Quote:
Originally Posted by Majestic1  Trachea, Heart, Brain, Lungs, Thyroid, Larynx, Soft Palate, Tongue: YOU, Relaxed Lips, are guilty of attempted man slaughter. No matter how you work it, Relaxed Lips, you are trying to pass air from a large area into a very small one thus creating VM. |
Very entertaining post! However, if someone is playing hard enough to instill the valvsalva maneuver, they aren't playing right. Plain and simple. It's not only about relaxed lips. Every part of the entire system must in fact be relaxed. Tension only causes impediments. The other key is to take in what air you need to play a passage and take the horn off your face when you aren't playing. If you don't, you will tire yourself unnecessarily.
Never try to force your air or your sound. Let it come naturally. Having changed that this year and still working on making it consistent, I can vouch that playing will not only be easier, but you will get better tone, intonation and overall technique. This is the true key.