Mouthpiece Pressure

[athefish]

I'm a senior in high school who plays a lot of trombone. Recently, the ring on my lips after playing has become more noticeable, and it's affecting my ability to play past a G above the staff. Any exercises or tips?
For context, I play on a Schmelzer Model 2 horn with a Dennis Wick 10cs mouthpiece.

[Vegasbound]

Have a lesson with Doug Elliott, save you time and dollars

[athefish]

Have a lesson with Doug Elliott, save you time and dollars

Thank you, what's the best way to contact them?

[BGuttman]

Have a lesson with Doug Elliott, save you time and dollars

Thank you, what's the best way to contact them?

Doug is here on the Chat, but you will need one more approved post to be able to message him. You can also contact him through his Web site: www.dougelliottmouthpieces.com. Doug does lessons over Skype so if you aren't near Washington DC (where he lives) you can still get a session.

[athefish]

Thank you, what's the best way to contact them?

Doug is here on the Chat, but you will need one more approved post to be able to message him. You can also contact him through his Web site: www.dougelliottmouthpieces.com. Doug does lessons over Skype so if you aren't near Washington DC (where he lives) you can still get a session.

Thank you so much!

[Macbone1]

That's a nice setup for a HS student! Invest in a B.E.R.P. and read the instructions. It can isolate mouthpiece issues like pressure, placement and tone production. And yes, you have to THINK about less pressure as you play, since the default behavior is to press, esp up high.

[Doug Elliott]

I'm here, send me a PM or email.
Right now I'm away until Thursday.

[MAliesch]

From 35 basic points of the pivot system (among other things that might help, look it up)

6. At the very moment that your mouthpiece
placement is being enacted, sufficient grip pressure
must be employed against your lips to make your
outer and inner embouchures merge and feel as one
solidified unit. Too little mouthpiece pressure may
cause your placement to drift or float and
completely upset your essential playing
sensations. This is especially true while your
embouchure is in its formative stages. The
mouthpiece pressure is applied toward you while
you are executing your placement and during your
inhalation from the corners of your mouth. The
forward pressure (puckered resistance)—the
backward pressure (mouthpiece pressure)—and the
neutralization of the opposing forces occurs during
your actual attack and throughout your blowing.
When the forward pressure equalizes the backward
pressure—the two pressures used during the
playing reach a point of neutrality or freezing
point. In the PIVOT SYSTEM, therefore, we press to
neutralize—not to press! The forward pressure
employed during the playing is the basis for the all-
essential lip pucker. This works hand-in-hand with
your PIVOT for your particular physical type.

[GGJazz]

Hello all !

I agree with this pivot system' point 6 statement.

I think that we need some mpc' pressure to seal our embouchure .

Anyway , I would like to share a way that , in my opinion , can help us to understand how much mpc' pressure we need , and how we have to press the mpc on the lips .

We have to think as the horn were fixed at the ground , on a stand . So you can not move it at all . In this case , if one need to make some mpc' pressure , he have to go against the (fixed) horn .
So , no mpc' pressure bringing the horn against your face , but mpc' pressure bringing your face against the horn.

I think one can simulate this with a really simple exercise : with the left hand , keep your thumb and your index around a mpc' outer rim ; then close the others fingers around cup and shank . Be shure to leave the backbore open . Then , bring the base of your hand ( where you have the little finger ) against a wall , at the level of your mouth . Holding the hand against the wall make the mpc like "fixed" ( no way to move it from this position). Finally , bring your lips to the mpc , and buzz into it . You will naturally make the pressure you need simply going against the mpc. Then if you will buzz louder or higher , maybe you will need some extra-pressure , and the only way to get this will be going further against the mpc (gently) .So you will see how much pressure you need , and how to get it .

( Please , forgive my poor english.. ) .

Regards
Giancarlo

[harrisonreed]

We can also look to Miyamoto Musashi, who gave his thoughts on the BERP, ca. 1600:

"there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself."

And also:

"One cannot understand the universe if they only study one planet"

Think deeply on these things....

[timothy42b]

We can also look to Miyamoto Musashi, who gave his thoughts on the BERP, ca. 1600:

"there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself."

And also:

"One cannot understand the universe if they only study one planet"

Think deeply on these things....

My favorite quote of his:

A warrior polishes his armor before battle, not because he expects to survive, but because it is a measure of the impeccable way he lives his life.

So don't remove the lacquer on your horn, I guess.

[Macbone1]

That's a nice setup for a HS student!! Invest in a B.E.R.P. and read the instructions. It can isolate mouthpiece issues like pressure, placement and tone production. Work on as much range and as pure a tone as possible on the BERP. And yes, you do have to THINK about less pressure as you play, since the default behavior is to press, esp up high or when you're tired.