They are trying to keep you from getting their gigs!!! Trust me, this method is for you. It will affect your trumpet playing far more than their methods. "The All-Pressure System" is not just any trumpet method--it is the trumpet method. Let us start at the beginning.

Holding Position

Many students don't realize the importance of proper holding position. To hold the trumpet properly is the cornerstone of the all-pressure system, and you will see that the trumpet was originally designed for this system. You will notice that there is a finger ring on the lead pipe. Many players will not use this ring, but they are wrong!! This ring allows for a much more solid grip, which allows for more pressure. Trumpet manufacturers put it there for that reason. Hold the instrument with your left hand and fingers around the valves. Then, with your right hand, grip the instrument with your thumb in-between the 1st and 2nd valve and your pinky locked into the finger ring. It may feel awkward at first, but practice will help clear that up and improve finger flexibility. This grip will allow leverage and power for more pressure.

Playing Position

Playing position is also an important part of the all-pressure system. One must sit with his back straight and horn slightly tilted upward. This allows for a much more powerful "mashing of the lips" (covered in the embouchure section). It is important for one to visualize that the head must also press up against the force of the mouthpiece rather than yielding to the pain and tilting back. It is quite common for beginners of this system to do this. I suggest practicing with their heads up against a wall to make it impossible for this to occur. Remember - youâ€™re not trying to lessen the pressure, you are trying to increase it.

Embouchure

You may ask yourself, "How important is my Embouchure?" The answer is that it is very important. Your embouchure works in conjunction with your pressure to produce sound. (Also used is air, but not as much as pressure). The proper embouchure is to roll the bottom lip in. Try to visualize your bottom lip sinking back into your throat. It is a concept which has helped me greatly. The lip rolls farther in to go higher and farther out to go lower. It is pretty logical concept but one that is hard for beginners to get used to. Remember, practicing is the key.
The embouchure is one of the three important factors of playing the trumpet. (The other two being lip strength to withstand pressure and arm strength to induce pressure) Your lips must be conditioned to handle the intense pressure being placed upon them by the mouthpiece. I like to refer to the concept of "lip mashing". Visualizing this concept will help one to properly exert the correct amount of pressure.

Breathing and Air

Another concept of the all-pressure system is breathing and air. This is important for many reasons, the most important reason being obvious - you need to have oxygen flowing to your arms to keep up the pressure and to your head to keep from passing out due to the pressure being thrust upon your face. Another reason has to due with an air-column, but that is far less of importance than anything else. The pressure you are exerting will minimize the amount of air you have to use. I would suggest that one not even think about an air column and concern themselves more with the idea of a steady pressure exertion. We are now ready to move on to the key to this whole system - the pressure itself.

Pressure!!!

Well, here it is - the key to all of this. You may find yourself asking, "Well how much pressure should I use, anyway?" Intense pressure!! Enormous amounts!! AS MUCH AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY INDUCE!!! This is where the visualization of "lip-mashing" really becomes important. Sure, it will be painful for awhile, but the benefits you gain from this will be worth it. It is O.K.. to feel pain. Have you ever exercised? Don't your muscles hurt after you exercise? It is the same thing. In fact, if you are doing it properly your arms should hurt as much as your face does. And of course, one must be logical about the amount of pressure it takes to play different notes. For example, you wouldn't use the same amount of pressure to play a high C than you would to play a low C. (Although, drastic differences in pressure are not encouraged) The higher you go, the more pressure there needs to be exerted. And of course, the lower you go, the less pressure -to a degree- needs to be exerted. Everyone is different, but don't get overconfident. No matter how well of a player you may become, you can always use more pressure.

Equipment

Let us discuss equipment for awhile. There are many different types of setups out there for the young trumpeter to choose from. Good vendors are Jupiter or Bundy. They cost less than the so-called Bach "professional" trumpets and get a better sound. The most important thing you must consider is the grip you can get with any particular trumpet....REMEMBER: The tighter the grip, the more pressure allowed.
As you are probably aware, there are many mouthpieces available out there. What is the correct thing to do? Well, the secret is to switch back and forth between them every few weeks or so. This is great for building up ALL of the muscles in your embouchure, not just the same ones every time you play.

Exercises

Aside from exercising your arms for greater arm strength, there are other exercises you can do for strengthening your lip and developing your all-pressure habits. It is important to keep in mind all of the key thoughts of the all-pressure system while playing these exercises. The exercises themselves can be anything you choose to play, as long as it involves these concepts:

1. Sit with your back firmly against the wall. Slowly bring your head back so it too is firmly planted against the wall. This will ensure that your head will not tilt back and the pressure will all be placed upon the lips.

2. Push yourself until the pain is unbearable before stopping. You want to make sure you have pushed yourself as far as you can so your endurance will build. Eventually the pain will stop.

3. Above all other things, PRESSURE IS VITAL. Don't fall into bad habits of blowing harder to attain higher notes....PUSH.

4. Actually visualize the "lip-mashing" process. If you can see it in your head, you can do it.

I hope this method has been helpful in your studies of trumpet playing!

"The All Pressure System" is Copyright Â© Greg Cannella. All Rights Reserved.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:59 pm

This method has omitted mentioning to practice in marathon sessions, thus actually requiring more and more of that life-giving pressure!

brianf · Post by **brianf** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:52 pm

Amen Brother, I'ze seen the light!

Been practicing blowing up car tires then I'll move on to truck tires. Changin' my embouchure then gonna find the perfect mouthpiece - I'll go to a show and blast out high notes on every mouthpiece. Guess I should inflate my ego while I'm at it.

Do you believe??

Glad I switched from the trumpet in sixth grade! Rather read the Low Brass Players Creed anyway.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:52 am

I followed all of the above and lost all my teeth. I went out and bought some implants and denture-type choppers but I have fond memories of real, flossable teeth.
Couldn't play trumpet.
Could only play guitar.
My teeth spend their nights,
on my table, in a jar.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:01 pm

tubatooter1940 wrote:My teeth spend their nights,
on my table, in a jar.

But are they kept in good beer?

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:53 am

The best beer I can afford, my friend.

XtremeEuph · Post by **XtremeEuph** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:25 am

ya...............I completely disagree wtih the whole pressure thing as well. Rather than using catching phrases by saying you arent bull shitting them, try it out yourself and see what works best, pressure or no pressure, no teeth or teeth, strained sound or open sound........like FTW?!?!

Cheers

Kevin

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:41 am

XtremeEuph wrote:ya...............I completely disagree wtih the whole pressure thing as well. Rather than using catching phrases by saying you arent bull shitting them, try it out yourself and see what works best, pressure or no pressure, no teeth or teeth, strained sound or open sound........like FTW?!?!

Cheers

Kevin

Now maybe I'm misreading your post, but you do know this is a joke right?

Ralph

brianf · Post by **brianf** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:20 pm

this is a joke right

It si?? Means I've been blowing up tires al week for nothing. Shucks!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:23 pm

brianf wrote:It is?? Means I've been blowing up tires al week for nothing. Shucks!

Tires are for sissies. Even truck tires. Try blowing up a few blimps, and then come see us!

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:15 pm

windshieldbug wrote:
brianf wrote:It is?? Means I've been blowing up tires al week for nothing. Shucks!
Tires are for sissies. Even truck tires. Try blowing up a few blimps, and then come see us!

Did someone say sissies??
viewtopic.php?t=11348&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

XtremeEuph · Post by **XtremeEuph** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:38 pm

TexTuba wrote: Now maybe I'm misreading your post, but you do know this is a joke right?

Ralph

Not necessarily, just figured it was an idiot

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:53 am

XtremeEuph wrote:Not necessarily, just figured it was an idiot

Well it IS by a trumpet player! Idiot, trumpet player...now you're just splitting hairs!!

Ralph

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:57 am

Splitting hairs, splitting notes, what's the difference if you're a trumpet player!?

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:16 pm

Say, whatever happened to T4S? I always figured eventually someone would shoot him.

MA

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:37 pm

MaryAnn wrote:Say, whatever happened to T4S? I always figured eventually someone would shoot him.

MA

He switched to bass bone. Let the slidecreatures deal with him now!!

Ralph

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:58 pm

I went to Rice, and I can assure you that everything the MOB (Marching Owl Band) does (and writes) is deadly serious. So, make sure that every trumpet player you know follows the advice in this article.

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:47 pm

Actually, I thought I would show this to a few of my students... you know, the ones who always do exactly opposite of what you're trying to get them to do !!???!!

MF

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:15 pm

Mike Finn wrote:Actually, I thought I would show this to a few of my students... you know, the ones who always do exactly opposite of what you're trying to get them to do !!???!!

Don't bother showing them; just tell 'em not to read it!

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:01 pm

you mean reverse-reverse psychology?! Are you sure that's safe?
MF