tptdog5

Hi Manny!

I'm about 6 months into my "comeback". I've spent countless hours pondering trumpet playing, both currently and in my former life, and I've come to the conclusion that I think too much. I've questioned my horn, my mouthpiece(s), my mouthpiece placement, etc. I've even considered trying one of those "alphabet" trumpet methods. All of this thinking has often lead to "paralysis by analysis."

I've done this since my college days. The best advice I was ever given was "Your body knows how to play the trumpet, so just put it (the horn) up and play". I'm not advocating that we give up on lessons or quit trying to improve, but I think this good advice for the player who overthinks - and I "think" there are many of us.

Any thoughts?

Jamie

PS. I'll post my "bio" soon.

Manny Laureano

Jamie,

Can you get a hold of a baritone horn for a little while, like a week, no more than that? You need to get back into making music without a clue as to what to do technically. Get a baritone and have some fun with it. Then pick up your trumpet and continue making music. It'll be like getting on your bike again.

ML

cornetguy

I tell my students all the time "you're thinking too much." You know what to do just play. If they really do it it will work almost everytime. I have done this with brass, woodwinds and strings.

Of course that doesnt' mean we dont think at all, it just means we are putting the focus on the product where it belongs not on the process. (God I am beginning to sound like one of my teachers)

__________________
Per aspera ad astra

jcstites

Until the last few weeks I thought I never over thought my playing. Then in a lesson my teacher told me I am after the questions I was asking.

I was thinking about this (lol, thinking) the last few days while lying in bed with the flu.

During practice, we should think about it and tear it down. Then in run throughs and performance just play? I guess I just answered my own question.

But it is really hard for me to not think about those things when performing, since I spent hours obsessing over them in the practice room.

Any ideas?

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www.jonathanstites.com

Manny Laureano

Yup.

Practice singing everything you play. Then, in performance, play everything you've been singing.

There's singing and there's singing.

ML

Tootsall

and then there's (c)rap!

A.N.A. Mendez

This brings to mind the story of Wynton's worrys about playing. Someone told him "you can play! don't worry about it, just play!"
If he can have those concerns I guess mortals can...........

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(Above) Alexanders ragtime band-circa 1960

"Baby, I'm already the coolest, and the hippist, now you want me to be on time too?" Buddy Love

"We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and our best generals to edit our newspapers." Robert E. Lee

trumpetpat

i am an overthinker big time and let me tell you it does much more harm then good. take your own advice and "just play"

__________________
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
- Rich Cook

wiseone2

Where do these stories come from?
Ever play "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini?" Wynton was sweating the pianissimo entrances when he played it with the Brooklyn Orchestra. He's human.........very human
Wilmer

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Be sure Brain is engaged before putting Mouthpiece in gear.
S.Suark 1951

A.N.A. Mendez

It was something I read about when he went from mostly classical to jazz, it was just a human thing, he was going into new areas.

__________________
(Above) Alexanders ragtime band-circa 1960

"Baby, I'm already the coolest, and the hippist, now you want me to be on time too?" Buddy Love

"We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and our best generals to edit our newspapers." Robert E. Lee