[TPIN] Re: Valveless Exercises, anyone?

[Rob Alley]

GREAT stuff, John. For a long time I've believed in the quiet long note beginning of the day, and it HAS worked wonders for me. (After all, what better trumpet players to take advice from than Hakan and Wynton.) But sometimes, especially when I think my chops might not feel good first thing--how's that for being out of the moment and projecting--, I have trouble relaxing BEFORE I play the horn. Thanks for sharing the obvious solution with those of us who can't see the forest for the trees. Hope you are well and enjoying some warm weather up there.

Rob

-- tpin-request at tpin.okcu.edu wrote:

Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:43:26 -0500
From: "Daniel,John" <john.daniel at lawrence.edu>
Subject: Re: Subject: [TPIN] Valveless Exercises, anyone?
To: "Allegro69 \(a.k.a. Bob DeSavage\)" <allegro69 at comcast.net>,
	<tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
Message-ID: <web-30045499 at lawrence.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=utf-8;format="flowed"

Dude,
Now that's a great question. ....or I guess an area of 
questions...
Let me say right up front that I consider the control of 
stage fright to ultimately be a matter of technique.  YES! 
Personality has a lot to do with it; by all means we 
should try to change our personalities to be less 
self-conscious about these things and more realistic. 
 However, few of us ever experience rapid personality 
change for the better, at least not on a regular basis. 
 So what we are left with is the question, "what can we 
control?"  The biggest problem is that we are way to 
willing to concede to the nervous tension in our bodies 
when we practice.  That is giving up control over our 
bodies.  Practice time IS THE TIME to take care of 
excessive tension.  It is very unlikely to fix itself; we 
have to be willing to address the issue head on!  That's 
exactly how I approach the 20 minute "g".  I would 
strongly suggest that you try the following exercise:
1.  Start by thinking about picking up the horn without 
tension.  Just try to imagine what it might feel like to 
you.  If you don't succeed after 20 minutes, stop and try 
again tomorrow.
2.  When you succeed in imagining being able to pick up 
the horn without tension, go ahead and do it.  If you 
succeed, keep doing it for the rest of the 20 minutes.  If 
you don't succeed, go back to step one and proceed from 
there.  Always stop after 20 minutes.
3.  The next level of control over our bodies that we want 
to learn is to blow air through the horn without tension 
in the body.  You can take the mouthpiece out or leave it 
in, but eventually get used to it being in.  Don't use an 
embouchure at first, just blow. Stop after 20 minutes.
4. When YOU think you are ready, start making a bit of a 
trumpet embouchure while blowing air through the horn. 
 Watch your level of tension, and go back as necessary. 
Never rush yourself to improve at a specific rate, because 
THAT JUST ADDS TENSION!!!!
5.  Eventually you will set your lips close enough 
together that they vibrate, sometimes almost as if "by 
accident".  Do Not Try To Make This Happen.  Let it be 
strictly a matter of technique with a minimum
  of effort.  This exercise gives us a very necessary 
reference point describing the bare minimum of effort it 
takes to play.  In any case, 20 minutes per day of 
consciously making relaxation the priority will teach you 
a great deal.  It will give you some control over your 
body, via giving up control, you see?  If we can only 
control the horn via tension, and we aren't in control of 
our tension, then we have no control.  That's why it is so 
important to monitor and control the amount of tension we 
allow ourselves to use while we play:  the performance 
environment is going to add tension, and if we aren't in 
the habit of controlling tension, the tension easily gets 
out of control.

So depending on your peronality and your level of tension, 
that little exercise may or may not be necessary, but I am 
certain it will be useful.  I do it myself and with all of 
my students.  I do it at clinics.  It always helps.  And 
do let me know of any little twists or ideas you come up 
with to solve problems, because we all have unique ways.
hope this helps, or at least stimulates some good 
discussion,
John