We made it to the end of the alphabet! Thanks for hanging in over the last 6 months or so. All feedback welcome, as always. Please don’t forget to suggest topics for Season 2. Then, go practice!
I actually traveled just a week ago for 3 weeks, what a coincidence! Anyway this has been such a good series. I picked up the trumpet around 1.5 years ago deciding I'd try a new instrument after I injured my left hand playing the piano (causing me not to be able to play piano or cello for orchestra.) These videos have helped me teach myself the ways of brass and I feel I've improved exponentially thanks to them.
I had three weeks off, took a mouthpiece with me for some buzzing practice. I might have overdone it. When I came back, I felt much too tense, causing intonation problems and poor endurance. Took me a week to feel ok again. Revisiting your A-Z, especially note bends, helped a lot. Thanks for this series and looking forward to the next.
Just mouthpiece buzzing for 3 weeks could do that. I like to buzz as much as anybody but it’s really important to have something to pitch against so you can focus on intonation, unless you’re one of the lucky few with perfect pitch! Thanks for watching.
I checked out several videos in the series over the past few days. I’m starting to re-train myself on trumpet after being off brass instruments for 14 years. Due to the tips like the ones in video series, I’m almost back to where I was before the long hiatus, and with much less pressure on the lips. Thanks for sharing the information in the series.
Thanks for the great video series, Bryan. With reference to your subject in this video, it's interesting that the great Wayne Bergeron in his DVD "Playing Lead Trumpet" states that while some players (like yourself) can take some time off, he can't, so he always takes his horn with him on vacation.
What a great job you have done Bryan, lots of work and hopefully satisfaction that the A-Z has proved it's worth, personally I have found this series very interesting and stolen some of the ideas for my own students whilst teaching. I look forward to all your future ideas, BR Jan
Thanks Jan. I started out, basically on a whim, and it’s turned out to be one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done! Lots more to come - I’m having far too much fun to stop now...
Bryan, I'm sorry I missed you when you were across, things at work have been manic, i would have loved a catch up and tune up! Your A-Z series has been excellent. I was only last week speaking to a few friends from N.Ireland, we were talking mouthpieces and breathing as normal..... I was telling them to check out your series but I was too late! I was ellated to find out that they had already come across your series on Instagram, the wonders of the internet!!! I only wish I had access to the information you are now sharing in your videos when I was a lot younger.... Looking forward to series 2. All the best mate. Rob
It would’ve been great to see you, Rob. I should be back over either later this year or certainly before Easter next year. I’ll be building some extra days into the trip then, so I can catch up with people around the country and set up some lessons. I’ll be announcing it when scheduling is clearer. Hopefully I’ll get to see you then. Thanks for watching and recommending the vids to your friends. I appreciate it!
This is pretty cool! I'm wondering how I just found this now when you got to Z. You talked about the agility of a gymnast - I was just at a chamber music workshop (my 6th year doing it) where I had a few days feeling like I was doing face gymnastics! You must have already addressed this topic - what exercises are best for developing agility on the trumpet as opposed to strength?
You found me in the end though! The great thing about RUclips is that you can go back and watch the previous videos at your leisure - they aren’t going anywhere! 🎺😀 There are lots of great flexibility exercises, so whatever you’re already working on is probably fine. For me, it’s more about approach than the individual exercise. There are a number of letters that relate to this, but W for Whistle is probably a good place to start. If you’re feeling a lot of effort and/or movement in your embouchure then your air is probably out of balance with your chops. Whistling can be really helpful in getting the feel for the air and tongue movement needed to play more efficiently.
Oh man! Would you believe it if I said I can't whistle? I have a drastic overbite and I've never been able to make a real whistle sound. BUT I will check it out. ;)
Spend a little time and see if you can figure it out. If not, singing is almost as effective. Your tongue arch and airflow work in largely the same way whether singing, whistling or playing.
We made it to the end of the alphabet! Thanks for hanging in over the last 6 months or so. All feedback welcome, as always.
Please don’t forget to suggest topics for Season 2. Then, go practice!
You have great information Bryan, don't stop
I don’t intend to, Deone. Just going to try something a little different for a while. Thanks for watching!
You take the best of the best and make it very understandable, I am going to go practice, I'm a old fart but still playing professionally. Keep it up
I actually traveled just a week ago for 3 weeks, what a coincidence! Anyway this has been such a good series. I picked up the trumpet around 1.5 years ago deciding I'd try a new instrument after I injured my left hand playing the piano (causing me not to be able to play piano or cello for orchestra.) These videos have helped me teach myself the ways of brass and I feel I've improved exponentially thanks to them.
Thanks for watching. I'm glad to have been of help!
I had three weeks off, took a mouthpiece with me for some buzzing practice. I might have overdone it. When I came back, I felt much too tense, causing intonation problems and poor endurance. Took me a week to feel ok again. Revisiting your A-Z, especially note bends, helped a lot. Thanks for this series and looking forward to the next.
Just mouthpiece buzzing for 3 weeks could do that. I like to buzz as much as anybody but it’s really important to have something to pitch against so you can focus on intonation, unless you’re one of the lucky few with perfect pitch!
Thanks for watching.
I checked out several videos in the series over the past few days. I’m starting to re-train myself on trumpet after being off brass instruments for 14 years. Due to the tips like the ones in video series, I’m almost back to where I was before the long hiatus, and with much less pressure on the lips. Thanks for sharing the information in the series.
I’m glad you’ve been finding my videos helpful. Thanks for checking them out!
Thanks for the great video series, Bryan. With reference to your subject in this video, it's interesting that the great Wayne Bergeron in his DVD "Playing Lead Trumpet" states that while some players (like yourself) can take some time off, he can't, so he always takes his horn with him on vacation.
What a great job you have done Bryan, lots of work and hopefully satisfaction that the A-Z has proved it's worth, personally I have found this series very interesting and stolen some of the ideas for my own students whilst teaching. I look forward to all your future ideas, BR Jan
Thanks Jan. I started out, basically on a whim, and it’s turned out to be one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done! Lots more to come - I’m having far too much fun to stop now...
Splendid stuff mate, EOTW has been great too...
Bryan, I'm sorry I missed you when you were across, things at work have been manic, i would have loved a catch up and tune up!
Your A-Z series has been excellent. I was only last week speaking to a few friends from N.Ireland, we were talking mouthpieces and breathing as normal..... I was telling them to check out your series but I was too late! I was ellated to find out that they had already come across your series on Instagram, the wonders of the internet!!! I only wish I had access to the information you are now sharing in your videos when I was a lot younger....
Looking forward to series 2.
All the best mate.
Rob
It would’ve been great to see you, Rob. I should be back over either later this year or certainly before Easter next year. I’ll be building some extra days into the trip then, so I can catch up with people around the country and set up some lessons. I’ll be announcing it when scheduling is clearer. Hopefully I’ll get to see you then.
Thanks for watching and recommending the vids to your friends. I appreciate it!
Bryan Davis - Airflow Music
Brilliant! I'll do my best to catch up with you.
All the best
Rob
I'm so glad I can relate to you
This is pretty cool! I'm wondering how I just found this now when you got to Z. You talked about the agility of a gymnast - I was just at a chamber music workshop (my 6th year doing it) where I had a few days feeling like I was doing face gymnastics! You must have already addressed this topic - what exercises are best for developing agility on the trumpet as opposed to strength?
You found me in the end though! The great thing about RUclips is that you can go back and watch the previous videos at your leisure - they aren’t going anywhere! 🎺😀
There are lots of great flexibility exercises, so whatever you’re already working on is probably fine. For me, it’s more about approach than the individual exercise. There are a number of letters that relate to this, but W for Whistle is probably a good place to start. If you’re feeling a lot of effort and/or movement in your embouchure then your air is probably out of balance with your chops. Whistling can be really helpful in getting the feel for the air and tongue movement needed to play more efficiently.
Oh man! Would you believe it if I said I can't whistle? I have a drastic overbite and I've never been able to make a real whistle sound. BUT I will check it out. ;)
Spend a little time and see if you can figure it out. If not, singing is almost as effective. Your tongue arch and airflow work in largely the same way whether singing, whistling or playing.
Some days you could play for hours, everyday for months, but every once in a while you feel you don't wanna play at all.
Season 2 - A for Arban
Thanks for the suggestion!