BellsSuperLube

Does this sound familiar: Fast air, grip the mouthpiece, pucker, firm the corners, toungue arch, compression, roll in, air stream, sit ups, etc., etc..

Honestly I've heard it all and I am sure you have too. Nothing ever really seems to give the results we are looking for in the upper register, despite all of these non quantifiable answers that we have heard throughout the years.

Perhaps some of these terms or sayings do help a bit, however what would truly be helpful is to know exactly how the emouchure works. That's pretty much my thought process as of a decade ago.

Finally after lots of research and trial and error I have put together some new concepts that explains the embouchure and how it works.

Rather than explaining the embouchure as a position, such as pucker or roll in or anything in between. The embouchure should be explained by the type of waves it produces: longitudinal or transverse. This is one of the two key factors as the longitudinal wave doesn't naturally propogate well in water or the lips (the lips contain water). In other words it very inefficient and makes playing painful!

The second concept is compression or vacuum. If you are using the compression type embouchure, once again, playing will be very uncomfortable and inefficient.

I suppose you now want an explanation to clarify how each of these concepts make sense and how to use it in your playing. That's why I wrote a book called, "High Notes Should Not Hurt." Feel free to get angry because I posted an informative and marketing thread, however it's time that someone gave some answers to how this crazy thing called embouchure works. If you're interested in my book, visit my website www.bellssuperlube.com or amazon.com to purchase. Best of luck in your quest to play the trumpet!

Justin

rowuk

Before we get involved in the reasons why no one can claim exclusivity, I recommend that you all look at how the lips actually function while playing.

IWK Brass Research

Somehow I have trouble with the concept that everyone on this planet is born equal and it is only a matter of technique to become world class. I wonder if it is the same for track and field, basketball, football, sumo wrestling, and beer brewers?

There is plenty that we can all do to improve our playing. All of the answers have been around for hundreds of years. If Mr. BS Lube couldn't find them, he/she/it wasn't looking.

The number one requirement for playing well is ears and soul. There is no snake oil available for that.

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

HSOtrumpet1

I've never understood how anyone can really understand what is going on in someone else's mouth or even behind someone else's mouthpiece. Much less through a book. Everyone's embrochure is different. By the way, maybe we should have a classified section for people selling thier methods..? That would be Rowuk's area, so if you read this, Rowuk, think about a classified section for that.

Also, once when I was curious about the way tounge controlled embrochure worked, my teacher just turned to me and said "Don't even mess with that. What you have is already working."

So don't show up thinking you hold the key to everyone's problems. Different people play with different methods. And, arrogant people on this site get shot down pretty quickly (I've been on the wrong end of that) and they soon learn that they can learn from other people and not just the other way around.

__________________
I know that what I wrote isn't always going to be right, but my goal is to improve with every post.

Marcinkiewicz Vermeer 2001

BellsSuperLube

HSOtrumpet1: You are correct when you said, "Everyone's embouchure is different." That's exactly why I wrote the book. If an embouchure method says, "pucker" then how is one to know how much to do so? You can exchange the word pucker with any other action that is commonly tossed around in trumpet lessons.

Therefore, we should not emphasize actions but rather how the embouchure works described by the laws of physics. Is physics dependable? Well, let's just ask the men who used it to get to the moon and back. Unless of course you're skeptical of the moon landings.

rowuk: Thanks for the website of the lips functioning. Similar films viewed many times were actually helpful in affirming the differences between the two embouchure types that I described. It is true that no one is born equal, however work ethic and information combined can make up for any lack of skill or artistry. Yes, you are correct that you need ears, however the best musician in the world is dead in the water without technique. I have met many great musicians who use to be trumpet players and finally gave up the instrument because their lack of technique got in the way. Just to be clear, when I say "ears" I'm actually talking about the brain which is responsible for processing auditory sensations. Yes, that too can be developed even in people who seem to be "tone deaf." If you don't believe me, I would recommend a book by Dr. Norman Doidge, "The Brain That Changes Itself." Perhaps you're going to imply that his research is snake oil too?

In any case, I think a better discussion would be offering a rebuttle to one of the points that have been presented on the thread or in the book, which I am gathering that neither of you have read, otherwise you wouldn't have typed some of the things that you did.

By the way, if either of you have written a book, please send me the link so I can order them. I believe that if one is serious about their craft, they should be familiar with every aspect related to it.

uapiper

Wow, it must be an amazing book. I haven't paid $30 for any trumpet instructional I have. Arban, Schlossburg, Clarke or Rubank. So who are you and why would any of us pay $30 for your embouchure method?

__________________
Yamaha 8335RGM B Flat
1947 Conn New York Symphony B Flat
Olds Ambassador (I had to try it). B Flat
Bach TR300 (First trumpet) B Flat
Conn 18B Director Cornet (Coprion)
King Tempo Cornet
DEG Signature Flugelhorn
Barrington Flugelhorn
Conn Director tenor trombone (Coprion)

silly...boy

TrumpetMD

Good question. I agree that the OP seems more like an advertisement than a discussion. But then again, it's important to have a place to discuss methods, even if it's your own personal method.

rowuk

I have often though about moving ads with no content out. If the thread owner won't post any info it will quickly die anyway.

My recommendation is not to be a beta tester. The credibility of the premise "longitudinal or transverse" is not significant enough to get my interest. My double C came from relaxing , simple Clarke up an octave, Irons slurs and countless hours doing what I love - playing the trumpet. I teach the same way, with similar results. No $30.00, no messing your face up if it didn't work. My "simple" exercizes are good for EVERYBODY.

If BS Lube wants a discussion, the secret will have to be described in better detail. A catch phrase doth not a method make.

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

BellsSuperLube

I get the question, "why should I buy your book" a lot. My answer is a bit different than what you might expect. It doesn't bother me if anyone wants to buy it or not. It is however a very useful tool for building a fantastic upper register. One caveat: You still have to practice!

Having been down the embouchure change road myself, I always caution players. "If you are satisfied with what you have, don't go through an embouchure change." Many working professionals don't have the luxury of a year off from playing, as that is what it takes to really get things solid enough to go back out and play on the band stand.

We always have to keep things in perspective, a solid upper register is useless without all other playing fundamentals. If you don't have a good sound, if you can't read to save your life, if your articulations sound like peanut butter, no one really cares how high you can play. You have to make music and all technique should be used for that.

For those not wanting to change their embouchure, rowuk did offer some good advice. Clarke up an octave. Also helpful is the Explained Cat Anderson Method that is talked about on this site. Very useful book!

For those who are commited to going through an embouchure change and wanting an upper register without the back pressure, headaches, blackouts, etc., then yes, I would recommend my $30 book. Don't worry about the beta testing, I all ready did that before I wrote the book. Much appreciated is the more positive reply rowuk.

Brekelefuw

You still didn't tell us what sets your method apart, and what it involves. So far you have just given us a catchphrase for classifying embouchure, and thats about it.

__________________
Schilke B3L
Schilke XA1
Bach 37 180 ML
Chinese custom horn
Yamaha 6310G
Wedge 5B, 5A and 5FLG

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. ~Aldous Huxley

rowuk

and that is why I move it into the marketplace

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.