The BuZZ

Hello all................
How many of my fellow Trumpeteres have experienced "embouchure Overuse Syndrome" and have sought out consultaion with Lucinda Lewis and or used her book for rehabilitaion? I am at wit's end with this problem and I am getting desperate! Any info/feedback will be greatly appreciated!

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Stage 1: California Light
Calicchio: Solo Copper 3/9
Getzen: Eterna Flugel
GR: 66MX, Zottola: 66 FL
Assorted Garage Tools

"Some days you get up and put the horn to your chops and it sounds pretty good and you win. Some days you try and nothing works and the horn wins. This goes on and on and then you die and the horn wins."
Dizzy

Miyot

Been there several times. The first took the longest to recover from, about 3 weeks. The others were not quite as bad as I was more aware and took action sooner. I did read something on the net about Lucinda Lewis's ideas, and feel she probably has it right. Rowuk helped me the most. He thought more quiet practice, playing very softly would help with the way I explained what was happening to me. I tried a few days off and that didn't help. If you were seriously injured time off may be necessary, I wasn't. Rowuk also advised 3 half hr sessions with time off in between. For me, quiet playing, being careful not to use a lot of pressure and patience worked. Other times I felt problems were occuring rowuk advised a back to basics sort of session. This also helped. For me, playing softly most of the time while visualizing a small aperture, keeping my loud practice to around 5 or ten minutes max per day (long tones p-FF-pp) is working. However I have to watch not pushing things as I overtrain easily. I work range twice per week and also take a day off each week. And still I am searching. Hope this doesn't confuse you even more. Good luck

skankin'dan

I never heard of this book, but it looks like I can use a hand from it. I tend to overwork myself, not because I try to perfect something, but because I just like to play. (I have an addictive personality sometimes).

rowuk

Without a really accurate description, I think that the overuse syndrome is more of an excuse than a fact. There are certain situations where I will buy the story, but many times it is not overuse, it is carelessness or stupidity.

There is no magic in getting your chops back. Call everybody that you promised to play for in the next 30 days and cancel (offering some reasonable replacement player of course). Then just play an hour a day in 4 15 minute sections for the first week. I say do not play more loudly than piano and no high notes, heavy lip slurs, no heavy tonguing or technical stuff, just easy tunes, long tones and maybe some Clarke. Take the time that you would have otherwise practiced and go swimming, yoga class or something else good for your body! After a week, post again or PM me.

If you are tired, the cure is sleep. If you waste your face, it is time to get smart. Nothing to get desperate about. Depending how badly you have treated yourself, it could take 6 months to build intelligent habits! No book will ever make anybody smarter, but sometimes a size 8 1/2 shoe planted where the sun doesn't shine will!

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Al Innella

I never heard "embouchure over use syndrome".It sounds to me that your using too much mouthpiece pressure, or possibly are in need of professional chop help either way this shouldn`t be happening.If you feel you`r chops are over worked one day off is plenty of time to recoup if not find a good teacher.