Tarter_trpt8

Manny,

I was told by a friend of mine the other day that studies with a guy in the Milwaukee Orchestra that when his teacher plays he tries to keep the oral cavity small. So I asked him, "Does he mean that the oral cavity should be the same size (or feel) of that when he is lip trilling or lip slurring?" He said yes.

I'm wondering if this is true because I sometimes have trouble tonguing or slurring after playing really big open-blowing passages. I feel as though my mouth is too open which causes me to move more in order to facitlitate from that open position.

Thanks!

Jeremy

__________________
"99% is the same as 0%. If you don't feel like giving 100% or can't give 100%, then you might as well stay home." -Will Smith/added to by Jeremy Tarter

Manny Laureano

So, once again, we have a very physical query that is best answered in this way:

just say "Tooh". That makes a very physical explanation childlike and easy to implement. Think about it... say "La, ta, dah...". Now say "Tooh" and maintain that throughout all dynamics.

You've accomplished exactly what your friend advocates without thinking of it in physical terms.

BTW, jeremy, i owe you an apology... i lost your number that you left on my machine. Would you be kind enough to give me a call again so we can get together as you had requested? Sorry, my fault!

ML

rowuk

Hi Manny,
I think the actual size of the oral cavity stays the same. Isn't it more of a case of how much tongue is in the way? I use "Tee" when I play lead. Getting the tongue up high in the mouth seems to make the high range easier and gives me a "brighter" sound. "Tooh" is pretty big.

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Manny Laureano

Dear Rowuk,

Let's put it this way: I've learned after a while a doing this to assume a certain amount of "misnomering" when people ask questions. Naturally, you're correct when you say that the oral cavity doesn't change. That is, of course, assuming there isn't massive dropping of the jaw.

If you say Tooh like the number 2 it isn't really a huge change at all. Also, I'm one of those that THINKS Tooh for all registers even though I know the tongue does arch and all that. I don't invoke the Tee CONSCIOUSLY because it tends to thin my sound if I do. So, I go Tooh all the time and keep that as the ideal.

Later,

ML

Siegtrmpt

Is that tooh like in "big toe"? or like "winnie the poo?

__________________
Bill S.- NY Bach 6, 38 Mt. Vernon 43 Bach "C" cornet, NY Bach trombone 6vii Monette mouthpieces

Manny Laureano

"If you say Tooh like the number 2..."

ML

Siegtrmpt

Thanks!

__________________
Bill S.- NY Bach 6, 38 Mt. Vernon 43 Bach "C" cornet, NY Bach trombone 6vii Monette mouthpieces

Manny Laureano

Bill,

I can't quite read the name on the headstone in the avatar... can you write a little something about it?

Thanks,

ML