WindWorks Trumpet Academy by Mystery to Mastery | kzem | Activity https://mysterytomastery.com/member-profile/kzem/activity/ Activity feed for kzem. Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:49:00 +1000 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-AU 30 hourly 2 05ce0968942a8b14d9ea36458d6927b4 kzem replied to the topic Has anyone tried the Stratos trainer? in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/has-anyone-tried-the-stratos-trainer/#post-75161 Sat, 13 Mar 2021 17:03:22 +1100 I’ve tried it and find it to be a great tool. I’ve also made a version of my own, and once I noticed the benefits of it, I purchased one.

It’s had some great results with some of my younger students, too. With students that had a pronounced overbite, it relieved the pressure on their top lip and immediately helped create a better sound.

To…[Read more]

]]> fdfcc9cd49db6a43a33ea91ca05803a6 kzem replied to the topic Playing in the Red in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/playing-in-the-red/#post-72405 Thu, 04 Feb 2021 14:31:23 +1100 Thanks, all great points! I suppose the confusion can stem from Greg saying “it’s a starting point” when playing in the red. I can clearly place my mouthpiece on two places on the spot where, through zero manipulation, the air stream is straight out. One is way in the red on the top lip, and the other one is way in the red on the bottom lip. The s…[Read more]

]]> 466fc4a944c7e0a39c16baaac733479b kzem replied to the topic Playing in the Red in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/playing-in-the-red/#post-72341 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 17:52:18 +1100 Thanks for the comments. I agree, for me folding in the bottom lip has limited my range.

Aiming the airstream upward is weird for me since as I ascend like that it turns into the Cat Anderson approach, with teeth together and bunched bottom chin without much of a sound

]]> 9251d1cfd1f5ee60d8f27311ffe1de4c kzem changed their profile picture https://mysterytomastery.com/activity/p/16235/ Sat, 30 Jan 2021 21:31:26 +1100 1 5608b93ca839465c5ec907cae7bb30e5 kzem replied to the topic Playing in the Red in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/playing-in-the-red/#post-72025 Sat, 30 Jan 2021 21:28:20 +1100 Thanks so much for your response. I greatly appreciate it.

At first I thought I could make some significant improvements by not changing my embouchure and just focusing on air, shape, and relaxation. That’s great to a point, but after one year, it helped me notice my tension problems and play slightly more efficiently with a tiny improvement i…[Read more]

]]> b5e67c8b57d951855469fb4be81ea8b5 kzem replied to the topic Playing in the Red in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/playing-in-the-red/#post-71892 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 12:43:07 +1100 Okay, so here’s my update after one year. I have become super aware of how much tension I’ve been using, and I improved my sound and endurance slightly, which is always a good thing.

However I’ve been unable to reap any benefits from the new setting or improved range at all.

I can’t seem to transfer any of the ahh-oooh to my regular set up and…[Read more]

]]> dd7e2df6cb11f98937a6dfe9dd29a4b1 kzem replied to the topic Practice routine in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/practice-routine/#post-45268 Wed, 04 Mar 2020 17:50:09 +1100 wjtakacs, do you do 20-30 mins of just the breath/leadpipe/sympathetic buzz with the mm-oo-ahhh setting? I’ve tried it and it seems like a long time, but not to physically tiring since it can be super relaxed.

It’s after this step where I guess I get a little confused. After I get a sympathetic buzz, I spend 15-20 minutes playing the Singing C e…[Read more]

]]> 90a8e8bb4b3ca64b605c52d2e433e2b8 kzem replied to the topic Playing in the Red in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/playing-in-the-red/#post-42066 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 15:57:03 +1100 I’d be interested in seeing what results you get with a new “rolled in” set up with less red. It seems like it should naturally go there after some time. (I’ve been trying to figure that part out for 15+ years). Changing my lip position with the Ahh-ooooo set up seems to be the only promising way, but it’s scary and feels wildly different…[Read more]

]]> a9e5d951d4023e57d3ca47a65392bbde kzem replied to the topic [EVERYONE READ THIS] Point of Difference question in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/point-of-difference-question/#post-39378 Mon, 23 Dec 2019 01:18:57 +1100 This is crazy, I’ve read this thread several times over the last month or so. I was about to post something when I read Bill’s post, and was surprised at how similar his story was to mine.

For me, full time playing and teaching career, with years and years of lessons, books, clinics, methods, and systems, with virtually no increase in range or…[Read more]

]]> 06ec15f6ed2071bc2f3bf8439181ae19 kzem replied to the topic Breath Attacks, PU Attacks in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/breath-attacks-pu-attacks/#post-39232 Sat, 21 Dec 2019 02:31:59 +1100 Plus, since I’m still struggling with my bottom lip curling in around a G on the staff, “Pu” attacks are near impossible for me if my lips aren’t somewhat in line. So, I find it’s a good exercise for that as well.

]]> 3a6b9e45aa2c804c926b3934bc85c082 kzem replied to the topic Trombone mouthpiece in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/trombone-mouthpiece/#post-39080 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 00:18:01 +1100 Although that might be the case for some, it’s probably not a strength thing. I think there’s value in feeling the corners working while playing a trombone mouthpiece since there’s more cup to vibrate in. When going back to the trumpet mouthpiece, however, it becomes more apparent how subtle the movements need to be. Plus, it really relaxes the c…[Read more]

]]> 2471b48328328f00b78a111345ac5303 kzem replied to the topic What do you do every day? in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/what-do-you-do-every-day/#post-39051 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:51:48 +1100 I found my areas that are a struggle, and I focus on that right now. Mostly, the passive harmonic slurs around 4th space D and higher are a struggle. Most all articulation stuff (passive) is a breeze right now. Also, I’m doing lots of the early Ruby stuff since that’s what seems to help work on my bottom lip from rolling in.

I’m also inter…[Read more]

]]> 16d87329b66e3e3fddaeae9c192b3907 kzem started the topic Lip bends in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/lip-bends/ Wed, 18 Dec 2019 12:20:48 +1100 In book two, there are some very challenging lip bends. I’ve been doing similar exercises for years (from the advice of many well-respected instructors) trying to prevent my bottom lip to curl in, but haven’t figured it out yet. I was just wondering why Greg mostly left them out of Windworks. Maybe too much manipulation? Has anyone else suc…[Read more]

]]> 5158e185ca5c87f641225fd71d831309 kzem replied to the topic bottom lip rolling in help? in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/bottom-lip-rolling-in-help/#post-37372 Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:43:22 +1100 Yes, the bottom lip rolls under the top lip. I think the “psychology” of blowing the air out straight or up helps a bit.

The inward motion of aperture corners when ascending feels new and challenging to me, which is exciting.

I think I’m in the same boat as many others: I’ve found out what works for me to get the notes out, however it’s no…[Read more]

]]> 53ddfa615febd76fb1e54d663a4ab520 kzem replied to the topic bottom lip rolling in help? in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/bottom-lip-rolling-in-help/#post-37284 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 17:02:37 +1100 I find the bottom lip rolling in discussion fascinating since that is how I play. I’ve been trying to correct it for more than 15 years. It creates a lot of compression for me, making it quite easy to squeak higher notes. This makes most exercises here easy to do passively up to about high C and a little beyond, especially articulated. However, a…[Read more]

]]> 114b65d7fd02435360615ab79a882e5a kzem replied to the topic Downstream player in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/downstream-player/#post-37281 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 16:37:50 +1100 I didn’t mean opening/closing the jaw but more protruding the jaw out, to combat a slightly receded jaw. Perhaps it’s more tension inducing, but it sure takes a lot of pressure off the top lip and improves my endurance a lot.

]]> 26153ccd0217e5d07d7ced1b15394133 kzem replied to the topic Downstream player in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/downstream-player/#post-37188 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 15:48:35 +1100 I’ve been experimenting a lot with this lately and was wondering if anyone else tries to push out their jaw while ascending to combat the lower lip from rolling in. It does provide a bit of tension, but feels like another part of the “shape” at times.

]]> 819fbeca7af2bf784a381ada081593f3 kzem replied to the topic Downstream player in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/downstream-player/#post-35743 Tue, 12 Nov 2019 03:01:37 +1100 Thanks for your feedback.
I’m hoping that working on aperture corners through this method and sticking to the process will help.

]]> 999bf5d71b285ceaaf5f0ccb4d2a9ff2 kzem replied to the topic Downstream player in the forum WindWorks https://mysterytomastery.com/topic/downstream-player/#post-35548 Sat, 09 Nov 2019 22:21:51 +1100 So, to change your airstream, you’re essentially changing your embouchure, correct?
How do you prevent your bottom lip from rolling in and still maintain a good sound?
I wasn’t sure it was a negative thing since I know a few pros that have zero range issues that roll in their bottom lip.

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