| Happy new year, Mike
You've already answered yourself by saying that you're experiencing success by practicing bending exercises. If it works, do it (mantra).
I occasionally ask a student to bend below a note to help define where the core of the note is (or, in this case, isn't). Most snap back to the center after completing the bend. It's all about cultivating a relaxed core, afterall. I also believe that if you follow proper air management principles, your aperture will follow correspondingly.
Best,
EC |