Getting my lip back

[taswalb]

I am attempting to play again after more than 40 years off. I am 66 years old. I played through high school and played in a wedding band for a few years after school.

I hope to get back to a point where I can play in a community band. I know it will take time. I started 3 days ago. I can play on the staff with pretty good tone, and can actually hit a high G. However, I can only play for about 8 measures before I begin to feel my lip fatigue and my tone begin to suffer. So far I have been playing for 5 minutes or so at a time, but playing 3 or 4 times a day.

So, I would like to know what helped you most to build back your endurance. Or any other words of wisdom you care to share.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[jhatpro]

Welcome back! My advice is to practice slowly and softly but do so every day without fail. Keep up your short sessions but gradually lengthen them and increase their difficulty as you become stronger. Use a timer and keep a log so you can track your progress.

It will help if you find a place where you can keep your horn on a stand and your music close by. Again, the more you can do make your return a daily ritual the faster you’ll get your chops back.

As for what to play, my advice is a mix of fundamentals - long tones, scales, intervals, flexibility studies - and melodies, pop, jazz, or classic, your choice.

Finally, join a band or two as soon as possible. It will help keep you motivated.

If this works for me at 80 it will surely work for you at 66!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[TrumpetMD]

Welcome back! I picked up the trumpet 12 years ago, after a 20-year layoff. The biggest challenge was impatience. I had to be careful not to do too much too soon. My mind wanted to play like I did 20 years earlier, but my chops were not ready. I started out by playing about 10-15 minutes at a time, twice a day, and building up from there.

Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

[mafields627]

Think with the mindset of a beginner, not with the memories of what you used to do. When you first started learning you learned over a period of YEARS and it was a slow process of developing muscle memory, learing to read, learning to articulate, etc. The good news for you is that you still remember how to do a lot of that!

I essentially took four years off and started my comeback last December. I started with Rubank Elementary Method Book 1 and started with the very basics. Use a metronome for everything. Eventually, I added in some Chicowicz flow studies. Then I moved into the Vizzutti Book 1 (long tones, flexibility, technical studies, articulation). I used Getchell Book 1 & 2, and Sigmun Herring 32 and 40 etudes.

Remember, slow and steady wins the race here.
_________________
--Matt--

No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher!

[Dayton]

Welcome back to trumpet playing!

[JayKosta]

My suggestion is to devote plenty of time to develop good embouchure use and control, and tone production.

I use Greg Wing's 20 minute routine, and find it very helpful - play slowly and strive for perfection.
https://www.gregwingtrumpet.com/uploads/2/1/4/0/21407028/20_minute_routine_revised_june_2013.pdf

By playing slowly and maintaining best sound, you will develop embouchure strength and control. And watch the written notes - that will help coordinate 'seeing the note' and the embouchure feel and adjustment to 'play the note'.
_________________
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'.

[Andy Cooper]

[Rapier232]

Have a look at the CTS (Compression Training System) by Larry Merregliano (not sure on spelling). An embouchure building device that is totally silent and can be used anywhere. Think of it as a body building exercise machine, just for chops.
_________________
"Nearly as good as I need to be. Not nearly as good as I want to be".

Smith-Watkins Bb
Will Spencer Bb
Eclipse Flugel
Smith Watkins K2 Cornet
JP152 C Trumpet
Besson Bugle

[cheiden]

Avoid the habit of only playing what's hard or at the edge of your ability. Establish a routine of things that aren't hard but that you can work on playing better. In all likelihood, your endurance will start to increase. When it does you can start adding periodic exercises that gently expand your capabilities.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[gwood66]

As a fellow come back player who started from a similar position, I would recommend the following:

Purchase the book Embouchure Builder by Lowell Little. Start with the first exercise play a week then add one more the next week. Continue that until you are playing the first 10 or 12 exercises in a practice session.

If you are not currently make sure are resting a lot during you practice sessions. Play for 4 to 8 beats and rest for at least that long. Take a 1 minute break every 5 minutes or so.

One you have a little bit of stamina start with a beginner book like Rubank.

Start playing with a group as soon as possible.

Most importantly, find a teacher/mentor to take lessons from periodically.
_________________
Gary Wood (comeback player with no street cred)

GR 66M/66MS/66**
Bach Strad 37
Getzen 3052
Yamaha 6345