B15M

Hi Tony,

I am having some trouble lately and I'm asking you for help because I think I play styles similar to you. By that I mean that I will get hired to play lead in a big band one night and second trumpet in an orchestra the next and maybe a week later I'm playing a show.

I am not a full time musician so my practice time is limited.

My last job playing was Christmas day in a church and I used C trumpet.

Now that you have an idea about my playing here is the problem.

Lately I have noticed that after a rest I have trouble coming in. When I go to start playing I get some air first before the buzz starts. If I am playing a section and stop for a short while I'm fine but lets say I have twenty bars out and have to come in on a G on the staff, P or MP. That's the problem.

Do you know why this happens and how to fix it.

Thanks,
Joe

B15M

I guess this isn't geten an answer

kadleck

Sorry Joe - this thread completely slipped by me.

Before I can answer, I'd like to find out more. Are you using the same mouthpiece for everything? If you use more than one, are you playing them both the same amount each day or favoring one? Have you changed anything about your warm up? Is the problem only at softer volumes?

Sometimes, if your playing schedule is erratic (playing many hours for a few days in a row and then very little for a while), that can be the cause of chop weirdness. Also, a 4 hr. big band job followed by a church service the next morning can wreak havoc on us freelancers.

Sorry again for missing this post.

Tony

B15M

Thank you Tony,

I play Monette trumpets and mouthpieces.
For B flat all around everything B15M For lead B15LD
I haven't played lead for about a month or so and rarely practice on that mouthpiece.

Warm up is limited but not changed
The problem seems to be at softer volumes.

Thanks again,
Joe

TrentAustin

I can't suggest playing more on your lead mpc. Daily work on that will help you so much... even just a few minutes a day will help your chops adjust to the cup depth difference (which is big from the M to the LD!).

Take care,

T

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kadleck

Joe -

I would suggest (if possible) doing an extended warm up, lots of lip slurs, & not playing louder than mp for the duration of the warm up. Also, I don't know how old you are (no need to answer), but I've found that in the last 4-5 years, the amount of time I need to feel "warmed up" has literally doubled. I'm 42. Up until my late 30's, I could pretty much get it together in 15 mins. if I had to. Now I actually need a good 45 mins. before I'm even close. I can't help but think that age may have at least something to do with it. However, this may not apply to you at all.

I really think that playing softly will hone in your aperture and improve your attacks. Also, practice that which is difficult for you: play a passage, then wait a bit and try to attack that "G" in the staff mp. See if an extended warm up (quietly) will help out at all. Please keep us posted.

Thanks -
Tony

kadleck

Newtpt -

I usually make up my own lip slur exercises, but there are some good books out there as well. I really got a lot out of "Advanced Lip Flexibilities" by Charles Colin. (not sure if it's still in print - mine is over 20 yrs. old)

Also - check out a book called "Flexus" by Laurie Frink & John McNeil.

Tony

GOODKAT

Hi Tony ,
I Would Be Very Interested To Know What Sort Of Approach You Would Take To Working Through The Colin Lip Flexibilities , Both In Terms Of As Warm Up Material As You Seem To Favour A Lip Slurs Warm Up , But Also If The Focus Was Purely On Range / Flexibility .
Thanks .
Gk.

B15M

Update:

I have been playing a lot of Clark.

Still having trouble with some air and low range. Low G or sometimes A.

My technique is getting better though.
By the way, I'm 47 years old.

Scooter01

I was having a similar issue and then had the pleasure of a one on one lesson with William Scarlett. He determined that I was thinking too much about how to play the note rather than concentrating on playing the music. In short, your chops know what to do and don't need your conscious input. Mental focus on the music has helped tremedously since then. As others have suggested, soft playing and even using breath attacks will help develop the proper sensation. But overall what helped me the most is the mental picture of the music .