OK, I finally had a chance to really read what all was said in this thread. Man, there’s a ton of great stuff in here that I will really need to read again and take notes. Peter and John, just because you are a “beginner” or a “non-pro player”, never think that you can’t teach someone about this process or that I can’t learn from you. I don’t see…[Read more]

No worries, Greg! This show is now officially kicking my butt. After successful rehearsals on Saturday and Sunday, my playing has tanked for Monday and Tuesday. I’m not sure what changed. The rehearsals were longer, but I was still feeling it way earlier on within the rehearsal those two nights. The only other difference is that I did not other…[Read more]

Peter, thanks so much for your video. Your explanation makes more clear that paradox of the lip corners appearing to pull back when they are actually moving inwards. I really wish there was a way to know 100% what is going on inside the mouthpiece when we play. Maybe that would help me figure out some things. I’m thinking of making a new video to…[Read more]

Thanks all, I’ve got to reread all this great stuff. Had two show rehearsals this weekend, and they went surprisingly well and I felt much better than expected. There’s a lot of high stuff (Legally Blonde) which I usually crap out on pretty early on in a rehearsal. But, even at the end of a 3-hour rehearsal I was still cranking away, albeit…[Read more]

I just had a skype session with a guy I trust as he turned me on to Greg’s stuff and he basically said the same thing. Too much pucker. I’ve got to experiment more with a slightly less puckered setup. I meant to say thank you, John, for your concern. I really appreciate you guys looking out for me and trying to help. I feel that I’m getting…[Read more]

Hi All, thanks so much for the input. I’m happy to share this video with you in the hopes that someone can tell me what I’m doing wrong! Thank you!

Also, I feel like there is so much bottom lip exposed – something I’ve never felt before. Looking in a mirror it just looks so odd. It feels odd too, like I’m setting the bottom rim of the mouthpiece right into the soft, fleshy part of the lip. Kind of looks like all those pictures of Maynard. Hmmm…

This morning I spent 15 minutes just buzzing on the leadpipe. Over and over, just the same pitch, maybe a little variance above and below. A few times the pitch dropped way down – an octave or so, I can’t remember. After maybe 10 minutes I started getting a quiver in my lips. I assume this is because I’m using muscles I don’t normally use when…[Read more]

Working today on just getting a consistent buzz on the leadpipe. Not as much luck on the horn today, so I’ll stay focused on the leadpipe. My mind is already wondering how to move the pitch around high and low – I feel a little stiff in that regard – I can’t move it very far in either direction. In experimenting I have found that a bit more…[Read more]

OK, more breakthroughs – after messing around on the leadpipe some more I decided to try it on the horn. A full, big pedal C came out! I have NEVER been able to play one without bending down to it using 7th position! Now I understand why some guys say a big thing is to be able to play a pedal C with no valves!

In the words of Greg: Put the kettle on! LOL. This is the kind of guy Greg is. He answers this post, sees that I’m online, and sends me a facebook message saying that he’s up (4:30 a.m. his time!!!) and if I’m free we can chat. I of course jumped on it. Within 15 minutes he got me to (FINALLY!) get that low sympathetic buzz on the leadpipe that…[Read more]

Thanks for the insight! Staying the course…

Thanks, John. Your posts are very helpful and I appreciate them. Maybe my coffee moment is not far off…

I’m not even trying to play the horn at this point. Just many, many repetitions of BCH breath, slingshot, Maaaooohhh with lips, then visualiser. I’ll eventually switch to mouthpiece. Then maybe to leadpipe sparingly. I don’t want to force results. I did have a moment where a low buzz emerged from the leadpipe but I kept wondering whether that was…[Read more]

johnelwood – thanks, I suspected as much. I will continue to do the exercises with BCH, slingshot with no muscling, and placing visualiser, mouthpiece, and leadpipe until it comes.

Greg – I’ll just attempt to observe with no self-pressure or expectations. Going to start re-reading Zen today as well. I’m going to adopt Dan Quigley’s philosophy…[Read more]

Quick question – I just spent 15 minutes doing nothing but CH breath, slingshot out with just lips, then visualiser, mouthpiece, and leadpipe. Repeating over and over. I noticed that sometimes I will get a slight whistling sound through my lips, mouthpiece, and leadpipe, not with visulizer though. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Hey buddy,…[Read more]

Thanks so much, my friend. I feel extremely special to have warranted an entire 46 minute video addressed to me! It truly means a lot. So, what do you suggest I do now? Should I just stay on the Largo foundation for a while, just practicing the breathing and Maaooohhh tutututu with visualiser, mouthpiece, and leadpipe, or should I also move into…[Read more]

Greg, thank you for the response and the huge amount of information. I’ll try to address each question.

I believe that the BCH is a familiar feeling. However, there are times while playing when I feel rushed to take a breath. I’ve read this before, which I belive in – the first breath is always the best. I don’t see how it is possible sometimes…[Read more]