Stutter/hesitation attacks - WindWorks Trumpet Academy by Mystery to Mastery | WindWorks Trumpet Academy by Mystery to Mastery

Tagged: Attack embouchure start release articulation

This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 4 months ago by Greg Spence.

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- 21 December 2018 at 10:28 pm #13874
  
  Ed Lockwood
  Participant
  
  Dear All
  
  This has been an issue of mine for some time (10 years at least).
  
  I never really nailed my first attacks at college and I think that this chink has slowly grown over the years to a mild complex. It comes and goes and is fine in a lot of scenarios but there is always a chance that it will rear its ugly head on delayed downbeats or if the conductor were to give the signal – whenever you’re ready.
  
  Has anybody had any success in dealing with it ?
  
  Do you have any advice Greg ?
  
  Loving the course and am finding it helpful for me and my students.
  
  Ed
- 22 December 2018 at 3:26 am #13884
  
  pvsnow
  Participant
  
  Ed,
  I’m not sure how Greg will weigh in on this, but I’ll share some thoughts.
  I share your experience with the first note inconsistency and insecurity. My personal analysis is that once the first note is played, the mind/body immediately adjusts to the appropriate embouchure and support to fix the problem. That’s great but it doesn’t help the initial attack!
  I’ve been doing several things lately that have helped:
  1. Blow THROUGH the note. Greg’s Arrrrticulation is great for this. His Response concept helps you establish that pure connected tone immediately following the attack.
  2. As you inhale (body’s concert hall), position the embouchure with firm corners, WET YOUR LIPS WITH YOUR TONGUE to reduce friction of the air over the lips. That really helped me.
  3. Have a firm and definitive tongue movement when releasing the air on the initial note. Don’t pussyfoot around!
  4. Lastly, practice just making a single note entry (any note) and then pause a few seconds fully relaxing your embouchure and taking the trumpet away from your lips. Do that over and over and see how many notes you can attack cleanly in a row. Eventually your percentage will increase. Tick the box!
  Hope this helps,
  Pete
- 22 December 2018 at 4:00 am #13886
  
  Ed Lockwood
  Participant
  
  Thanks Pete
  
  I read through a few posts after I’d written mine and came across Greg’s podcast in the Valsalva post somewhere.
  
  I know all the theory behind a good attack but was struggling to locate the way back. I’m going to do loads of simulated attacks away from the instrument and try and cross that feeling over.
  
  I did some today and I think it will bear fruit in time.
- 23 December 2018 at 10:49 am #14058
  
  Greg Spence
  Keymaster
  
  Hey there Ed, welcome and thanks for using WindWorks. You need to focus on the soft, slow, eyes closed BCH breath and then watch this:
  
  The problem is usually that kick of air with the simultaneous tightening of the lips, akin to trying to put your finger on a guitar sting and strumming at exactly the same time #goodluck 🙂
  
  Merry Xmas.
  Greg
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