Left Coast Horn Playing uses several exaggeration techniques to accelerate learning. Being able to suddenly produce an intense, focused blast of air is a basic technique of playing and is best learned by exaggeration.
It is imperative that we learn to control the flow and changes in flow of air from as low in our abdomen as possible. The lower the control the better and more efficient the sound, the more relaxed the mouth and throat can be and the more control we have over the music!
It is also imperative that one learns to breath using muscles low in the body. How can you blast air from lungs that are not full or by using muscles in the rib cage? Foolishness!
It is also very difficult to tongue cleanly if the air is controlled from too high up in the body. That makes the throat and tongue tense! How can you control it if it is already tense?
Many people do not have a lot of strength in Place #6. That is why we have to work at our breathing exercises every day. Forget your embouchure weights and other gizmos! Spend that time working on blasting the air and trilling properly and you'll improve much faster!
To blast the air properly
Get your body in a proper position to take a huge breath.
If the muscles around Place #6 are not relaxed you cannot do this properly.
Take a quick, full breath, using an oh sound, filling the bottom of your lungs first. Do not raise your shoulders.
Suddenly tighten the muscles around and just below your belly button as if someone was hitting you in the gut. Push in and a little bit up. Do it hard! Violently!
You should get a sudden blast of air. If not, try it again. Work at it once or twice every day and in a short time your playing will improve.
It is imperative that we learn to control the flow and changes in flow of air from as low in our abdomen as possible. The lower the control the better and more efficient the sound, the more relaxed the mouth and throat can be and the more control we have over the music!
It is also imperative that one learns to breath using muscles low in the body. How can you blast air from lungs that are not full or by using muscles in the rib cage? Foolishness!
It is also very difficult to tongue cleanly if the air is controlled from too high up in the body. That makes the throat and tongue tense! How can you control it if it is already tense?
Many people do not have a lot of strength in Place #6. That is why we have to work at our breathing exercises every day. Forget your embouchure weights and other gizmos! Spend that time working on blasting the air and trilling properly and you'll improve much faster!
To blast the air properly
Get your body in a proper position to take a huge breath.
If the muscles around Place #6 are not relaxed you cannot do this properly.
Take a quick, full breath, using an oh sound, filling the bottom of your lungs first. Do not raise your shoulders.
Suddenly tighten the muscles around and just below your belly button as if someone was hitting you in the gut. Push in and a little bit up. Do it hard! Violently!
You should get a sudden blast of air. If not, try it again. Work at it once or twice every day and in a short time your playing will improve.
