Playing gone to hell

MartinY · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 10:07 am Post subject: Playing gone to hell

I am 76 and came to the trumpet about three years ago. Typically I practice 1 hour a day and have done so for three years. I have been doing well and was very happy until about a month ago. For a while i changed my lip position with more top lip in the mouthpiece and less bottom lip. This worked for a while and then I moved back to my old position. subsequently I have found that my endurance has become appalling and my ability to reach even a E on the staff in the middle of a piece I am playing impossible without a lot of strain and bad sound. To give an example if I play something simple like "A nightingale Sang in Berkley square". first time and second up to an F no problem. Third time only with strain and the G after is impossible.

I am at a complete loss.

I have tried almost everything like resting and playing only every second day. Increasing my long notes and pedal tones.

This problem never used to be the case.

Please, any help would be hugely appreciated.

JayKosta · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 10:25 am Post subject:

A few somewhat 'common' problems:

1) Using high rim pressure to force the lips into position.
2) Trying to 'stretch' the lips thin and tight for higher notes.
3) Trying to actually 'buzz' the pitch INTO the mouthpiece.
4) NOT using lower lip rim pressure as a way to control the distribution of the overall rim pressure between upper & lower lips.
5) NOT using the tongue as a way to help adjust lip / teeth / jaw position.

If there is some book, online info, etc. that you have embraced as your 'playing technique' - what is it? Most of those are pretty good, once you've gotten down to the 'real basics', and not caught in confusing words, imaginations, pseudo-science, etc.
_________________
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'.

MartinY · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 6:22 pm Post subject: Playing gone to hell

JayKosta · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 7:00 am Post subject:

Buzzing - you should not try to actually 'buzz into' the mouthpiece. All that is needed is positioning the lips correctly on the mouthpiece (with entire trumpet) and controlled blowing through the lip aperture. The physics of the trumpet tubing creates a 'standing way' that provides back pressure on the lips which results in the lips acting as a the vibrating control valve.
see this for a good video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxTb2gEaTU4

Tongue - yes use the tongue. There's a lot of discussion about how the tongue affects playing. My view is that using active muscle control for the tongue's position can strongly affect the adjustment to the lips, teeth and jaw position.
For me, my visualization of tongue usage is variations on have the tongue forward in the mouth with the tip on or near the lower teeth, and flexing the tongue by 'pronouncing' the sound 'yee'.

I am a long time amateur player who tries to 'think' about these things. I am not an experienced teacher. I've written some thoughts about embouchure that you might find interesting. It will at least give you an idea of the various topics that get discussed.
http://users.hancock.net/jkosta/Embouchure_Basic_Concepts.htm
_________________
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'.

abontrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1817

Rwwilson · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 2:36 pm Post subject:

My guess is that you’ve started using too much arm pressure. That is, pushing the horn harder and harder against your lips to achieve the higher notes. Look at yourself in a mirror after practicing. Too much pressure will show as a red ring. In the range that you are playing you should be able to play the notes with the horn simply resting in your hand. That is with virtually no pressure against your lips.

MartinY · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 10:48 pm Post subject:

Thank you all so much for the advice. I am putting it all together and hopefully my playing will recover. Thanks again.

trUMBet67 · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 1:29 am Post subject:

Maybe you could look at The Balanced Embouchure forum, years ago I purchased the book and was (and is ) very helpful.
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