i just figured it out. A revelation. I was not playing with enough air pressure and was blowing from the lips. I started tightening my abdominals from way down low and keeping the throat open, ( sighing the air through the throat and lips) the upper register immediately opened up. Where before I had trouble getting to the D in the upper staff I…[Read more]

This is also very interesting for me. I started learning to read and write music after I retired at 68 and started playing alphorn and fluegelhorn then I am teaching myself. I find that I have a different fluegelhorn position for the low register as opposed for higher. For low notes i raise the bell and for mid register i bring the bell down but…[Read more]

I find the ahh ooo helps me relax. Another way of doing this is sighing down the trumpet with the mouthpiece totally inside the mouth then trying the sighing to play a G in the staff.. This is a technique from Paul Mayes that I also find useful. I also hum the drones from C to C that helps relax also. Unfortunatley I have not found a way to…[Read more]

Greg is right. for low tones the aperture is larger therefore the compression ( air speed) is less, as the aperture tightens the compression (air speed) increases. this follows the basic laws of fluid flow in physics.

Boy do I relate to the above! I find that before I start a lesson I play long tones loudly and softly and go up the scale with every breath.. I find that helps me relax. I can tell when I am not relaxed as the sound just does not come and my arms start to shake ( side effect of recent back surgery). Then sit back relax, big breath and try again…[Read more]

I ;thought I would give you a heads up. It has been seven weeks since the surgery and I am now relearning how to walk as there was substantial nerve damage in my back that controls th e legs. I am slowly making progress. I am trying to play again but the shaking is still there and all the narcotics I had to take to kill the pain did not help.…[Read more]

You folks are really great. Thanks for your responses. I really appreciate all the advice. I am seeing a specialist on monday to discuss. I am relearning how to walk and cannot drive. I called the surgeon and he told me it will take 9 to 12 months before things get back to normal. I was trying to do just the simple exercises as i have to lie in…[Read more]