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I decided to pick it back up



 
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gsgleason
Regular Member


Joined: 28 Feb 2019
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 8:07 am    Post subject: I decided to pick it back up Reply with quote

I played for 7 years in middle and high school.

My dad is one of those people who thinks he knows what is best for everyone, so be bought me a new Yamaha 6310Z my senior year without letting me actually try any new horns out, and my band director got me into the Marcinkiewicz Shew mouthpieces (1, 1.5, and 2).

I think I relied too much on the shallow V cup for range than actual technique, and I often ended up blowing empty notes on that horn when fatigued, sometimes with my lips bottoming out in the mouthpiece.

That was over 20 years ago. I have a little bit of money flexibility now, so I picked up a banged up late 70s Bach Strad 37 on craigslist for $800, which is the horn I wanted back then. I still have the 6310Z in near mint condition, but I'll let it sit for now.

I decided to try a 3C mouthpiece for a full sound. I picked up the artisan version which has a much nicer rim than the stock 3c (vincent bach corp.) than the horn came with.

I picked up a book called "I used to play" and have just been doing the warm up pages which mostly consist of long low notes and lip slurs.

I can't play anything above C5 without discomfort, so I don't try right now. I'm focusing on a full, round tone and am noticing when I slur, it takes a bit to center on the target note. I don't know if that's just my physical atrophy or if I'm just more detail focused than I was as a teen.

There are a couple teachers that teach pretty close to me. I'm thinking of having a single lesson with each to see if I like them and their pedagogy.

My major weakness as a kid was my reliance on mouthpiece pressure for range. That must not happen again.

I'd like to get to a point where I can play with a community ensemble or something.

Feel free to opine. Or not.
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JayKosta
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Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 3255
Location: Endwell NY USA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 8:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some mouthpiece pressure on the upper lip is needed for higher notes - but it must not be so much that the pressure stops the upper lip from vibrating.

I think that much of the advice to 'use less pressure' is primarily intended for the upper lip. The lower lip can take much more mpc pressure without impacting the sound. But the necessary thing is to get the upper lip vibrating (moving) fast enough to produce the desired pitch.

Jay
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Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.
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mrhappy
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Joined: 03 Dec 2018
Posts: 371
Location: Port Jackson, NY

PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 9:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome 'back'

Seems to be a LOT of 'comebackers' around these parts so you should feel right at home!
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laundryman
Regular Member


Joined: 27 Jun 2016
Posts: 14
Location: Knoxville, TN

PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 12:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome.I hope you have a lot of fun with your comeback. I've flubbed a considerable number of notes in the last four years but never once regretted picking up the horn again!
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cgaiii
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 26 Jun 2017
Posts: 1540
Location: Virginia USA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 7:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome. Enjoy the journey. Have fun playing, practice, and listen to the trumpet music you like an want to emulate. That is what I was told, and it still holds true. If I get too intense, I make less progress.
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Bb: Schilke X3L AS SP, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Picc: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Standard
Bass Trumpet: BAC Custom
Natural Tr: Custom Haas replica by Nikolai Mänttäri Morales
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WxJeff
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 10 Dec 2002
Posts: 2484
Location: Atlanta GA

PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2019 9:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cgaiii wrote:
Welcome. Enjoy the journey. Have fun playing, practice, and listen to the trumpet music you like an want to emulate. That is what I was told, and it still holds true. If I get too intense, I make less progress.


Based on your signature line, also "buy horns?" I've been telling my wife for years "Honey, it's part of the hobby!" (I'm currently back to just one, but it's a keeper (applies to both horn and wife.))
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cgaiii
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Joined: 26 Jun 2017
Posts: 1540
Location: Virginia USA

PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2019 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

@WxJeff I have to admit I like looking at and trying lots of horns, but I try to keep the collection practical for the fun I want to have. <grin> There are no duplication except the Bb and one of those is my main horn and the other one I use outdoors and in other locations where I am afraid of damaging the Schilke. So I think I am still on the practical side. Starting to think about an Eb/D which may be veering the other way.
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Bb: Schilke X3L AS SP, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Picc: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Standard
Bass Trumpet: BAC Custom
Natural Tr: Custom Haas replica by Nikolai Mänttäri Morales
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scarface
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 1806

PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 9:21 am    Post subject: Re: I decided to pick it back up Reply with quote

gsgleason wrote:
I played for 7 years in middle and high school.

My dad is one of those people who thinks he knows what is best for everyone, so be bought me a new Yamaha 6310Z my senior year without letting me actually try any new horns out, and my band director got me into the Marcinkiewicz Shew mouthpieces (1, 1.5, and 2).

I think I relied too much on the shallow V cup for range than actual technique, and I often ended up blowing empty notes on that horn when fatigued, sometimes with my lips bottoming out in the mouthpiece.

That was over 20 years ago. I have a little bit of money flexibility now, so I picked up a banged up late 70s Bach Strad 37 on craigslist for $800, which is the horn I wanted back then. I still have the 6310Z in near mint condition, but I'll let it sit for now.

I decided to try a 3C mouthpiece for a full sound. I picked up the artisan version which has a much nicer rim than the stock 3c (vincent bach corp.) than the horn came with.

I picked up a book called "I used to play" and have just been doing the warm up pages which mostly consist of long low notes and lip slurs.

I can't play anything above C5 without discomfort, so I don't try right now. I'm focusing on a full, round tone and am noticing when I slur, it takes a bit to center on the target note. I don't know if that's just my physical atrophy or if I'm just more detail focused than I was as a teen.

There are a couple teachers that teach pretty close to me. I'm thinking of having a single lesson with each to see if I like them and their pedagogy.

My major weakness as a kid was my reliance on mouthpiece pressure for range. That must not happen again.

I'd like to get to a point where I can play with a community ensemble or something.

Feel free to opine. Or not.


How do you like the Bach 37 next to the 6310z? I'm finding an 8310z easier to play than a Bach 43 ML. Thinking of selling the 43 and sticking to the smaller bore horns.
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richardwy
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Joined: 13 Feb 2006
Posts: 4308
Location: Casper, WY - The Gotham of the Prarie

PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 2:21 am    Post subject: Re: I decided to pick it back up Reply with quote

gsgleason wrote:
I'd like to get to a point where I can play with a community ensemble or something.


Congrats on resuming.

Loved my time our Burg's JC Concert Band.

Dig out the method books.

Practice, practice, practice

Lessons are a plus. In this day and age, you can study with whom you will over the computer. What will they think of next?
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Dayton
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Joined: 24 Mar 2013
Posts: 1978
Location: USA

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2019 4:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I picked up a book called "I used to play" and have just been doing the warm up pages which mostly consist of long low notes and lip slurs.


Hopefully you were able to find a teacher that you are comfortable working with, and now have a solid practice routine to follow. That's the best way to make good progress.

But if you don't yet have a teacher, you might consider adding Lowell Little's "Embouchure Builder" ($6.99 from Amazon.com) to your practice routine, either to complement or substitute the warm up material in "I Used to Play Trumpet." The exercises in "Embouchure Builder" are perfect for someone at your stage; the vast majority of them do not go above the G on top of the staff. That said, they can really help your endurance and range.

As an aside: Range isn't too big a deal in a community ensemble. As a third trumpet you'd only rarely have to play above a G. Endurance is a different story. Working your way through a Sousa march -- where you are playing almost constantly for several minutes -- at the end of a two-hour rehearsal can be a real challenge regardless of which part you are playing.

Good luck!
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WxJeff
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 10 Dec 2002
Posts: 2484
Location: Atlanta GA

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:

As an aside: Range isn't too big a deal in a community ensemble. As a third trumpet you'd only rarely have to play above a G. Endurance is a different story. Working your way through a Sousa march -- where you are playing almost constantly for several minutes -- at the end of a two-hour rehearsal can be a real challenge regardless of which part you are playing.

Good luck!


Oh, man, thanks for the reminder. Those Memorial Day/4th of July "brass-centric" chop killer programs are coming up soon. Time for some "long tone days."
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