| Early struggles
Well, after not playing for many years I've been practicing and gaining a little. I've tried several mouthpieces but I guess I'm sticking (for now) with my 1 1/2C
At this point, I can choose to get the notes to sound good and articulate properly (more or less) but have no endurance or range---------or I can play with sloppy pitch, off and on bad tone and have a fairly dependable high F above high C and lots of endurance.
The difference is in the emboucher, so far. If I support with my tongue, channeling the air current where the mouthpiece is I get the range and endurance and sloppy articulation and off-and-on good sound quality.
If I just play and forget the tongue my range and endurance are in the cellar, the tone is so-so, but it sounds like I'm well schooled.
I don't know which direction to put more time into, figuring that in the end both might lead to decent playing.
Should I go with the sloppy sounding approach and good range gradually refining it, or go with the more disciplined approach where everything sounds conservatory-right and hope the range etc. works it's way out? |