A Surprise

Bluesy · Veteran Member Joined: 01 Oct 2014 Posts: 477

I made a surprising discovery last week. Reading people's descriptions of Bill Adam's teaching methods (however accurate or not) on this board, I decided to try his "lead pipe warmup", because there are days when it's so difficult to get myself started that my entire practice session suffers.

Easy to do - before starting practice I just pull the tuning crook off, stick my Jet Tone in the receiver and blow a huge, easy lung-full of air out the end of the lead pipe. The thing I read recommended 12 or 15 long "tones".

It's been a revelation. I don't know where he got such an intimate knowledge of what trumpet students/players need but he nailed it with this bit!
I found that after I do those big, loud and ugly blows, low, high, and up and down like a Third Avenue siren, the free feeling carries over into my practice session and my lips are looser on the mpc, I blow more courageously, my lungs are opened up so I make a better and bigger tone, and am able to play longer long tones.
What a great teacher he must have been! His students were very fortunate.

I was also gratified to read that Adam taught bel canto playing methods which I have always believed in and practiced.

Bluesy/
_________________
Finally Beiderbecke took out a silver cornet. He put it to his lips and blew a phrase. The sound came out like a girl saying ‘yes.’. . . . .Eddie Condon/

Bluesy · Veteran Member Joined: 01 Oct 2014 Posts: 477

Gee, Bluesy, that's nice that you discovered Bill Adam's lead pipe trick! Ain't it nice when you come upon something great like that? If you keep reading and watching related videos there's much more in store for you!

Yours truly,

Bluesy/
_________________
Finally Beiderbecke took out a silver cornet. He put it to his lips and blew a phrase. The sound came out like a girl saying ‘yes.’. . . . .Eddie Condon/

PH · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 4:18 pm Post subject:

If it's workng for you that's great. However, it doesn't sound to me like you're doing it the way we do. I suspect no one has replied because they don't want to stop you or dampen your enthusiasm for something that is working.
_________________
Bach trumpet artist-clinician
Clinical Professor of Jazz Trumpet, University of Illinois
Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Faculty Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops 1976-2019
JazzRetreats.com

Nonsense Eliminator · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:56 pm Post subject:

OscarTrainer · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 8:11 pm Post subject:

There is a Youtube of George Rawlin warming up on the leadpipe that you may want to see.

I play first space "F" on the leadpipe for 4 beats. I will usually do this 6-10 times.

Once I start getting a good solid resonance on the leadpipe I move onto the trumpet and things go alot smoother.
_________________
Carol Balanced Model, Flugel and Pocket
Vintage Vega Trumpet
2006 BBC Grammy Winner Cross-Cultural Music

Billy B · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:54 pm Post subject:

The George Rawlin video is NOT how Bill Adam taught the trumpet.
_________________
Bill Bergren

Billy B · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:57 pm Post subject:

Bluesy, I would suggest you play just the concert Eb(or there abouts) on the pipe. No siren sounds. That is not how Adam taught.
_________________
Bill Bergren

OscarTrainer · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:29 pm Post subject:

Eddie Severn gives a masterclass in this presentation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hp0oQ5eEbY

I believe this is probably more like Adams may have taught it. Its how I do it.

I really enjoy the way Severn explains it.
_________________
Carol Balanced Model, Flugel and Pocket
Vintage Vega Trumpet
2006 BBC Grammy Winner Cross-Cultural Music

Bluesy · Veteran Member Joined: 01 Oct 2014 Posts: 477

Watched that Eddie Severn video. Many thanks, Oscar Trainer!
Learned a lot about lead pipe blowing and a couple other things.

B/
_________________
Finally Beiderbecke took out a silver cornet. He put it to his lips and blew a phrase. The sound came out like a girl saying ‘yes.’. . . . .Eddie Condon/

Jonny Boy · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 12:14 pm Post subject:

Here are 2 Adam students demonstrating blowing the leadpipe.

Greg Wing 9:08 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXecEA3LdB0

John Harbaugh 7:40 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paMT6JGEd94

Warning. It is possible to get the correct pitch and still not be blowing correctly! It is more than just the pitch. It is the resonance of the sound that is important.