Startling improvement after adjusting to embouchure change

[Lionel]

When I formed my new chop setting about 15 months ago I wanted it to be based on at least a 4 & 1/2 octave range right from the very beginning. As I already had strong mouth corners from decades of lead playing it wasn't so hard to set up my new chop setting for the described notes. My goal here was to finally defeat my high G cut-off point.

The main problem with my new embouchure was that it basically made me a raw beginner again. My endurance was awful. I lacked flexibiity and accuracy too. As I tired my sound went to hell. Plus the whole process challenged my mindset. I didn't know if the darn thing would ever work. Even my articulation inc double tonguing lost it's former luster. And speed too.

However most all of us had chop weaknesses in the beginning too. Ive found that in our process to keep pace with our peers we tended to almost automatically do things with our chops that make our lower register respond better. However in the process of making these beneficial short term adjustments? We usually end up with embouchures completely unable to blow the whole range of the instrument. This may not be the only reason for so many range challenged trumpets but it's probably a major one.

I think that most beginners drop their jaw soon after starting the trumpet. To get a bigger sound in the lower register where most of their band music and practice exercises are written. And while some receded jaw players do have pretty strong chops? They're not usually found among double C lead players. This was what I wanted to fix. In turn my new chop setting sets my horn facing at a much higher angle upwards. From throwing my jaw out it now places my horn about 21 degrees higher. Above the music stand for once. Directors kinda like that.

I've always been intrigued with a true story I read about a powerful lead player whom we all would recognize. The story goes that In his first year on the trumpet he couldn't hit a low C well. Meanwhile however he had a most impressive extreme upper register.

Indeed this is the condition I've been dealing with on my new chop setting too. However with persistent practice including several weekly rehearsals? Mt lower tones are starting to open up nicely. Without receding my jaw like I used to do. In turn my endurance has improved greatly and the tone is now starting to ring like before but with almost a more professional brilliance than I once had.

There isn't time to discuss everything I did to make this more forward jaw setting start to work. In fact a forward jaw movement was not the only thing I changed. As without combining a major adjustment of my lower lip texture too I couldnt even get a sound out of a forward jaw setting. Yeah it's a little tricky to understand but not an insurmountable problem.

Interestingly I started playing this new way just in order to break through my range ceiling. However I'm continuing with it now in part part because I like the sound better than before. As well as for other reasons. Clearly I have more work to do but no regrets for making the change. It can be very frustrating to carry a range ceiling around as long as I've had to. But no more!
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"Check me if I'm wrong Sandy but if I kill all the golfers they're gonna lock me up & throw away the key"!

Carl Spackler (aka Bill Murray, 1980).

[etc-etc]

Lionel,

Great story! This seems to be an all-around improvement. Any sound samples?

[Lionel]