WindWorks Trumpet Academy by Mystery to Mastery | Adrian Hicks | Activity https://mysterytomastery.com/member-profile/hixsta/activity/ Activity feed for Adrian Hicks. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:09:38 +1000 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-AU 30 hourly 2 234f4cd75c62ae8bc9c470a9c60364a7 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic 1.O / 2.0 routine in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/1-o-2-0-routine/#post-155583 Sat, 04 May 2024 01:38:43 +1000 When I started with Greg, I would do the exercises prescribed for 10-15min then proceed to normal stuff, playing my old ‘pinch, press and pray’ way. I was gigging too, so even got to a point where I was playing two ways. The new MM way until I tired, then the old PPP way to finish the gig. Once the habits became ingrained, I then could play the…[Read more]

]]> 01533fe9b7016cf527475450af1fede3 Adrian Hicks's profile was updated https://mysterytomastery.com/activity/p/64254/ Sat, 24 Sep 2022 04:45:37 +1000 0 e2cbe3c525792bedfe3a8de89720694a Adrian Hicks replied to the topic How do you warmup? in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/how-do-you-warmup/#post-147232 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 04:44:20 +1000 Recently I have been:
(Note, I try to rest as much as I play throughout, sometimes I cheat)

1. AAHOO Leadpipe long tone x 3 to 5
2. Leadpipe staccato releases x 3 to 5
3. AAHH OOO on low C# – Singing tone – big sound x 2
4. C# (123) to F# (123) Harmonic Slur – the basic: Corners in, AW – OO, Airstream up x 3
5. Single harmonic slur routine from…[Read more]

]]> cc2083f4f5ab46943c391761e5a1d482 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic WIND WINS in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/wind-wins/#post-147231 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 04:24:14 +1000 Awesome to hear. I used to ice up my top lip after a 2 hour Big Band gig. Now, I feel I have another set in me after as well as more usable range throughout. Yep, Greg is a guru!

]]> 9a45167a175fcb5ef5bd71efcaf80532 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Rate my Allegro in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/rate-my-allegro/#post-147230 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 04:20:50 +1000 Hello,

Sounds awesome overall.

I don’t get a buzz when removing the mouthpiece at all on standard 2nd line G for example, but do get a buzz when removing during a lip bend (say down a tone or more). I don’t know if that means anything. Lip bends really sure up my aperture corners and I love em.

Single and double harmonics sound good. Fast a…[Read more]

]]> 731173ed4e85e6462d32e39bf183b089 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Downstream playing (Huge overbite) in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/downstream-playing-huge-overbite/#post-140979 Tue, 31 May 2022 14:51:16 +1000 Hi Reijer,
Do you have a mouthpiece visualiser? When working on straight airstream, often it changes back down when we place the mouthpiece on our lips. With the visualiser you can blow through this and straighten it up again. If i don’t have it handy i either use my fingers or actually blow the airstream angle slightly upwards.
You should a…[Read more]

]]> a00d8f5a03e3b1b027ba6d7aa12923bc Adrian Hicks replied to the topic 'Dirty' Harmonic Slurs! in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/dirty-harmonic-slurs/#post-127099 Mon, 07 Mar 2022 02:20:59 +1100 Hi Whitehead1919,

It has been explained to me that unwanted buzzes are a cause of lips “fighting for supremacy”. Meaning that when lips are buzzing one lip is always dominant. When they are exactly even it sometimes causes a ‘double buzz’ especially with a pinched embouchure.

Simply try pivoting the horn up or down to see if this removes the…[Read more]

]]> c9d1de47f28274dc763e194f74dc39f6 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Playing in the Red in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/playing-in-the-red/#post-72295 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 01:42:16 +1100 For me airstream was the main key. AAA-OOO, Airstream straight, then corners in and airstream up as you ascend. Practice on your hand. Can you make the air go up without tilting your head?

You should feel tired in around under the lip as you muscles you have never used start to get a work out.

Folding in the bottom lip is the enemy!

Good luck.

]]> 1c18fcd202c5742bef63fe3e8ea217b6 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic embouchure and aperture questions in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/embouchure-and-aperture-questions/#post-72294 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 01:29:36 +1100 “Before taking your lessons, in the past I have felt I can play high notes and in fact all notes better if I setup a little to the right of centre. Does this seem like a good idea? Thanks for your help.”

Hi lyndaarmstrong07,

IMHO Claude Gordon demonstrates that mouthpiece placement is not critical, just find your
sweet spot. Terryl Stafford…[Read more]

]]> 5561db59611aa624f09bcd189d31890d Adrian Hicks replied to the topic leadpipe in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/leadpipe/#post-59708 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 04:36:05 +1000 Hi,
If you are beginner then you may not have developed the lip corner strength for a G yet. Start with C and feel free flowing straight airstream with resonance. Then try Hum,Sing,Play leadpipe first then get the same feeling on a low Eb. G will come. If you are still struggling, a good teacher or someone who can assess you via video may help you…[Read more]

]]> 254cb3b4568120fd6ea9106a1751afe8 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Lost an octave! in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/lost-an-octave/#post-47117 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 08:04:47 +1100 “I think about singing the phrase as I’m playing it and that’s helping me a lot.”
Great tip johnelwood, I’m re-focusing on this now.

Keep going LeoBaroni19, you won’t regret it!

]]> 4b563cfcf20b9dd3bcfef5882c422697 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic How hard in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/how-hard/#post-46460 Sun, 22 Mar 2020 02:29:41 +1100 Its the most challenging yet, rewarding instrument to learn IMHO. Welcome to the forum, look forward to reading your posts.

]]> 57343bb8309dff32e1f971451e12dffd Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Air Support and Air Kick What's the Difference in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/air-support-and-air-kick-whats-the-difference/#post-46459 Sun, 22 Mar 2020 02:27:36 +1100 Air kick is a definitive ‘kick’ from the abdomen like yelling “Hey”.
My take is Air Support is more ‘following’ the Air out to maintain compression. If you can be full of air then ‘Air Release’ a squeak a note from your lung compression alone, try adding ‘Air Support’ afterwards to increase volume. This idea is throughout Greg’s exercises. The way…[Read more]

]]> 23b1cd6dcc45d85c65899799feab65f3 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Practice routine in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/practice-routine/#post-45658 Tue, 10 Mar 2020 11:04:47 +1100 Hi wjtakacs,
I used to basically curl my bottom lip inwards and blow hard to go higher. Airstream went down and all the pressure went on the top lip. I worked hard on thinking about the airstream up as well as constantly blowing into my hand using the mouthpiece visualiser (no buzz) to make sure my airstream was straight or heading up. Thinking…[Read more]

]]> 592036cf620eb77ce2befcb6d630889e Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Range Loss after Initial Gain? in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/range-loss-after-initial-gain/#post-41455 Sun, 19 Jan 2020 02:48:33 +1100 I agree with Greg and Johnelwood,
Best to judge your progress on a monthly basis with trumpet, not weekly IMHO. Is your airstream going up and corners in as you ascend?

Hey Hixta, that is great advice, thanks.

I want to clarify as to not create confusion, that the “air going up” idea is, in my opinion based on my research, is more of a…[Read more]

]]> 27aa4f5639a2ae9bd7f8985067348045 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Practice routine in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/practice-routine/#post-41454 Sun, 19 Jan 2020 02:35:58 +1100 Hi Jakob, to be honest all those questions need to be answered by you. Listen to your body and chops and put the horn down when they are tired or start to swell. When I first started MTM I only managed 10-15 min studying the concepts. This created a new ’embouchure’ set for me and as I had regular gigs I had to swap between my 2 embouchures for…[Read more]

]]> 4c1fc12fa8ae142f45ce1ccea3252780 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic bottom lip rolling in help? in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/bottom-lip-rolling-in-help/#post-30444 Mon, 26 Aug 2019 23:56:23 +1000 Steve, don’t overanalyse it.

Stick with the Windworks plan. Your “new” way will take time to take over the old way. That means some time with a lower range, then a time when it catches up and finally takes over with way less fatigue and way more resonance.

Trust me (or more importantly, Greg) I have been where you are and whilst I am not a…[Read more]

]]> b41470d74eb3bde366eb87b6b662d029 Adrian Hicks replied to the topic Playing in the Red in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/playing-in-the-red/#post-30443 Mon, 26 Aug 2019 23:46:48 +1000 Played ‘in the red’ for years as a kid. It hurt my top lip, a lot.

The way I fixed it many years ago was with the help of a local legend who put me onto Jerome Callet’s Double pedal ‘slide ups’ (this is an from an early book, not his current spit-buzz program). This helped train my top lip to stay close to my teeth. That’s the term “Top lip…[Read more]

]]> 3d2767f3f4bf0226249d162dd5dac1e8 Adrian Hicks changed their profile picture https://mysterytomastery.com/activity/p/2221/ Mon, 29 Apr 2019 12:26:35 +1000 0