[TPIN] Air and Stomach Conception

[Dave Arndt]

Very fine illustration by Mr. Vax..

Chris - another piece of input is that when you're using your air
sufficiently and properly, it does tend to alleviate the amount of
work your chops have to do.  This is probabaly what your teacher is
after.

One more thought (that helps me anyway):  I like to think of finding a
balance (ratio) between the amount of air and the work being done by
the machine that the air is fueling.  For me, I find this is apt to be
a little different from day to day, so I try to "sense" where this
ratio is when I'm warming up.  Some days it feels like I need a lot of
attention on moving more air, and other days I feel like I need to
work more at controlling the air.  And I base this all on what it
takes to get the sound "moving" (which usually equates to finding
resonance/brilliance in the sound).

  - da




On 10/31/07, Vaxtrpts at aol.com <Vaxtrpts at aol.com> wrote:
>
> In a message dated 10/31/2007 9:26:29 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> darndt at oriongate.net writes:
>
> The  bottom line is that playing trumpet requires a certain amount of
> tension,
> i.e., the muscles have to work to hold the embouchure.  The lips  require a
> certain amount of tension in order vibrate in a meaningful way  (to produce
> a
> good sound).  You can't play without using the muscles  in your face, and
> you
> can't play without *some* amount of tension in the  lips.
>
>
>
> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> I do agree in part with this statement, but here is another way of looking
> at it.
> Actually, the way that I like to describe this in my clinics, is that I
> don't use the words tense, tension, or tightness at all.  I like to think
> of
> "flexing" the muscles, rather than "tensing" them.  This seems to give  a
> good
> impression of proper use, without over use.
> A good example is to hold your hand out in front of you, palm up.  Now  just
> lightly open and close our hand repeatedly.  You could do this all  day.
> Now
> squeeze your hand together as hard as you can, and repeat.   You will feel
> all
> kinds of tension and get tired very quickly.  This is how  I explain a good
> use of flexing muscles to young people.  They seem to "get  it" right away.
> Hope this helps.
> Mike Vax
>
>
>
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