TrumpetMaster - View Single Post - Non-pressure = impossible

rowuk · 07-04-2007, 06:48 AM

It is always useful to know how long that you have been playing before offering any advice. I do not know any players that did not start with pressure, so what you experience I would call normal.
The fact that you have a red ring does not automatically mean too much pressure. The fact that your range STOPS at g on top of the staff can have many causes.
Getting 300 recommendations about how to solve the issue will not necessarily help you get better. IF you have seen several teachers AND they tell you different things, what have you tried and failed with. If you try each of the 300 ways for only one day each, you will not improve. To solve a problem, you need a plan of action and then preserverance!

Pressure is a habit like smoking. People use it because it works. Breaking habits can be very tough depending how long you have been doing something, your playing schedule and your age.
As VB posted, pressure is many times a symptom of inadequate chop strength and underdeveloped breathing skills.
I never address "pressure" with my students before I am happy with their breathing and embouchure. Removing pressure before the rest works only succeeds in making the player sound bad and decreasing the range even more. Waiting until the rest has developed usually has solved the problem without ANY additional work!
My suggestion: find 1 teacher that you trust and do what THEY say (for at least a year). Do not confuse your chops and brain with thousands of alternatives!

07-04-2007, 06:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
rowuk Moderator Fortissimo User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4,384	Re: Non-pressure = impossible It is always useful to know how long that you have been playing before offering any advice. I do not know any players that did not start with pressure, so what you experience I would call normal. The fact that you have a red ring does not automatically mean too much pressure. The fact that your range STOPS at g on top of the staff can have many causes. Getting 300 recommendations about how to solve the issue will not necessarily help you get better. IF you have seen several teachers AND they tell you different things, what have you tried and failed with. If you try each of the 300 ways for only one day each, you will not improve. To solve a problem, you need a plan of action and then preserverance! Pressure is a habit like smoking. People use it because it works. Breaking habits can be very tough depending how long you have been doing something, your playing schedule and your age. As VB posted, pressure is many times a symptom of inadequate chop strength and underdeveloped breathing skills. I never address "pressure" with my students before I am happy with their breathing and embouchure. Removing pressure before the rest works only succeeds in making the player sound bad and decreasing the range even more. Waiting until the rest has developed usually has solved the problem without ANY additional work! My suggestion: find 1 teacher that you trust and do what THEY say (for at least a year). Do not confuse your chops and brain with thousands of alternatives! __________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.