Lesson 1
The trumpet is a wind instrument, not a lip instrument. You do not lip the trumpet, you blow the trumpet. It does not take a lot of air to play the trumpet.
Lesson 2
Your lungs are spongy organs located behind your ribcage. Your lungs are not in your stomach or by your naval. They are organs that fill with and empty gasses initiated by your diaphragm and intercostal muscles located in your functioning thoracic cavity. Your lungs are not muscles. Therefore, it is anatomically impossible to “control” the lungs in “placing” the air low, middle, or high. They fill uniformly expanding automatically; as you are inhaling a gas. The lungs cannot be filled one at a time.
Lesson 3
Efficient posture is an innate coordination of the skeletal frame and musculature systems. Physically, the inhale is initiated by the diaphragm as the skeletal structure and musculature physiologies respond to the expanding lungs. In this way, we inflate to an efficient posture for playing the instrument. We do not prepare a stance for optimum expansion before taking a breath. We allow this innate expansion to literally move us to the natural posture.
Lesson 4
There are two Fulcrum Points: one at the diaphragm and one at the tip of the aperture just outside of the mouth. Being aware of these Fulcrum Points can help coordinate a natural transfer of focused energy in constant flow of air from the inhale at the diaphragm to the exhale at the tip of the aperture.
Lesson 5
The aperture responds to the ear, is formed by the air, directs the air, vibrates sympathetically with the instrument, and intuitively changes shape, constantly responding to the command of the singing brain. Apply the mouthpiece with all of the pressure required at the precise moment the aperture is formed in the release of the air.
Lesson 6
The term “throat” refers to the pharynx. You cannot contract open your pharynx as you would your hand. You cannot “open your throat”. It is designed for constriction through the engagement of three sphincter muscles. The sensation of cool air on the pharynx during the inhale indicates that it is in fact relaxed without tension. This relaxation is required for a smooth unconstricted cycle of the breath.
Lesson 7
The diaphragm contracts, flattening on the inhale and rises, relaxing on the exhale. It is a thin muscle that cross-sections the torso, affixed at both the base of the sternum and the lumbar vertebrae of the spine. It is the muscle of inspiration.
Lesson 8
Muscle operations are binary. Muscles are either contracted or they are relaxed. They function by way of the nervous system originating from stimuli sourced in the mind. These stimuli are both conscious and sub-conscious. Muscle systems are coordinated most effectively by the command of the mind through its ability to compose desired objectives in vivid sensory imagery. Muscles respond to the mind. The musician’s muscles respond to the mind’s ear.
Lesson 9
There is only one type of education; self education. We learn through repetition. Memorization is internalization. Coming to an understanding is always innovative.
Lesson 10
For the performer, perfection does not exist.
Practice is conditioning specific physical movements through repetition in order to enhance mechanical precision. Practice is studying. Practice is not making music. You cannot practice making music. Any time you play music, you are performing music. With committed repetition and clear guidance in practice, performance should improve.
Do not practice in order to avoid mistakes. In doing this, you will make anxiety a performance habit, your weariness will always be arrested by hypotheticals, and “someday” will never come.
Mistakes are unique. They should cajole intrigue, incite inquisitiveness, and help direct you to your own artistic aesthetic.
Errors in performance reflect errors in hearing, inaccurate focus, and mis-coordination. You will always perform exactly what you hear; either vivid accuracy in the moment or confused ambiguity. Perform clearly and play with precision what you accurately hear.
Don’t think about the action; let the action help you think.
Let hearing stop your thoughts; Sing.