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| Author | Message | |
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therat
User |
Posted: 2006-09-25 23:56 CET | |
| Alright, so.. the past month, I got this huge zit on my top lip. it hurt to play on it, and it wouldn't go away. I finally brought my trumpet further down on my lip, just a little bit. As I played more and more, the mouthpiece got further and further down on my lip.. Finally, the bump's gone. I thought it would be a good thing.. It wasn't. I can't seem to find my old embouchure, and the one I'm playing on now, I have horrible tone and range. On my top lip, the mouthpiece is not even on a centimeter of it. Anyone have any ideas about how to move and where to move my mouthpiece placement back? | ||
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Spaminator 3000
User |
Posted: 2006-09-26 02:05 CET | |
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Basically, my answer is that nobody can decide how to place your mouthpiece but yourself. Except in very extreme cases, taking someone's advice and moving the mouthpiece to a place that doesn't feel natural to you will only hinder your playing. Even in Arban's Conservatory Method the "Bible" of trumpet playing, he discourages teacher's from moving their pupils' mouthpiece. That said, your case does sound rather extreme. Try not thinking about your "old" placement; just try to place the mouthpiece in a spot that feels comfortable and gives you a clear, full tone. Best of luck! |
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SeverFire
User |
Posted: 2006-09-26 05:46 CET | |
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If you can't seem to get back what you had though, just try playing again where you normally had it and you'll adjust back just like you had adjusted before your zit. I feel your pain though. Last year, the day before band camp, I got this huge cold sore right in the middle of my bottom lip, oozing pus and everything. It POed me, but I played anyway with my normal embouchure. It was kinda painful and probably prolonged the cold sore, but it went away eventually. I'll agree with Spaminator though, changing embouchures probably isn't a good idea. Everybody's is different -- I play off to the right of my lips noticeably. My Junior High teacher pointed it out a few times and told me try playing in the middle but it felt completely unnatural. I'd just try to get used back to the old embouchure as soon as possible, but that's me. |
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therat
User |
Posted: 2006-10-12 16:07 CET | |
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Ok, I think I've kinda gotten onto a mixture of the old and new one, and here are some pictures. <a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/therat22/DSCF0473.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a> <a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/therat22/DSCF0479.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a> Doesn't look too extreme, does it? |
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therat
User |
Posted: 2006-10-12 16:10 CET | |
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Spaminator 3000
User |
Posted: 2006-10-13 00:22 CET | |
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Looks pretty good. It appears the mouthpiece might be a tad low, but if it feels comfortable and sounds good, don't worry about what it looks like too much. Best of luck! |
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therat
User |
Posted: 2006-10-22 00:35 CET | |
| Thanks for the suggestions. With this new placement, I'm playing better than ever. My tones better than it's ever been, and my range is up to the e/f above the staff, because with placement I use less pressure. I think it's a keeper. | ||
![http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/therat22/DSCF0473.jpg"](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/therat22/DSCF0473.jpg"){kind=link}
![http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/therat22/DSCF0479.jpg"](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/therat22/DSCF0479.jpg"){kind=link}