gzent
Junior Member
"6 Sharps? You've got to be kidding!"
Posts: 68
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Post by gzent on Oct 28, 2003 9:47:09 GMT -5
"I used it and found that it did pretty much what Jeff said it would do" Could you please tell us more? THANKS! Lloyd, I'll go back to his book tonight and provide some direct quotes and give you some examples. Greg
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Post by LFRoberts5 on Nov 8, 2003 21:12:01 GMT -5
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Post by Trptmaster on Nov 9, 2003 0:46:33 GMT -5
Moose what do you mean by screwed up. I am looking at this stuff with an opne mind these days but I can honestly say besides when Ive been doing too much playing or my chops hurt I have never thought about my embouchure a day in my life when playing the trumpet. Nor have any of my teachers in the past ever brought up embouchure. As I learn more and open up to different approaches I see that this "embochure approach" can be very good for some players. What ever works is great... But I have a hard time understanding your comments. Screwed up embouchure for three years? What do you mean
TM
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Post by EclipseUSA on Nov 9, 2003 14:04:16 GMT -5
"Whooooaaahhh, partn'r! Them's some purty strrooong words."
Let me start out by saying that the subject matter is fairly subjectional. First of all, I'm not so sure that you could glean everything from Jeff Smiley's website, that's in the book. Here are some key points that you may have missed. (They are paraphrased.): [/i] range of motion exercises so that balance is spontaneously achieved (see Exercises page)."[/quote] dizforprez: The way that I perceive this, you are saying the same thing as Jeff Smiley is saying.
Provided that the ONE method works for you, great! I believe that, as a teacher, we must find what works for the individual. I don't teach trumpet, I teach people. I believe in certain methods, including "The Balanced Embouchure", but I'll use ALL of my knowledge to help my students. Whatever it takes to "turn the light on"! Jeff's book can sure help with that.
Particularly for the "comeback player", we can't assume that everyone is/was a "First Chair Johnny", to quote Jeff Smiley's words. I don't think that we can read enough about playing the trumpet. If I can improve, as a result of reading one thing in a book, it has easily paid for itself. Books provide us with a renewable resource that can help provide us with the "tools" necessary to play the music.
No argument, a teacher is a great resource, but not all "comeback players" have time for lessons. I don't want to speak "for" Lloyd, but that may have been the reason for starting this thread. He finds Jeff's book to be helpful.
The fact of the matter is that most people are reluctant to make changes, or to try "new things". Beginning students have no "excess baggage", or things to un-learn. I think that many young players are doing very well, these days, as a result of better teachers, like Jeff Smiley. It's not the only method out there, but it does work! I totally agree with dizforprez on this point... there are no "short cuts"!
Best always, Bruce
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Post by LFRoberts5 on Nov 9, 2003 15:31:42 GMT -5
Moose,
Did you ever call Jeff?
Did you ever email him?
Did you ever write him a letter?
Did you ever ask for advice?
If not, maybe you should of asked for help and direction instead of going at it alone.
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Post by Tootsall on Nov 9, 2003 21:24:08 GMT -5
OK...here it comes from someone who has NO idea what the "methods" are; who never studied music; who doesn't know who half of these "gurus" are and who never met or read books by ANY of them (not a single one). I've been reading about "this guy" and "that guy" and "the other guy" and all of their "methods" for several years now. What I do is simply practice, practice, practice and listen to my sound. When I find something I don't like I try to figure out what is causing the problem...is my bottom lip curled in too much? Am I "spitting" between my lips (ie..."open" embouchure"?) am I particularly tired and should take some time off? Is my sound thinning out? AM I PROVIDING ADEQUATE AIR SUPPORT!? Is my sound thinning out? Am I listening to myself and the others and staying in tune? Is it MUSICAL? Sometimes I'll switch between trumpet and cornet and flugel in my practice...I find this keeps me fresh, gives me ideas about my sound, where it is coming from, etc. When I started out to learn trumpet I knew that it would take YEARS; after all, I was 50 when I started but have the attitude (OK.."had") that I still had half my life left to get decent on an instrument. (Come to think of it, I might STILL have half my life left...my grandmother is now 104). Getting GOOD isn't going to happen overnight. Some days (getting fewer) I am *almost* ready to quit in disgust. When that happens, it's time to put the horn down, relax and watch TV. The next day things are usually fine. Some days I'm really surprised because there is (to me) a "quantum leap" in sound change, range, or whatever. (probably due to the "recovery" aspect of muscle training) I still have a range that is best described as "barely adequate to high C". That's not a problem for me; the challenge is to play everything below that with musicality. As my old typing teacher used to say "speed comes with accuracy...accuracy does NOT come with speed". (change the word "speed" to the word "range" and the word "accuracy" for the word "musicality" for trumpet playing) Do I use too much pressure? I don't honestly know. I do know that I have never had a "red ring", that I can play a 2 hour concert without running out of gas, and that I put in "more or less" around 12 hours a week "on the horn". I am conscious of trying not to use pressure for the notes above the staff and make every effort not to "push it up". Sometimes, after working on what is for me a high range for an hour I might feel the need for a day off (puffiness, fatigue)....in which case I take it off. (I'm playing lead trumpet in our trumpet choir and we're getting into the Christmas music which means descant parts....after today's three hours I'm "feeling the need" for a day off...I'll see how I feel tomorrow evening before deciding). My take on it all is that each of the "professors of methods" have developed their own particular "pathways of learning" that worked for them or their students. I figure that each person has a particular method that will work for THEM and that the only way to find that pathway is to beat down the bushes in all directions until you find YOUR PARTICULAR "system" or "setup". As you go along you will eventually discover which directions you should NOT be going in. But a specific "method" is no "magic bullet" to overnight success. Mind you, I am not saying that the "methods" are wrong. Obviously they worked for someone. But is any particular method right for EVERYONE!? I don't think so. The challenge is to find out what works FOR YOU. And don't be afraid to try different things for a while. Engineers are famous for wanting to tinker with things. But as we say "Behold the lowly turtle...for he does not make progress until he sticks his neck out". OK...back to my cage now. I'll be interested to see the responses to this one...not that they'll do any good. I'm terribly stubborn!
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