| Learning trumpet can be a very rewarding | | | | of keeping your lips in a relaxed closed position |
| experience, it can also be one very frustrating | | | | and to think about a kiss or a puckering action |
| experience as well if the student doesn't have a | | | | from the corners only! |
| good teacher showing them the specifics of how | | | | Once I have a new student "free lip buzzing" (no |
| to produce sound. The most basic and | | | | mouthpiece, no horn), then we can move on to |
| fundamental part of playing any instrument is | | | | just the mouthpiece. What this does is suddenly |
| creating sound. For a drummer, it starts with | | | | makes things easier for the student because the |
| learning how to hit the head of the drum, the | | | | mouthpiece offers more support for the lips and |
| piano player - how to position their hands and | | | | a lot more resistance for the air. Once we've |
| which finger to use, etc. But neither need to learn | | | | achieved a good buzzing pattern with the |
| how to produce these sounds... the instrument | | | | mouthpiece, we then move to creating actual |
| does it for them. | | | | notes with the horn. |
| Brass players are not nearly as fortunate! Each | | | | I believe that by giving the student a good solid |
| player must start by getting their lips to buzz. | | | | foundation to fall back on, they will not be |
| This is essentially blowing air through their lips and | | | | hindered by or plagued with embouchure problems |
| allowing the lips to vibrate. Sounds simple, and it | | | | in the future. They will have a solid foundation for |
| is... but it's not easy! Especially if someone isn't | | | | playing based on relaxed lips that are free to |
| given clear instructions on how to achieve this! | | | | vibrate and air being pushed from the abs! |
| What I tell all of my beginning students is to think | | | | |