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Practice mute



 
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MPWall1
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:19 am    Post subject: Practice mute Reply with quote

Lately, while practicing at work (middle school band director), I've had to use a practice mute because of testing going on around me. I've found that using it has helped me a great deal. Later on, after I've taken the mute out--it's a Brass Spa one btw, my sound is blazing to the front and everything is lined up really well.

Not to cause paralysis through analysis, but what does that say about my playing? Normally I'm not getting my air moving enough? Is playing with the practice mute doing the same thing as if I were playing in the sink?

Long-time Adam students, help me out.

All the best,
Michael
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Billy B
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What horn do you play?
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MPWall1
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bill,

I play a gold-plated Bach 180S37 with a Bach 3C cut for a Jeff Parke sleeve.

Let me clarify the situation...normally, I don't have a problem getting everything lined up. It's just lately since I've had to use the mute, I'm finding my sound really lined up when I take it out. Perhaps I'm overthinking this, but I'm curious as to what is up.

Michael
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Billy B
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 12:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it is the correlation between resistance and your energy level
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MPWall1
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 2:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So my energy level is normally too low for the open-ness of my horn? That makes sense to me. Thanks, Bill!
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Michael Patrick Wall, Ed.D.
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Billy B
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 5:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Or the added resistance of the mute reminds you to step on it a bit. Sometimes Adam would have students with stiff chops from a hard day of playing stick in a Harmon mute and play as loud as they could.
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MPWall1
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 5:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Makes perfect sense. My band room is right in the middle of the school--I'm surrounded by the main office, social studies classrooms, and a science lab. When we play, it carries EVERYWHERE and I think it's caused my students (and me) to be a bit self-conscious.

Also, practicing is frowned upon by admin. If we're not teaching, we should be grading, prepping tests, having a pointless meeting, etc. The idea of musicians doing music is so radical!
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Billy B
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 5:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is where I would be in trouble because the first thing I would do would be to encourage students to bother as many people as possible with their practicing. On the infamous third floor of the music building at IU the trumpet students would terrorize the place. Tearing down the curtains installed in the practice rooms etc. Adam would get called into the dean's office because there were complaints his students were monopolizing the practice rooms. I would have given anything to have heard those conversations, but needless to say the practicing didn't diminish.
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zaferis
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 5:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like it's allowing you to relax and play without feeling that you're bothering someone and I bet you're practicing more. Both would naturally have a positive effect.
There may be some positive reaction to the extra back pressure - balancing air movement with chop vibration but I suspect it's more of a mental benefit than an accual physical one.
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MPWall1
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Billy B wrote:
Adam would get called into the dean's office because there were complaints his students were monopolizing the practice rooms.


Everything I've heard about the 3rd floor involved people partnering up to play routine. So Mr. Adam's students were really opening up practice room opportunities for other musicians.

I can only imagine the dean as Dean Wormer from Animal House.
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Michael Patrick Wall, Ed.D.
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MPWall1
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

zaferis wrote:
Sounds like it's allowing you to relax and play without feeling that you're bothering someone and I bet you're practicing more. Both would naturally have a positive effect.
There may be some positive reaction to the extra back pressure - balancing air movement with chop vibration but I suspect it's more of a mental benefit than an accual physical one.


I think you're 100% correct. I'm sure I was holding back without the mute. Music teachers in our district who dare practice during the day have been spoken to. It's ridiculous.

Thank you for your thoughtful response.

Michael
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