| Some folks pivot, some don't, I guess...
Ah, to pivot or not to pivot! THAT is the question.
NOT pivoting DEFINITELY has its advantages, not the least of which is minimal wasted motion in playing.
However, I have a pronounced pivot, fwiiw. For me the pivot is an integral part of playing the upper register. As I ascend in pitch, my lower lip comes up (closer to the upper lip) in order to close up the aperture (reducing the vibrating mass thus sending the pitch up). As my lower lip comes up, the bell of my horn comes down in response. This is becasue I keep the lower mouthpiece rim sitting on the same spot, but now the spot is moving up.
I do work on double tonguing octaves. I can do it, though my horn does a little bit of a dance. It is more of a problem if I try double tonguing 12ths or more. Now as to just making a skip up or down, the pivot causes no problems with ANY interval that I have to navigate. It only shows up when I try to do that Al Vizzuti thing.
I think the pivot or not thing is very much up to the individual, IMHO.
My $.02 worth!
Peace, all.
Nick Drozdoff |