[TPIN] A "natural" embouchure?

[Rod Brawn]

This is just like saying anyone can run a Marathon, yes they can, but not 
all can run competitive marathons.

Rod Brawn
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Olaf Brattegaard" <olaf.brattegaard at nrk.no>
To: <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 5:14 AM
Subject: [TPIN] A "natural" embouchure?


> This was really weird, and made me think (just a little......).
>
> On TPIN as well as other trumpet forums we often get the impression that
> everybody can play the trumpet if he/her just does it the right way.
> We also get the impression that the "right" way is found in the myriads
> of methodes, books, and teachers out there.
>
> I think this is rather far from reality, i.e. everybody can not(sorry)
> play the trumpet.
>
> However, I think there are two qualities nessesary to play one:
> First there is musicality (the mental part) - you have to have a good
> ear and the interest for music in general (and the desire to play the
> trumpet).
> Then there is the other part - you have to have the physical abilities
> to play the trumpet. I.e. if you don't have the right physical abilities
> you will never(sorry again) be a trumpet player, no matter how hard you
> try.
>
> Talent can't be learned, so you have to be born(!) with it.
> However, if you have talent, it can be developed (that's the tricky
> part).
> Somehow it seems like too little or too much talent is kind of
> unfortunate(?), so a fair amount would probably be OK.
>
> Now, I'm not going to elaborate on this, rather give you some examples:
>
> I know a pro who played tripple high C when he was 10 - he didn't even
> know it was high.
> I also know a pro who has struggled all his life to play a decent F
> above the system.
> Me? For more than 50 years I've had problems getting my lips to vibrate
> properly, and neither me nor any methode, book or teacher have ever been
> able to fix it. So I'm certainly no "natural", but still a happy
> amateur......
>
> Sorry for the disturbance this first day of the new year.......
>
>
> Regards,
> Olaf in Oslo
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:17:07 -0800
> From: "Bob Romans" <cellblk7 at comcast.net>
> Subject: [TPIN] A "natural" embouchure?
> To: <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
> Message-ID: <00d101c84bf2$803e1420$6401a8c0 at lodibrass>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> In 1981 I was starting beginners at one of my elementary schools in
> Stockton, California...a 5th grade black boy was starting trumpet
> lessons...the ONLY note he could play? High C! Try as I could, using all
> of the tricks I had learned after about 20 years of teaching, plus being
> a trumpet player for 30 plus years, he could only play high C! For
> weeks, it was the same story...just high C!! I finally called the
> principal in to observe it, and HE couldn't believe it! So It was, take
> a breath, put the MP on the lips(Which were quite large, BTW!), and "try
> playing softly"...HIGH C, try player softer yet! HIGH C! Buzz like
> this...soft, low buzz from me...couldn't buzz low!
> I NEVER got him to play ANY other note! He finally dropped out!
>
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