A little late, this morning. Sorry about that! Here's a different way to think about Overblowing. Please let me know what you think. All polite feedback welcome, as always...
This is really great - one of the "Eureka' moments for me on playing the trumpet was to learn how to play with relaxed air. Paul Mayes also talks about sighing through the instrument and Greg Spence uses the concept of the "Singing C" but basically they are all about using relaxed air and getting the lips to respond accordingly. Its surprisingly difficult when we've told ourselves that we need to blow hard all our playing lives, but very liberating once we figure it out!
thank you so much for your videos. Some sections of a piece that I’m preparing for my recital always gives me a pounding headache after finishing the section that lasts for 1-5 seconds after I play it. Why do you believe these headaches happen? I’m otherwise healthy and only get them when I play high for long stretches. Thanks!
Hello Bryan I started playing trumpet in 1970. I am self taught. I play with a piano so I play concert scale and not Bb. I very much appreciate and enjoy the tips. I have a large overbite and a gap between my front teeth. So my bottom lip isn’t in the same place when I play as the teaching video. The top lip sometimes goes down in the gap when that happens I can’t play long. I was thinking of trying a wide mouthpiece. I’m working on not pressing the mouthpiece. I know that everyone is physically different just want to ask if you had any tips. Thanks again.
I am having a problem. Very often now that I play trumpet the vibration I create suddenly turns into plain air. This stops the trumpet from sounding. It began when I tried to learn reaching higher notes with lower sound. And when I was learning to sound soft. And when I repeatedly changed mouthpieces. This is soooo frustrating and disappointing. I feel like I am a dumbbell in my band. 😢 What should I do?
It sounds like you tried to make a lot of changes at once. Just switch up one variable at a time and see if you can narrow down where the problem is. I know these things can get frustrating at times. Hang with it. This too shall pass.
Hi Bryan... thanks a lot for all the help - much appreciated. I was born to play the trumpet - problem is I only realised that Nov8, 2016, 888 (!!) days ago - and I'm 55 and NOT musical BUT I have a good ability to move from failure to failure and stay positive! One problem is that I just practice too much and then my lips go off and I end up forcing notes that i know are easy if my lips are "right. " 4 days a go I started to set a new goal: "how many consecutive days you can play when lips feel good" My current record is 4! Any tips for how to be able to build up practise time and keep lips feeling good? I guess my Number 1 tip at the moment is let air do as much work as possible (Your "Sigh" on the money in that respect! ).. I have starting playing in shorter sessions.. 5-10 minutes., and Then break. This way in a day (weekend) I might practise max 90mins - but would like to make that 4 hours + . Is that even realistic? Thanks Steve PS I live in Finland and since my new hobby started I have started doing the snow work for my neighbours to keep on at least speaking terms.. I'm sure they're already appreciating your play softly tips...PS Just checked on google.. 888 is knows as the Angel Number!
Hi Steve. Thanks for watching. I’m glad you’ve found the videos helpful. You’re on the right track with practicing in short bursts. However, rather than doing arbitrary 5-10 min sessions, practice until you feel a little tired, then rest - for as long as you played so you can then start back feeling fresh. This may mean 5-10 min bursts to begin with but these will gradually lengthen as your strength and endurance build. If you have time, it’s certainly possible to practice for many hours. However, long term concentration usually has to be developed, right along with the embouchure. Personally, I mentally tire of practicing way before my chops get tired.
Hi Bryan. I think i have bit of a problem with overblowing, so i need to apply this method to my long notes. I have a problem though, in that, i can only practice with a practice mute. I use shhhmute, and i believe the back pressure is quite manageable. But what are your thoughts on the best way to manage all my technical exs muted this way, can the constant back pressure effect the devepment of the embochure?
Hi Peter. I made a more recent video about how to get the best results with a practice mute. You can watch it at: ruclips.net/video/IjLoYGuFs_M/видео.html
Hi Bryan First, thx for all your videos, really I wanted to tell you something I realized just watching this video I realized that when I do gentle blow without the horn, I feel what you describe. But when I do it with the horn, I feel some upgrowing tension in my mandible. Its my tech or do I need to look out some help? Thx
Hi Alonso. Thanks for watching! It sounds like you have a habit of tensing your jaw when you play. That's not necessarily a big deal, but try playing long tones on a 2nd line G or lower and seeing if you can relax it as you sustain the note. If you can, then gradually try to incorporate that feel into a wider range and other technical things that you play. Best of luck!
Thank you sir , I ve been practicing not overblowing middle line G. How about G over the staff? To play it soft ,I always find myself pinching my lips, obviously creates tension...it's easier played at a normal volume. Is it an embouchure problem ? 😧🎺
How soft can you play it without pinching your lips? Start there. The more you play with that approach, the better you’ll get at it. As it becomes for familiar and consistent, then start to play a little softer, just as far as you can with no pinching. In time, you’ll develop the ability to play that note softly with no pinching.
There are many good options on the market. The Bremner Ssh! mute is very popular. I’ve mostly used a Best Brass practice mute for the past 15 years. Thanks for watching.
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A little late, this morning. Sorry about that! Here's a different way to think about Overblowing. Please let me know what you think. All polite feedback welcome, as always...
This channel deserves so much love! ❤️🎺Thanks for the tips!
You’re very welcome. Thanks for checking them out. Please tell your friends!
This is really great - one of the "Eureka' moments for me on playing the trumpet was to learn how to play with relaxed air. Paul Mayes also talks about sighing through the instrument and Greg Spence uses the concept of the "Singing C" but basically they are all about using relaxed air and getting the lips to respond accordingly. Its surprisingly difficult when we've told ourselves that we need to blow hard all our playing lives, but very liberating once we figure it out!
Glad you enjoyed it, Carl. Thanks for watching. I used to play "the hard way" too, so I know exactly what you're talking about.
thank you so much for your videos. Some sections of a piece that I’m preparing for my recital always gives me a pounding headache after finishing the section that lasts for 1-5 seconds after I play it. Why do you believe these headaches happen? I’m otherwise healthy and only get them when I play high for long stretches. Thanks!
This helped me so much! Game changer. Thank you!!
I’m so glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
I like that you demonstrate playing without overblowing in the middle register, but could you also demonstrate in a higher register?
Thank You Mr. Davis: this really helped!!!
You're very welcome!
Glad you brought this up. I`'ll work on this tonight. I already suspect my problem will be getting my lip to start vibrating. Thanks.
It can be an adjustment when you start out, but it's well worth it!
Thanks for watching...
Hello Bryan
I started playing trumpet in 1970. I am self taught. I play with a piano so I play concert scale and not Bb.
I very much appreciate and enjoy the tips.
I have a large overbite and a gap between my front teeth. So my bottom lip isn’t in the same place when I play as the teaching video.
The top lip sometimes goes down in the gap when that happens I can’t play long. I was thinking of trying a wide mouthpiece.
I’m working on not pressing the mouthpiece.
I know that everyone is physically different just want to ask if you had any tips.
Thanks again.
Really good tips. Almost a bit of 'mind over matter'.
Or 'matter over mind' for that matter! :-)
I am having a problem. Very often now that I play trumpet the vibration I create suddenly turns into plain air. This stops the trumpet from sounding. It began when I tried to learn reaching higher notes with lower sound. And when I was learning to sound soft. And when I repeatedly changed mouthpieces.
This is soooo frustrating and disappointing. I feel like I am a dumbbell in my band. 😢
What should I do?
It sounds like you tried to make a lot of changes at once. Just switch up one variable at a time and see if you can narrow down where the problem is.
I know these things can get frustrating at times. Hang with it. This too shall pass.
Hi Bryan... thanks a lot for all the help - much appreciated. I was born to play the trumpet - problem is I only realised that Nov8, 2016, 888 (!!) days ago - and I'm 55 and NOT musical BUT I have a good ability to move from failure to failure and stay positive! One problem is that I just practice too much and then my lips go off and I end up forcing notes that i know are easy if my lips are "right. " 4 days a go I started to set a new goal: "how many consecutive days you can play when lips feel good" My current record is 4! Any tips for how to be able to build up practise time and keep lips feeling good? I guess my Number 1 tip at the moment is let air do as much work as possible (Your "Sigh" on the money in that respect! ).. I have starting playing in shorter sessions.. 5-10 minutes., and Then break. This way in a day (weekend) I might practise max 90mins - but would like to make that 4 hours + . Is that even realistic? Thanks Steve PS I live in Finland and since my new hobby started I have started doing the snow work for my neighbours to keep on at least speaking terms.. I'm sure they're already appreciating your play softly tips...PS Just checked on google.. 888 is knows as the Angel Number!
Hi Steve. Thanks for watching. I’m glad you’ve found the videos helpful.
You’re on the right track with practicing in short bursts. However, rather than doing arbitrary 5-10 min sessions, practice until you feel a little tired, then rest - for as long as you played so you can then start back feeling fresh. This may mean 5-10 min bursts to begin with but these will gradually lengthen as your strength and endurance build.
If you have time, it’s certainly possible to practice for many hours. However, long term concentration usually has to be developed, right along with the embouchure. Personally, I mentally tire of practicing way before my chops get tired.
Hi Bryan. I think i have bit of a problem with overblowing, so i need to apply this method to my long notes. I have a problem though, in that, i can only practice with a practice mute. I use shhhmute, and i believe the back pressure is quite manageable. But what are your thoughts on the best way to manage all my technical exs muted this way, can the constant back pressure effect the devepment of the embochure?
Hi Peter. I made a more recent video about how to get the best results with a practice mute. You can watch it at: ruclips.net/video/IjLoYGuFs_M/видео.html
Thanks Bryan, went to the link. It makes a huge difference.
I’m so glad it was helpful!
Hi Bryan
First, thx for all your videos, really
I wanted to tell you something I realized just watching this video
I realized that when I do gentle blow without the horn, I feel what you describe. But when I do it with the horn, I feel some upgrowing tension in my mandible.
Its my tech or do I need to look out some help?
Thx
Hi Alonso. Thanks for watching!
It sounds like you have a habit of tensing your jaw when you play. That's not necessarily a big deal, but try playing long tones on a 2nd line G or lower and seeing if you can relax it as you sustain the note. If you can, then gradually try to incorporate that feel into a wider range and other technical things that you play. Best of luck!
Thank you sir , I ve been practicing not overblowing middle line G. How about G over the staff? To play it soft ,I always find myself pinching my lips, obviously creates tension...it's easier played at a normal volume. Is it an embouchure problem ? 😧🎺
How soft can you play it without pinching your lips? Start there. The more you play with that approach, the better you’ll get at it. As it becomes for familiar and consistent, then start to play a little softer, just as far as you can with no pinching. In time, you’ll develop the ability to play that note softly with no pinching.
I really need a practice mute. Bc i still live with my dad. And i don’t want to annoy him. But i really wanna practice! 😕
There are many good options on the market. The Bremner Ssh! mute is very popular. I’ve mostly used a Best Brass practice mute for the past 15 years.
Thanks for watching.