| Okay, it's pretty clear now.
There are several things at play that need to be addressed.
First, the only and mean only place where there's "tension" for lack of a better word is at the corners of the embouchure and the only reason for that is just to provide stability. How much tension? Well, I don't know how to measure in PSI but I know you wouldn't want to measure it that way. The amount needed is the amount that holds the embouchure stable but allows the vibrating parts of the lip freedom to do what it needs to amplify the music in your head. Otherwise, there's no neck, chest, abdominal, leg, hand, or other "tension" any where else. Let me be even clearer: even someone who is standing in a completely relaxed stance has points of tension in the body that enable that person to stand. Otherwise, he would collapse in a heap, no? So, let's understand that the muscles are constantly providing a stable support in some manner even when you're engaged in an activity that is gentle and relaxed. There's tension and then there's tension.
Second, your approach of micromanaging your body from within is fatal to music-making on the trumpet if you want to play as an artist. You are trying to program your body to perform physical functions because of mishaps very, very early in your playing career. You didn't get the direction you needed then, so, now you're trying to do it by deep physical analysis. I do commend you, however, for trying to get a model of sound in your head and pursuing it. That's a great start!.
Yes, I agree that if you're trying to consciously enlarge the oral, cavity you're doing damage by dictating form before function. You want to place your tongue here and produce a sound. That's pure guesswork, it can't be anything else. It's like playing first base and closing your eyes a few seconds before you get the throw from the shortstop. Yeah, you can guess more or less where the throw is going but I wouldn't audition for the Red Sox any time soon. You have to have a clear picture of what you want to happen from a result point of view not a process.
I know from your post that none of this is news to you but I'm saying it anyway because I want you to have the reinforcement of reading/hearing it so that you are encouraged to continue to let your playing develop as a natural process not a forced one. Forget about tongue levels for now. It's really screwing you up. Just let what happens happen, play for yourself and forget what others are accomplishing for now. They aren't your problem. Let your accomplishments be your own as well as your failures. "He who never made a mistake never made a discovery", you've heard that before.
Keep singing like you're doing and try, now, to do it as you play but sing a trumpet sound not a vocal sound. And let your body plug into your brain, it knows better than your body but you have to allow it. Allow mistakes, nobody's going to kill you. Go for it and sing the trumpet.
ML |