Klarinet Archive - Posting 000078.txt from 2008/09

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Warm Air / Cold Air--trumpet
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:17:27 -0400


-----Original Message-----
>From: Audrey Travis <clr91nt@-----.ca>

>Fairly standard concept in brass instrumental playing - blow softly and
>warm air results. Blow the air very fast = cold air. In brass
>playing, the tighter mouth corners for cold (fast) air helps produce
>high notes. I don't know if this relates to clarinet, though.

>Cheers
>
>Audrey

To All,

"ACTUALLY, FOR HIGH NOTES THE LIPS CONTRACT TOWARDS THE MOUTHPIECE SLIGHTLY" ----CLAUDE GORDON- great trumpet teacher and foremost protege of Herbert L Clarke 1st cornet in the JP Sousa Band.

It is unfortunate that there is so much mis-information out there that is taken widely as correct. Please make sure this idea does not get spread further, as it would cause a great deal of damage to potential future brass players.

In 1936 or 1937 there was a printer's error in an ed journal that gave an incorrect model of a trumpet mouthpiece as the best one for students to start on. For some reason that mis-information has stuck and to this day most teachers tell kids to get a mouthpiece that just doesn't work well at all. It is totally wrong acoustically.

Another well-known brass disaster was a teacher in an east coast city--a sax player--who taught this system for playing high notes in a short period of time. The "system" was utter nonsense, and many players never recovered.

I am sure Audrey was well-intentioned, but this mis-information could cause a great deal of damage if promulgated, so PLEASE do not repeat it to kids.

Kurt

( I worked with Dr Gordon for 25 years, and assisted him for 5 years in teaching a year long course on the "correct teaching of brass instruments". He could wax quite salty over myths about brass playing!)

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