• Skip,

    FWIW, my understanding of the unfurling concept is that as we contract the aperture corners inwards, towards the Air Column / center of the mouthpiece, the lips move forward into /against the mouthpiece and the lips somewhat unfurl/pucker. This is little by little, but of course is significant over a large interval. The vibration of the…[Read more]

  • Eric,

    You may want to check out the “aperture and embouchure questions” forum thread in the yellow highlighted section at the top of the Forum. I believe that’s where Greg posted some clarifying videos on things. You might find these useful as well.

    Best,

    John

  • johnelwood replied to the topic pitch sharp in the forum WindWorks 2 years, 10 months ago

    I learned something today on this which I thought was interesting–I have been playing with a tuner ever since realizing that I’m playing very sharp.

    When I warm up, I’m pretty in tune on most notes. And when I ascend chromatically, I can keep things pretty much in tune.

    But when I play a middle C the way it feels naturally without ascending…[Read more]

  • Hi Eric,

    You’re very welcome–stick at it and you’ll figure it out.

    I understand you’re point about the approach. Unfortunately, there’s not any specific videos that I can think of that I can point you to that would give you a “coffee moment” abut a specific embouchure for you, etc. But you could and should definitely watch Greg’s videos as…[Read more]

  • johnelwood replied to the topic pitch sharp in the forum WindWorks 2 years, 10 months ago

    I’ve just realized I’m playing really sharp.

    I don’t play in a group, I just play for fun by myself.

    I’ve got my tuning slide out a couple of inches, but I think I need to spend some time playing long tones with drones.

    It’s funny, I think this has been the case for a while and now my ear is used to it being sharp. Playing notes perfectly…[Read more]

  • Thanks Simon, that means a lot to me if any of my posts were helpful in any way.

    It seems to me to a very subtle thing and certainly mostly a mental one, the difference between playing efficiently and over engaging, over blowing, etc.

    The whole mindset we have when we start can make or break it.

    I have found it useful to spend some time…[Read more]

  • johnelwood replied to the topic New member in the forum WindWorks 2 years, 11 months ago

    Welcome Hajo from America (California).

  • That’s a great question, I hope you get a lot of responses–it will be interesting to hear.

    For me, it’s hard to practice a lot and consistently. I am progressing, but know I’d progress more if I improved the quality of my practicing (structure, consistency, focus).

    The quote “It’s not how much you practice but How you practice” comes to…[Read more]

  • I played a bit this morning and thought about this thread.

    It seems like I am softly touching the soft part of the roof of my mouth a bit behind the front teeth when I’m playing legato and the tongue seems a bit looser, whereas staccato or hard attacks are behind my front teeth.

    I don’t know if that’s a recommended method, but it’s what I’m…[Read more]

  • Got it. I’ll have to think about that a bit while I play and then share my thoughts on it.

  • Hi Keaton,

    I think there might be two issues involved in your post, correct me if I’m wrong:

    1. Using the tongue to block the air and learning to release the air Passively simply by removing the tongue from behind the aperture/teeth/roof of the mouth, etc. and letting the air escape, as Greg demonstrates, etc.

    2. Using the tongue to play…[Read more]

  • johnelwood replied to the topic spitting? in the forum WindWorks 2 years, 11 months ago

    Hi Wouter,

    My understanding / recollection is what you’re referring to is “mouth compression”.

    Greg talks about this in the Ruby or Emerald (or upper levels) levels, if I recall correctly.

    Lately, I’ve been playing a shallow “lead” mouthpiece and have been encountering this both through purposeful experimentation AND accidentally–given the…[Read more]

  • Welcome, you’re getting a good start. Just listen to Greg and the mantras…we don’t blow into the instrument, we release air into it and we don’t buzz our lips, etc.

  • Yes, good start Joshua, as j.gardam stated above that’s a pedal note below the normal range / harmonic series of the trumpet, which starts at F# below the staff (all three valves).

    You appear to be “playing in the red” a bit to me–it’s good that you’re open, relaxed and forward and appear to be passively releasing air through the lips, etc.…[Read more]

  • Thanks PHK! I really appreciate your input!

    I was just thinking about recording myself yesterday as I realized that part of the difference is that my perception of the sound I’m making is changing. I was alternating playing the 3C, 1.25C and Bobby Shew Lead yesterday and the 3C and 1.25C just seemed so dark–which I used to prefer, but…[Read more]

  • Continuing on with my “mouthpiece safari”…

    I have been playing my Bach 3C for most of the past year–I loved the sound of some of the bigger pieces I posted about above, but planned on developing my range and figured going that big would make range development more difficult, eventually.

    Plus, I wondered a bit if the fact that playing a 1.5C…[Read more]

  • Good question, it will be interesting to see the responses you get.

    But it’s important to remember that we must not tense up or restrict our throat or body as we ascend.

    The aperture must be reduced, but that could and should be done without any unecessary tension in the throat or body.

    There does need to be tension in the aperture…[Read more]

  • That’s fascinating. To be honest, a little harder to watch than other videos. But we learn from failure, if we’re not failing at least part of the time, we’re not learning.

    I suppose the trick is coming up with an optimal balance between experimentation of new processes and reinforcing good process that has been proven successful.

    Being as…[Read more]

  • That’s great, Bo. Sounds like a good approach with your Granddaughter. My daughter is 11. She could produce a sound better than I could at her age when she was 7, but decided Trumpet “isn’t her thing” but Piano is. She too struggles a bit with reading music, but I work with her a little. She doesn’t want lessons and I dont push, but she plays…[Read more]

  • No problem, Bo, just wanted to make sure what I understood was correct.

    Doesn’t sound like you’re too far off from where I’m at. I don’t believe lowering the jaw to open up the aperture, if necessary, is a bad thing–it surprises me still how open one can play up there.

    Lately, I’ve been working a bit / experimenting a bit trying to grow my…[Read more]

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