Posted by Wade on September 18, 2003 at 18:35:05:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Range posted by Steve-O on September 18, 2003 at 14:11:08:
Steve
Do not let your jaw collapse upwards.
Use lots of air.
Buzz patterns that move upwards and then descend. Repeat them, ascending by half steps. Do this one million times (well, more or less) on the mouthpiece and the tuba.
Take more breaks than you usually do (play for ten, rest for five, until you build some strength up there), and start and end each period of high work with low register long tones.
Do not beat your face to death.
Always try to further expand and solidify your lower register while working on the upper. If you do not, you will end up with "Vaughan Williams" chops. The low work is good anyway, and will help keep your concept of sound clear, so you do not start to accept a thin sound up top.
Above all, think about what you are trying to accomplish and design a mini-program to get you there. What skills are you working on? Can you come up with a logical approach to tackling the problem? It is just a bunch of facial "weight training", but the muscles you will work are delicate: use your head; you are a smart guy.
Wade "blah, blah, blah" Rackley