What do you think about on your initial attack?

Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2596

Whether section playing or soloing, what are you thinking about as far as your process to create that first clean, stylistically appropriate "legit" attack?
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furcifer · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 11:16 pm Post subject:

The fact that James Austin once replied "The opening of Rienzi." to the question, "What's the hardest thing you ever had to play?"

Now, James Austin was not only born with "perfect pitch" but he is one of the even-rarer phenomenal people who can also hear down to the vibrations. He can tell you if it's A=440 or A=442.

Well, the opening of Rienzi is just a solo trumpet on a mid-staff A (concert). Easiest thing in the world, right? Hmmm, well, not when you clam the attack. It's like the entire overture is destroyed - but hey, no pressure, LOL!

So I want to hear that pitch in my head from initial tuning, focus on pitch center, take a relaxed 1 or maybe 2-second breath and immediately release the tongue WITHOUT thinking too much about the actual tongue itself. Pitch center is probably the main thing that actually helps in not clamming it.
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GeorgeB · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 2:44 am Post subject:

I find the less I think the better things go for me. I've already prepared myself mentally long before I pick up the horn.
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dstdenis · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 4:38 am Post subject:

I practice sound production exercises every day (Franquin, Shuebruk, etc.) to develop and maintain good response so I can start notes cleanly and accurately (or that's the plan, anyway). So when it's time to play in rehearsal or performance, I just do it the same way: slow inhale, think of the sound, release the air.

There's probably a long list of things going on with my lips, air, tongue, etc., to make it work that my subconscious figured out from practice, but I try not to think of those things and let my subconscious handle it.
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New.Vintage · Regular Member Joined: 11 Mar 2017 Posts: 35

In the practice room, I focus on sound production, making sure I use my tongue right for the articulation I want to produce. I analyze and really think about pitch, volume, tone color, and response.

During a performance I can easily fall into paralysis due to over analysis. So I try to rely on my practice sessions and not over think what I'm doing.

So what do I think about during performances? Boats and hoes. Anything to relax and just play.

Craig Swartz · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 5:19 am Post subject:

You had better be hearing and visualizing the sound before you actually make it or you may be in for a big surprise...

MrOlds · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:14 am Post subject:

There is a school of thought that we should inhale in time so the air and articulation arrive in time and together. But in the real world the downbeat is sometimes not that predictable. The conductor may stand there for a while then at best you get a preparatory upbeat.

For problematic exposed entrances it's sometimes helpful to think of the exposed entrance as part of a phrase that you're already playing. For example with Charlier #2 you can imagine playing a pickup starting on the upbeat of two F-G-A-Bb then play the F on the upbeat of 1. In your head you've established the time and the key so the beginning F should be more secure.

In terms of getting the mechanics right for an initial attack, the time to think about that is in the practice room. You should forget about mechanics and think about the music when playing with others.

trickg

JoseLindE4 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 791

theRiddler · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:58 am Post subject:

When you are truly speaking any language, you think in that language. When you play music, you think in music. When playing, I'm imagining the music as lines from a play, I breathe, hear the sound, and let my imagination guide my body to do what it needs to do.

This video is a great resource that explains further.
:
https://youtu.be/y_7DgCrziI8

Benge.nut · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Mar 2017 Posts: 695

TrumpetPly1 · Regular Member Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 60

theRiddler · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 6:57 am Post subject:

I'm mentally engaged the entire time. Usually singing whatever else is going on in the orchestra/band/whatever in my head. This way, I don't 'slip out' of performance mode. It's kind of like sleeping. If you realize you're sleeping, you're not sleeping. If you are just waiting to play, you're not in the right headspace. Just my $.02