Ebook: How Brass Players Do It - A Book of Lip Building and Flexibility Exercises for Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn and Tuba

Foreword

I have attempted to write a collection of supplementary exercises concentrating on the generally overlooked area of study — lip building and lip flexibility.

It includes advice on the essential physical aspects of brass technique, relating specifically to breathing, resistance and the formation of the embouchure.

For the beginner there is positive instruction on establishing a good approach, for the player in difficulties a basis for rehabilitation is provided and for those with a sound embouchure I have included many lip building exercises to develop range, stamina and lip ‘teasers’ to develop flexibility.

This collection is not a magic formula guaranteed to transform an embouchure overnight, but rather a concise assemblage of my observations and exercises arrived at and written during years of intensive teaching and research.

If, having read the text, you recognize an apparent embouchure fault do not attempt to rectify it at once. This invariably prevents a player from performing for some time, leading to frustration and anxiety, symptoms more detrimental than the original physical defect. Changes should be made gradually, working towards the ideal over a period of months. In fact „make haste slowly“ is the best advice one can proffer generally, but particularly in relation to lip building exercises when developing range. High notes, if they are to be produced correctly, are dependant on gradual muscular de­velopment.

Towards the end of the book 1 have incorporated studies requiring lip flexibility, fingering dexterity and a facile tonque action. They are demanding but the additional range, flexibility, stamina and confidence gained through successful application of these exercises more than compensate for the hours of labour.

John Ridgeon