Sounds like a good plan Steve. I also plan on using a more structured approach. I’ve used the fact that I have limited time as a reason to simply play exercises from memory without a metronome or pre-written plan and no notes. I think it would be better if I put more structure into my practice, yet still allow some free time in which I play…[Read more]

Sounds great, Greg, can’t wait for Chat 7.

Thanks for your kind words in your last video, that meant a lot to me coming from you–not only because your ability as a player and teacher, but because of your commitment to helping other players resolve their playing issues. If my post helps one player, I would be very gratified.

Bill, I think…[Read more]

Steve,

You’re an animal (in a good way). With your dedication and commitment, you’re going to develop amazing skill once you have your “coffee moment” and WW clicks for you.

I’m not qualified to provide instruction, I’m just an amateur on this journey as well. But you asked for feedback, so FWIW:

I wonder if you should focus your time and…[Read more]

I like your definition of Mmmm and Aaahhhh better.

Changing pitch on the leadpipe is a bitch; it’s easier on the mp or horn.

If you focus with your eyes closed and lips on the mp in your horn as you “say” (think) Ohhhhhhh, you should feel the muscles in your face at the sides of the aperture; engage those muscles as you ascend my arching…[Read more]

Steve,

Glad if my $.02 is adding up. At the end of the day, all we can do is share with each other our experiences and opinions, FWIW. We are all on this journey. Some of us, perhaps, are at a later stage than others but who knows what the future holds?

I too play mostly from memory, I play songs and music and exercises from memory mostly…[Read more]

Steve,

Very generous of you to post these publicly. I hope and think they will be helpful to others on their journey as well.

I’m not qualified as an instructor to give you any instruction; I think you should take Greg up on his offer to Skype with you–I am sure that would be beneficial and a great experience.

But, for what it’s worth, I’ll…[Read more]

Awesome post, Hixsta–didn’t think of that as I never experienced it but I could imagine how that would be difficult and might be a problem for others, especially as they try playing more “forward” as described in WindWorks.

I recently started making it a point to set my lips on the mouthpiece by setting the mouthpiece flat against my top lip,…[Read more]

Awesome! This is fun, helping one another move forward.

If Bill is a dummy, then I am and Greg is, etc., etc. And, there would be no WindWorks or many of the books, teachers, websites, videos on YouTube, etc., etc.

I know I’m not spoiling anything by answering Greg’s question in my own way, as we all have to get there ourselves…hopefully…[Read more]

I think that’s part of the confusion with playing the trumpet!

I think when we push the aperture corners inward, it actually appears that we’re smiling / stretching the lips or “pulling the corners back” but it’s actually the opposite!

I tried for awhile to watch myself in the mirror playing, but I only ever got misery and dead ends out of…[Read more]

Steve,

Ran across this video this morning and thought it was a great summation of what it’s all about and a clear message that it’s not physical, it’s mental.

It is physical in the fact that we must move our embouchre in coordination with the air column and interact with the air column; but it’s not physical in the sense that what you need to…[Read more]

Steve,

I suspected the same thing as you–my teeth meet in the middle, I have no overbite or underbite; perhaps that’s the reason I couldn’t play high. My top lip is kind of thin, perhaps there’s not enough meat to oscillate, etc., etc.

I feel like I’ve disproven that to myself now; while I’m still just an amateur hobby player with limited…[Read more]

Sorry to hear you had a bad day, Steve. I know how frustrating that can be. Everyone on here, Greg included, have been there. I remember less than a year ago feeling like throwing my 30+ year old trumpet across the room and quitting for good. I was pretty close to doing so.

What was so frustrating was that I had gone from where I was…[Read more]

Welcome to the journey, Wild_flower. For what it’s worth, it seems to me that the deeper the valley / the darker the bottom we reach, the sweeter it is when we resolve our issues and are free.

And, I believe, the whole point of it all is that it’s much easier than we’re making it out to be. If we think about it, the whole point of it all is…[Read more]

Steve,

Would you mind if I asked approximately how old are you (i.e. are you in high school, college, or one of us Over 40+ comeback players, etc.) / how long you’ve been playing? Might help provide some appropriate context to give you the best recommendations.

I agree with Ron, I think you’re on the right track just need to not overthink…[Read more]

Got it. I think the long break I took helped me avoid repeating mistakes from the past and force myself to focus on new sensations. I didn’t personally spend a lot of time on the visualiser, but perhaps that’s why I wound up sliding backwards and losing my way a bit. Hopefully you avoid that experience, but progress is rarely a straight line…[Read more]

Not sure you understood my recommendation–it was to spend some time with the horn where you place your lips to the mouthpiece as Greg describes, Mmmmmmwwwwwaaaaahhhhhhooooooo, perhaps more of a “forward” embouchre than what you’re used to (than what I was used to), with the sensation of OOOoooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh (tightening the…[Read more]

“…If I do the singing C series, I will have to play my standard way which is not with a true Maaoohhh lip setting. This is kind of where I got confused before, thinking, well I’m just doing what I normally do so nothing will change…”

For me, the majority of the benefit of WindWorks has been the “Maaoohhh lip setting”.

That is, in my o…[Read more]

You might be overdoing it. I’m a comeback amateur player, played a lot in high school and early college. Dreamed of going pro and took from some reputable teachers but didn’t have the chops, so majored in business, got married and had a daughter. 25 years later (daughter turned 10 today), no regrets. But I have limited time to devote to…[Read more]

Beautiful, thanks Greg. God bless you and your mother.

Today is my daughter’s 10th birthday–amazing how time flies faster each year. Puts things in perspective.

Your video was very helpful to me and I’m sure will be helpful to many more.

I ran across focal dystonia and Phil Smith’s experience. I wonder if I experienced a sort of focal…[Read more]

I saw the original post and related a lot to it. I imagine everyone on this site does and Greg certainly does and has personally made it through to a successful resolution of the exact problem you’re facing.

I love the videos Larry has posted and he’s clearly a monster player. I found some of his videos helpful, but felt that the pencil…[Read more]