[TPIN] air support on trumpet

[Daniel,John]

Bryan,
The best thing you can do for yourself at this point is to 
understand that you are just about totally confused.
John


On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:46:47 -0400
  weaselman1 at aol.com wrote:
> Hello list:
> 
> I would like to know some different opinions about air 
>support on the trumpet.? What I am most interested in is 
>what is happening in the abdomen.? For example, singers 
>do what is called the "valsalva maneuver."? To feel what 
>is happen in the abdomen during this, hold your nose shut 
>with your fingers and, keeping your mouth shut, blow.? 
>Your abdomen should push outward slightly, and you should 
>get the same effect in the lower back.
> 
> While opera singers use this for air support, other 
>instrumentalists have adopted a similar approach.? The 
>only ones I know who attempt to play this way constantly 
>are woodwind players, especially clarinetists.? The only 
>time I have heard it applied to trumpet is by a few 
>players who say to push your abdomen outward when 
>descending.? What this does is returns your abdomen to a 
>more-relaxed position so you don't get "locked-in" to 
>"high-note air speed."? In this method, the abdomen goes 
>inward when ascending to the highest notes.
> 
> However, I have had some success with using the valsalva 
>maneuver all the way up to high F, even on piccolo 
>trumpet.? The advantages for me are bigger sound, tone 
>matching better throughout registers and dynamics, easier 
>flexibility (especially descending slurs), and the 
>feeling of using less tension for high notes.? I have not 
>been able to use valsalva constantly.
> 
> I am wondering if anybody on the list has experience 
>playing this way or experience being taught this way, 
>etc.? Also, if anybody has any information on brass 
>players who may have played this way, that would be great 
>(as much as Arnold Jacobs talks about wind, I have not 
>come across one of his teachings that addresses the 
>abdomen).
> 
> Thank you much for your help. 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Bryan
> 
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