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Bryant Jordan
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Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 410
Location: Utah, USA
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 Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:43 pm Post subject: A Bit of Wisdom |
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As far as right or wrong goes, there are only two rights in trumpet playing:
Sound, and Ease of Playing
If you sound good, but it's more difficult than it needs to be, you're doing it wrong. If you sound bad but it's easy, you're doing it wrong.
If you achieve both sound and ease of playing in an unorthodox, unconventional way, that's great! |
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JayKosta
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Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 3307
Location: Endwell NY USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:39 am Post subject: Re: A Bit of Wisdom |
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| Bryant Jordan wrote: | | ... If you achieve both sound and have ease of playing in an unorthodox, unconventional way, that's great! |
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Not necessarily - many players haven't yet reached the level where 'good embouchure and technique' are required. They've achieved some success at their prior level, but now find it impossible to make further progress.
I think that many (most?) of the questions that are posted on TH about fundamentals, embouchure, and range come from people who are in that situation. They've developed their 'own way' of doing things, and are now stuck by the limitations of that way.
Many people believe that they are 'special' or 'unique', and discount or ignore the conventional way that has worked well for many people for a long time.
There are many 'explorers' who have failed by going their own way.
It's the very rare few who are successful with a truly 'unconventional' approach.
_________________
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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Bryant Jordan
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Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 410
Location: Utah, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:03 am Post subject: Re: A Bit of Wisdom |
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| JayKosta wrote: | | Bryant Jordan wrote: | | ... If you achieve both sound and have ease of playing in an unorthodox, unconventional way, that's great! |
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Not necessarily - many players haven't yet reached the level where 'good embouchure and technique' are required. They've achieved some success at their prior level, but now find it impossible to make further progress.
I think that many (most?) of the questions that are posted on TH about fundamentals, embouchure, and range come from people who are in that situation. They've developed their 'own way' of doing things, and are now stuck by the limitations of that way.
Many people believe that they are 'special' or 'unique', and discount or ignore the conventional way that has worked well for many people for a long time.
There are many 'explorers' who have failed by going their own way.
It's the very rare few who are successful with a truly 'unconventional' approach. |
If you have a great sound and ease of playing (meaning great flexibility, range, articulation, and the other fundamentals), then you're fine. If there are limitations, that means you don't have ease of playing. A centered, conventional embochure and set up works great for me and most people, but some the all time greats play with an uncentered or different set up. If it works for you, it works.
Last edited by Bryant Jordan on Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JayKosta
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 3307
Location: Endwell NY USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:55 am Post subject: Re: A Bit of Wisdom |
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| Bryant Jordan wrote: |
If you have a great sound and ease of playing (meaning great flexibility, range, articulation, and the other fundamentals), then you're fine. If there are limitations, that means you don't have ease of playing.
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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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Bryant Jordan
Veteran Member
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 410
Location: Utah, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:09 am Post subject: Re: A Bit of Wisdom |
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| JayKosta wrote: | | Bryant Jordan wrote: | | ... If you achieve both sound and have ease of playing in an unorthodox, unconventional way, that's great! |
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Not necessarily - many players haven't yet reached the level where 'good embouchure and technique' are required. They've achieved some success at their prior level, but now find it impossible to make further progress.
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I totally agree with this. If a player hasn't advanced much and they're not centered or 'conventionally' correct, they probably need to switch it up. |
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deleted_user_687c31b
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Joined: 03 Apr 1996
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:09 am Post subject: Re: A Bit of Wisdom |
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| JayKosta wrote: | Many people believe that they are 'special' or 'unique', and discount or ignore the conventional way that has worked well for many people for a long time.
There are many 'explorers' who have failed by going their own way.
It's the very rare few who are successful with a truly 'unconventional' approach. |
There's a lot of truth to that, but convention can also stand in the way of progress. Many of the trumpet players I play with regularly are afraid to change what they're doing, even if it's clear that the things they're doing aren't helping them along. Often they rationalize it by stuff like 'high notes are for talented people', or 'my teacher/everybody says/does'. At no point do they question what they're told, and that's the main thing that stands in their way. They've given up trying to get better and convinced themselves they're unable to, simply because their tried and true methods don't get them any further than they already have. Questioning 'conventions' (especially your own) will give new insights, new inspirations and a new angle of attack. This may very well lead back to the conventional path eventually, but by then the player will have a better understanding of why what they did doesn't work, and how they should go about it. |
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JayKosta
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Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 3307
Location: Endwell NY USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Just to clarify what I am thinking about regarding the 'conventional way' ...
I do not mean strict detailed adherence to a 'picture book' example, or to some supposed mathematical setting.
I believe there is a range of basic fundamental aspects of playing that are viewed as conventional, and which are all employed within the various playing and teaching methods - Caruso, Adam, Reinhardt, Costello-Stevens, etc.
Things such as recognizing that the lip has to be ABLE to vibrate at the desired pitch, and that there has to be adequate air flow to activate the lip vibrations.
Big playing problems happen when a technique is used that somehow prevents those things from happening!
A 'good teacher' (or a self-teacher) has to recognize when the various 'must have' mechanical functions are not operating. And have the knowledge and ability to correct the trouble. Easy to say, but often difficult to achieve.
_________________
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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Richard III
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Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 2655
Location: Anacortes, WA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Jazz history is filled with looked funky, sounded a little bad and spoke amazing ideas.
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Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
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Abraham
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Joined: 13 Dec 2021
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2021 4:15 am Post subject: |
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When a student first comes to class, picks up the phone and asks "how to put your lips together?", I always answer - "as you want, just create a constant flow of air." This is the first important rule. Also, before class, I advise students to read the article https://www.sunsigns.org/celtic-skull-symbolism/.
Last edited by Abraham on Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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kalijah
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 06 Nov 2003
Posts: 3260
Location: Alabama
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2021 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | They've developed their 'own way' of doing things, and are now stuck by the limitations of that way. |
Most are stuck because of the way they are actually taught. Namely by the required buzzing, and being told that "air is the problem", that it should be "free" or "constant". Air is rarely the problem. |
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