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Originally Posted by duval  How can I reduce the pressure I am using? I don't have great teeth, and they are getting worse as I use too much pressure on my face? I try by simply pulling the horn off my face, bur then my sound goes awful... |
Hi. I used to use waaaay to much pressure as well. It got to the point where my teeth ached and my right-hand pinky finger was starting to get a bend in it from the hook. I had to re-learn because of this.
Chasefan has offered up some good tips there, but you might also want to look at how you hold the Trumpet itself. Are you holding it in what some call the "Death-grip"? That is, left-hand thumb behind the valves and the rest of the left-hand fingers all wrapped around the valves. It's a bit uncomfortable at first, but try 2 fingers above the 3rd valve slide and 2 below. You'll have to alternate back and forth for a while until your fingers get used to the stretch, but it's definitely worth trying.
This will alter the balance of both you and the way you hold the horn. It will give it a more 'up-down' feel, rather than 'fowards-backwards'.
It's hard to explain without showing you, but it'll definitely help (assuming that you even hold it in the "death-grip" in the first place.
Best of luck
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