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How to change lips tension ?



 
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FRANCIS MAZIERS
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Joined: 04 Dec 2020
Posts: 25
Location: France

PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2022 12:56 am    Post subject: How to change lips tension ? Reply with quote

Hi all trumpeters,
To change pitch we have to change the tension of the lips and the air pressure according to variable resistance that is created in the pipe and the loudness that we want.
But what is the best way to change this tension?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Best regards.
Francis.
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JayKosta
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Joined: 24 Dec 2018
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Location: Endwell NY USA

PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The primary goal is to adjust the lips so that vibration / pulsation at the desired pitch can be achieved by an air flow - so the lip tension (or some call it posture, positioning, adjustment, etc.) must ALLOW some amount of lip movement, and the movement must be obtainable by the player producing air flow.

Anything that PREVENTS movement or air flow is not effective.

The description 'lip tension' is problematic because 'tension' is commonly understood in terms of stretching something - such as a guitar string.

The lip adjustments used for playing is much more complicated, and includes aspects of horizontal tension, horizontal contraction, vertical separation, vertical compression, lip in/out rolling, upper & low lip rim pressure, etc.

Describing how to do those actions can lead to misunderstanding because it seems to be typical for people's 'feeling' of what they are doing to be very personal - and not information that is easily transferred to another person.

My understand from researching various 'embouchure methods' is that they ALL depend on what I first mentioned as the 'primary goal', and they have their own individual ways of achieving and describing how to DO the physical actions that are needed.

If you read/hear people describing their way of lip adjustment, think about how it is useful for the 'primary goal'. The important part is NOT the words they use, but the physical embouchure actions that they do.
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gwood66
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Joined: 05 Jan 2016
Posts: 301
Location: South of Chicago

PostPosted: Sun Jul 03, 2022 6:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would suggest playing chromatic exercises (clarke 1 then two octave chromatics) while ensuring you maintain a steady air stream to training the embouchure to make the minor adjustments needed. Focus on making a good sound and not trying to steer/manipulate your embouchure. You can move to scales and then different intervals.

My experience in general has been that it is ok to be aware of what my embouchure is doing (or what I think it is doing). However, the minute I start trying control individual pieces and parts while I am playing I typically upset the balance by introducing unwanted tension or other movements that are counterproductive.

As with everything trumpet, some will probably disagree and your mileage may vary.
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FRANCIS MAZIERS
Regular Member


Joined: 04 Dec 2020
Posts: 25
Location: France

PostPosted: Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi gwood66,
Thanks for your advises.
I totally agree with you and the Clarke’s are very good. If they are done well (pp) I can feel clearly what’s happening in the chop.
My post was just to emphasize that it is not “more air” or the “speed of the air” that change the pitch higher. It is a big misleading, I think, for people trying to play trumpet like for me before. Since I realized that it is the balanced between PRESSURE and TENSION I’ve made a lot progress.
Best regards.
Francis.
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FRANCIS MAZIERS
Regular Member


Joined: 04 Dec 2020
Posts: 25
Location: France

PostPosted: Sun Jul 03, 2022 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi JayKosta,
Thanks a lot for taking time to share your experience.
It’s always a pleasure to read your posts.
Best regards.
Francis.
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Uberopa
Heavyweight Member


Joined: 11 Dec 2003
Posts: 924
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Sun Jul 03, 2022 12:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Stevens Costello Triple High C embouchure method refers to the use of the letter "M" to produce lip compression or tension if you will. I am operating from memory because I loaned the book to a student never to be seen again.
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abontrumpet
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Joined: 08 May 2009
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 2:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

For most, thinking of it as "lip-tension" is counter productive.

People think of it in a variety of ways, but I personally think this aspect of trumpet playing is best left to the subconscious until you're more advanced. You will eventually discover your "sensation" and it will get integrated into the subconscious mind.
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