Quote:
Originally Posted by Paginani
LIP FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES!
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That goes for any instrument anywhere
near brass. Not so much for tuba, but for trumpet this is essential. And I came up with a good exercise for it... somewhat challenging. Start out with quarter notes (or just half notes) and gradually go faster. A pro could manage 16th notes with no problem, I would imagine. So aim for that. But more importantly, concentrate on accuracy, hitting the right notes, so your lips get used to 'lipping' the intervals. So anyways, the first set: Low C, Low C (again), mid C, low C. That's four notes. Now, repeat that over and over again, each time raising the second and fourth notes of each four up a half step. Slur everything, don't take a breath unless you really need to. So anyways, the whole thing would be: (all slurred, for lip flexibiliy, remember?) [ Moving notes of interest
bolded. ]
Low C,
C, mid C,
low C
Low C,
C# mid C,
low C#
Low C,
D, mid C,
low D
Low C,
D#, mid C,
low D#
ect...
Low C,
mid B, mid C,
mid B
Low C,
mid C, mid C,
mid C
and up...
Low C, mid C,
mid C#, mid C
Low C, mid C,
mid D, mid C
Low C, mid C,
mid D#, mid C
and the last, if you make it...
Low C, mid C,
high C, mid C, and finally
Low C (held for a few counts)
GREAT exercise, I find it so hard. First, try to get it just tonguing each note, then introduce the slurring little by little until you can play the whole thing slurred with a consistent embourchure and taking breaths only when absolutely necessary. This is not exactly something that you would play for your girlfriend on a starry evening, but it does what it needs to do: build lip flexibility, stability, and dexterity. This works best for trumpet, (French) horn, and baritone/euphonium
treble clef.