Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 8:47 pm Post subject: My less than average secret
I sound not all that bad when I'm playing a learned piece, like, say, Autumn Leaves or My Shining Hour. Standards. I've recorded myself so I can say that with a little confidence.
But
I sound like the wolf holding the trumpet in the clip when I try improvising.
Hey thanks for trying to make me feel better about it. I appreciate it.
But the thing is, I don't do it on purpose. I recorded my 'improv' playing for the first time a couple days ago, and without overstating, I was mortified by what I heard.
Sounds funny when I talk about it, but really, it was a cold glass of water to the face. I don't really understand why it is so, when as I say, I can play relatively clean lines when sticking to written pieces. It's a mystery for me at this point.
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 8998 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2022 8:05 pm Post subject:
Didn't Shorty Rogers write the music for Three Bops? He was a hell of a writer, as well as player. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Hey thanks for trying to make me feel better about it. I appreciate it.
But the thing is, I don't do it on purpose. I recorded my 'improv' playing for the first time a couple days ago, and without overstating, I was mortified by what I heard.
Sounds funny when I talk about it, but really, it was a cold glass of water to the face. I don't really understand why it is so, when as I say, I can play relatively clean lines when sticking to written pieces. It's a mystery for me at this point.
Can understand that. However, the fact that you now know there's a problem is the first step to figuring out what that problem is, and ultimately what to do about it.
Improvisation, like any other aspect of playing, is something that takes practice imho. Think about how many hours you've put in to learn those written parts (if they're easy to play now, think about how many months/years you've practiced other stuff to get to that point). It's not unlikely that your amount of hours in the practice room praticing improv is a whole lot less. Just keep going about it, find out what sound great and what sounds poorly (you're already doing a great job by recording yourself). It'll get better.
You're absolutely right. Figuring out why. I'm picking up my horn now with the intention of walking before I try to run. I have noticed that slowing down has brought to light that my lips/face tenses as soon as I put it/them on the mpc.
Clearly there is something amiss there. It's like I'm preparing for a battle subconsciously. Not good. So, I'm slowing everything down to where I can blow with no tension at all. And so far, it's bearing a little fruit, in that I'm getting much cleaner notes, much cleaner changes from one key to another key etc. I'm trusting that when I blow I don't have to 'help' the air flow in any way. I am trying - or not trying - to let it happen naturally. As I say so far so good. I'm going to keep at it. I mean, it's not like I am going to give up.
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 8998 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 7:21 pm Post subject:
SMrtn, I'm asking because I just don't know, but how much do you work on this? You're implying help or suggestions, but I don't have a frame of reference. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Every day. I work in it every day. Sometimes for an hour, sometimes for three or four.
What do you mean by 'implying help'? If it's that I'm asking for help, then no I'm not. But if it's offered, and if it's on point, then I'll gladly talk about it. As was the case with stuartissimo. If that's not what you mean, then would you explain?
re asking for help - I don't want to offend, but most of the help asked for on music forums can be easily sorted out and or thought through by the person asking for help in the first place. All that's needed is to press the search button if you run up against a wall. This thread was started as a sort of self-deprecating joke.
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 8998 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 10:12 pm Post subject:
I didn't know what level an improvisor you were and if you were just asking for help, that's all. Evidently, you don't need any. No condescension intended, just offering a helping hand.. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
I am making progress. Purposefully relaxing before putting mpc to face, not tensing as I blow, it looks hopeful. In fact, my future's bright enough to be wearing ray bans.
Amazing what happens when you learn to relax your lips, when you stop flexing your left arm and stop jamming that mpc and let the airflow do the work.
Took me a while, but as a result, I had to ditch the Ray Bans and get welding goggles.
And thanks for posting the clip which in its turn leads to all these extremely funny Looney tunes! Laughing must be good for one´s chops! _________________ Cornets:
Getzen Custom Series Schilke 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)
Even if your ancestors might become traced back to the UK you Down Under folks do not seem to come out as stiff lips....
Only if your boomerangs don´t come back....
(if thrown...) _________________ Cornets:
Getzen Custom Series Schilke 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)
Thanks for the kind words, they're misplaced, but through absolutely no fault of your own I should add. I was born in Budapest and came here as an immigrant with my parents.
Australian culture has eluded me I'm afraid. 'Tis a very good country to inhabit though, lots of space etc. A little bit on the authoritarian side these days, but all things going as I hope, I should be living in Europe this time next year at the very latest.
Thanks for the kind words, they're misplaced, but through absolutely no fault of your own I should add. I was born in Budapest and came here as an immigrant with my parents.
Australian culture has eluded me I'm afraid. 'Tis a very good country to inhabit though, lots of space etc. A little bit on the authoritarian side these days, but all things going as I hope, I should be living in Europe this time next year at the very latest.
I see! No boomerang experience in the genes. When it comes to your possible return to Europe you might as well wait to decide after tomorrow.
If all things go wrong tomorrow (Wednesday) then il capo di tutti capi mr P may have changed the European scene a bit _________________ Cornets:
Getzen Custom Series Schilke 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)
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