The Daily Show; Psychology
Warm-up, Routine, Practice, Play
- We are looking at four very different scenarios here that should not get
mixed up with one another. Ideally your daily trumpet workout should deal
with all these components.
1) Warm up: Preparing the body for playing. (E.g.: Focusing your attention
on the breathing apparatus; increasing blood flow in the embouchure area
[fluttering, free buzzing]; get the trumpet to body temperature...)
2) Routine: A set of exercises for maintenance purposes.
3) Practice: Exercises that deal with problem areas to work on (as opposed
to areas that you are good at).
4) Play: Literally what the term suggests. (E.g.: Improvising over changes
or improvising freely; looking into some extended techniques; playing
through something just for the fun of it...)
Workout Strategies
- If you want to systematically improve your range, endurance and
technique over a period of time, it is not only important to practice regularly
but it's also important how you practice.
- Trumpet playing relies on unconscious muscle memory. The way you
build this is by lots of repetition. But it is essential that your form be right,
so that the repetition is setting good and efficient habits.
- Most method books move way too fast into the upper register and most
etudes address 10 technical problems in 4 bars. Don't waste time with this
stuff.
- Start creating your own exercises as soon as possible. Try to isolate a
technical issue
and come up with a short exercise that can be repeated
many times without totally tiring you out.
- 90 percent of your practicing should be done in a range that is comfortable.
Trying to hit high notes over and over is not helpful. The high range needs
a lot of time (years!) to develop. You develop by building a solid foundation
in the low and middle range.
- Practice tons of breath attacks, "G"-tongue attacks and "real" flutter-
tonguing (as opposed
to "growling"). If you can't do these articulations
cleanly, you don't yet play efficiently.
- Practice different dynamics. Also working on crescendos and
decrescendos is helpful.
- Practice long notes in the low and middle range.
- The metronome is your best friend.
- When your embouchure is tired, rest!
- Ice cubes held against the inside of the upper lip help reduce swelling
when you have overdone it.
- Make sure to stay hydrated at all times and be reasonable with spicy food
and salt, particularly before a performance.
- Do mild forms of exercise like jogging or bicycle riding regularly.
I also recommend tai chi and yoga to make sure that you stay flexible.
- The Alexander technique is beneficial for good posture.
Psychology
- Although this essay looks at trumpet mechanics from an analytical angle,
you should bear in mind that over-analyzing can cause problems. Paralysis
by analysis. Don't get obsessed with the methodology, but rather envision
the product: The most beautiful sound imaginable. You play two trumpets,
one in your hand and one in your mind.
- Develop a very precise idea of how you want to sound. Then, instinctively,
you'll modify your lip, tongue and breathing to obtain that sound. If the mind
directs, the body will follow.
- The worst thing you can do in a performance situation is to analyze
yourself and your playing. In that case, you are asking questions rather
than issuing statements to the audience.
- When you practice, this is the time to put on the practicing hat:
You condition reflexes through repetition to form good playing habits.
When you perform in public you have to put on the performance hat:
Focus entirely on being a storyteller of sound.
Download Trumpet Mechanics
