| I had the same problem last year. I was in the same position time-wise too, I was 16 and had been playing about 7 years. It was actualy right in the middle of the time that I was really advanceing, but it was also during a time for a month or two that I felt like I was doing worse than I had been (like a bump in the road). I think it was like you said, learning to use more air, but not yet being able to control it.
What worked for me and what I would suggest to you is just really focus on fighting the tendency to puff out. The muscles in your cheeks will get stronger and soon you won't have to worry about them puffing out becuase you'll be used to it and get back to normal again.
But in my opinion it really is a serious problem, it set me back a month or two right in the middle of a time where I felt I was really improveing. If I focused more on the problem than I did it probably would have only been a week or so, but I didn't realize it was so big of a problem and I let it drag out.
So just be careful and good luck!
-David
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-David Jacques |