Liad Bar-EL

What did he say that you have to work on?

Liad Bar-EL

trickg

He gave me three things to work on:

1.) Air
2.) Air
3.) Air

Basically, he said that my chops setup was ok, but that I just wasn't making good use of my air, and further described to me what a lot of players do (me!) as they ascend into the upper register - they choke off their own air, thus becoming counter productive to what it is that they are trying to accomplish.

He further went on to do one of the best explanations of the diaphram's role in breathing and playing trumpet that I have ever heard.

The main thrust of what we are working on are my range and endurance maladies when I'm playing in the rock band, but I'm also going to get some other books that I no longer have because I had to give them all back when I left the army - they were always issued to me.

He also gave me a book written by one of his influential teachers, the late Don Jacoby. Since the lesson lasted well over an hour, and he gave me the book plus some Jazz Ambassador CDs, I tipped him 100% of what his lesson rate was, which I thought was low anyway.

I was working on some stuff last night, namely getting a big, full, natural breath, and I was amazed at how much more air I was allowing myself to use. Of course, this isn't going to give me extreme upper register capabilities overnight, but I do think that it is going to drastically improve my playing on the gig.

I'll keep everyone posted.

__________________
Patrick Gleason
email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com

"What we do in life echoes in eternity"
"At my signal, unleash hell."
- Maximus Decimus Meridius

trickg

Oh yeah, another thing, (how could I forget!?) we talked about tongue position and the use of syllables to change air speed, as well as working on the mind set that notes don’t get higher, they get further away.

A lot of this stuff is stuff that I have either heard or read over the years, but taken in the context of watching someone using those concepts and playing clear, controlled, musical, full sounding double register passages, it gives me a lot more confidence in taking that approach. Something else that makes me feel very good about the course of action that I have pursued is that Jack is a downstream player too, whereas many of the guys that I know that are able to play effectively in that register are upstream players. So, if there is anyone out there that thinks that they are going to have a rough time with range because they play downstream, take heart!

I’m going to continue to work systematically on the concepts and exercises that he gave me, and I’ll check in after a month or so to reevaluate and see if I’m making any progress.

__________________
Patrick Gleason
email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com

"What we do in life echoes in eternity"
"At my signal, unleash hell."
- Maximus Decimus Meridius

bandman $$$

I'm going to make this simple -- GO GET A PHYSICAL!!! Allow a doctor you trust to give you an answer about your physical endurance problems, and your overall shape.

I played 3-4 hour jobs for years. As time went on I stopped playing in the 8-piece "because I was getting older". I didn't have the endurance. I ignored the other problems that were obvious. I also ignored the fact that I was playing better than I have ever played. Why didn't I ask, "why is my body giving out on me?"

On Feb 18th of this year I had a massive heart attack at age 46. All the signs and symptoms were there, not to mention a family history. I have since had several surgeries, the latest being on Wednesday of this week. I still play, but now it is hard to keep my body doing anything because I let my medical problems get too far.

From the questions you are asking, and from your age (you are at that time of your life when you start to realize you are not 18 anymore), I suggest you go in and get checked out. You might get an exercise prescription, you might get put on a diet, and you might bet told it's all in your head. But if you go in you will get the answers you want from a medical expert, and you might find there is a reason for your fatigue.

Take it from someone who didn't listen to his body -- it would have all been much easier to have gone to the doctor and had this taken care of prior to a heart attack and serious medical problems that have resulted from that attack.

Good luck to you!