Hi Hugo,
I agree the Ah-ooh without bringing any tension to the aperture corners is quite wide. As Greg says it’s about the size used for pedal tones. Also Greg says the only good tension is at the aperture corners. Visualize your aperture as a diamond shape, slightly flattened and bring tension to the aperture corners. This will bring the…[Read more]

Hi Colin,
I think your drawstring analogy is probably a more accurate way of describing what should happen. Think of the size of the oval, as the difference between a pencil and a windstick.
As for your second question: At some point you need to experiment with tongue arch. Letting the tongue float up in the oral cavity in the “ee” position. I…[Read more]

Wow , Steve, I’ve never heard someone voice so much frustration over a trumpet method before. I couldn’t disagree with your assessment of Greg’s method more strongly. I began lessons in middle school with someone who simply assigned exercises out of the Arban Method each week without much explanation. In college I studied with a protégé of B…[Read more]

Hi John,
I’ve had good success using the F-sharp and G double octave harmonics in the Presto Status Stage, but I continue up chromatically to High C, incorporated into my daily warm-up. It’s great for working different dynamics and achieving the balance you refer to. In working above high C I try keeping a mental picture of the bar straw between…[Read more]

Hi there,
Your post has triggered a number of thoughts I have on the subject.
1) You’ve done a lot of comparison to others which is futile. You will always find people that are stronger naturally and seem to play with ease. I would ask myself, Am I doing enough physical conditioning ( running, walking, swimming, etc. ) to be able to play at my…[Read more]

I have been teaching private lessons for years and have some thoughts on this subject. Many students come to me having been told by well meaning band directors to just blow harder or faster to achieve an upward lip slur. This works up to a point, but the resulting sound is loud and wild or raucous. These students have no concept of aperture…[Read more]