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Originally Posted by iainmcl  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 |
My tutor put me onto this little "technique" to, and if I have read the posts correctly, the 'grip' shown on Iainmcl's avatar show what is being described for the left hand. I was very used to fingers all around the valves and the switch caused many MONTHS of acute pain in the base of my fingers - I wonder if the pain stopped me being able to force the trumpet onto my face? Let me suggest that you get your pinky OUT of that hook too, among other things it restricts the capacity for you to lift your third valve finger quickly. All that being said, I really think that the most benefit for me has been gained by following the intent of the discussion in David Monettes mouthpiece acclimation (sic) (yes mouthpiece - I know, it doesn't make sense) on the attached website. Good luck.
David G. Monette Corporation