I already posted this question in Manny's forum, but I figured I'd get another opinion, just to see what two different people say about it. By all means, if you don't feel like answering this, you can delete it, but I think it's good to get a couple people's opinions.
Quote:
Hi Manny,
Let me first start off by saying that it's really a privilege to be able to interact with you here.
Ever since school started, (just this past Tuesday) I've been having problems playing. I'm now in the advanced jazz band and wind ensemble (it's a step above the regular concert band). In Wind Ensemble, we're playing a lot of marching band music (homecoming is coming up and WE also doubles as the pep band for all home games). Some of the marching charts go up to high C above the staff. Since we started playing on the second day of school, I noticed a slow but steady degradation of my tone and range. I know that you always say something along the lines of "A beautiful high register starts with a beautiful low register," but my low register tone has gone downhill also. It's really thin sounding. I've been working on the Clarke Technical Studies (I & II) trying to get my tone and range back. When I try for the upper register (top line G to D), the tone sounds incredibly stressed and 90% only air comes out. I haven't hit a high D since before school started. Could you recommend me some exercises? I'm becoming more and more reliant on using mouthpiece pressure (ACK!).
Thanks a lot!
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