Stiffness….
it feels like this…
youre playing something at mid to high range with a good tone and all is well
but the moment you go to go to the higher range the notes just wont respond right?
the lips close down / tight / shut
frustrating right?
stiffness!!—you hate it right?…no range—grrrr!!
but..
what if its this…
youre playing something at mid to high range with a good tone and all is well
so..that means..your lips are being kept open by your jaw / facial muscles and it all feels solid and responds..
but the moment you go to go to the higher range the notes just wont respond.
darn it – your lips moved closer together [compression – lip to lip] under the greater workload / mpc pressure —past the point of easy vibration.
the lips close down / tight / shut
not as a result of stiffness —although it may feel like it—but—as a result of your chops not being strong enough to keep the lips in the optimum close/open aperture utopia position for the notes to come out easily.
CLOSE not CLOSED.
You think your stiff…cutting off range
but…
You’re actually weak CHOP wise…
not able to sustain the close / open aperture balance [utopia] between the lips allowing JUST ENOUGH lip to lip compression to keep the lips vibrating at a higher frequency
players often say to me…my chops closed down and felt stiff not allowing the high notes out
but
if you were ACTUALLY stiff…you’d find a lack of flexibility well into the mid register…and…many don’t find this…
they say..my chops closed down and felt stiff not allowing the high notes out
what if they are simply not strong enough to keep the chops open enough at a given range
these types of players above come to see me for a live lesson…and…I tell them all is well…they don’t have a problem…
all they have to do is work smart and build..quit early..keep a decent tone at a mp dynamic..
but
life gets in the way of real solid regular practice…which
would avoid excess compression in place of REAL chop strength
when one builds strength like this…the red lip flesh doesn’t disappear inwards under crushing compression for lack of chop strength
don’t forget
the red bit vibrates
if its curled in
it won’t…
regards . .Roddy o-iii<O
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fi1FZL9rPI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fi1FZL9rPI
“E M B O U C H U R E ____E N H A N C E M E N T”
[Self Analysis / Diagnostic Methods for Brass Instruments]www.lulu.com/spotlight/roddytpt
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