[Trombone-l] Thoughts for a restart in mid-life.
Wayne Dyess
texastbone at gt.rr.com
Thu Jul 19 05:41:41 CDT 2007
I wasn't going to jump in, but will -- only to say this is great
advice! Best thing you can do is just start playing again. DAILY.
I lay off from time to time, too, though never more than a few
weeks. There are lots of reasons for this. One, I reach a point
where I just need some REST! And two, it gives me the opportunity to
go through a rebuilding that always brings me back to the basics.
That helps me to be a better teacher.
That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Ha!
Anyway, the sound can be discouraging at first -- but just force
yourself to play through it for a few days. It will get better, and
faster than you might think. Price lays it all out below, and I
really can't improve on what he has said. He's dead on, in my humble
opinion.
Do you have a copy of the Remington warm-up? Not really a "warm-up",
as much as it is just plain ole fashioned fundamentals needed for
good playing... I can send you a pdf copy if you don't have one. I
got my first copy "free" from Neil Humfeld back around 1960! I
couldn't play it all then. It really doesn't matter if you can or
you can't. You do what you can -- always focusing on the best tone
possible. You keep trying to do the things you can not do... until
one day, it just works for you. Before you know it, you'll be
playing better than ever before.
I just love how that works!
Best of luck.
--Wayne Dyess
PS. Price, you sound like a darn good teacher to me!
==============
On Jul 18, 2007, at 8:39 PM, Price Taylor wrote:
> Greg, welcome to the club of those that laid off the horn for a
> number of
> years but somewhere buried in the psyche was the need to play again.
>
> I'm sure others will have a lot else to say here but I'll start.
>
> One - I'm glad you have a number of horns...that's cool of course.
> BUT....I
> really recommend that you focus on playing one of them - for now.
> King 3B
> with what, a 6 1/2 A or AL, or 7C mouthpiece? Whatever, pick
> something and
> don't change for awhile (2 or 3 months).
>
> Two - Maybe Paul Kemp, Sam Burtis, Wayne Dress, Tom Ervin (and
> others!)
> will jump in here. My suggestion - split up your practice time into 2
> segments. One is to play long tones - even for 10 minutes at
> first. Finish
> with some pedal tones to get the blood flowing back into the lips.
> That's
> it. Don't overdo it. Your instructor can probably help you with
> your other
> practice.
>
> Your purpose at first is to create the best tone and intonation
> possible.
> Be patient....you'll get results, this is exactly like working out
> with
> weights...you'll really notice the difference in 3 weeks. You are
> building
> your embouchure muscular back.
>
> Unless you have real intonation problems (in which case playing
> trombone is
> very difficult!), I don't recommend doing this exercise with a tuner.
>
> Three - Don't go too crazy with your practice. Play everything
> slowly and
> in good time. Maybe even half as slow as it's marked at first.
> This is way
> harder than it sounds. Then speed it up.
>
> Within a month or so you can progress to Rochut book one or something
> similar.
>
> Four - Since you are into playing jazz, you'll need to develop your
> facility
> and flexibility. Since you are "re-learning" don't be afraid to
> play what
> are called the alternate positions. While they might not sound as
> good as
> the "normal" positions (like the D above the middle C - normal 1st
> position,
> alternative 4th position, on your King those are likely slightly
> flat and
> sharp respectively), you'll be amazing how much more proficiently
> you'll
> play if you can get beyond those traditional positions.
>
> I'm not a teacher per se, but I have my own experience plus I've
> learned a
> heck of a lot from good players who are out there on this forum
> (professional or not).
>
> Good luck - and welcome back!
>
> Price
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: trombone-l-bounces at maillists.samford.edu
> [mailto:trombone-l-bounces at maillists.samford.edu] On Behalf Of Greg
> Jones
> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 5:28 PM
> To: trombone-l at server5.samford.edu
> Subject: [Trombone-l] Thoughts for a restart in mid-life.
>
> I haven't played trombone in 15 years or so and never really learned
> properly to begin with. I taught myself every bad habit in the
> world.al by
> myself!
>
>
>
> Having laid off the horn for 15 years, I began staring longingly at
> my old
> King 2B (Which never left its stand in my office.) and thinking about
> playing again.but the proper way this time. I have been reading
> the e-mails
> on the list with great interest, and have a great respect for those
> on this
> list, many of whom I have admired over the years. So now that I've
> gotten
> nerve to ask.am I nuts to do this and spend this kind of money at
> 39 years
> old. Is it mid-life crisis early?
>
>
>
> I had my old 1938 King 2B overhauled and love it more than ever. A
> wonderful instrument!! I bought a new King 3B since that is what I
> played
> before for jazz, and recently acquired a 1940's Olds Recording with
> a slide
> and valve section. I just started lessons with an instructor, but
> still
> have doubts that I have lost my mind. I thought learning to read
> this time
> might be helpful.
>
>
>
> My wife is supportive.so far. She hasn't said a thing about
> vacationing
> with our new "child in the black leatherette case." She continues to
> encourage me. However I still think it may be a bit late in life
> for such
> things. I've also had some profession musician friend who have
> given advice
> and been kind enough to answer questions as needed.
>
>
>
> While I'll never be the next Alex Iles, or Dick Nash, I would be
> happy to
> help by playing music for the Salvation Army band or some local
> bands. I
> don't have any delusions of being a "professional", but rather just
> want to
> challenge myself and keep my "gray matter" working before I get too
> feeble.
> (HA!)
>
>
>
> Your thoughts would be appreciated. I'd also be curious to have any
> feedback on playing valve trombone since I've rather enjoyed
> practicing both
> slide and valve horns.
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Greg Jones
>
> Toledo, Ohio
>
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Wayne Dyess
The Night & Day Orchestra
http://www.ndotex.com
Lamar University-Beaumont, Texas
Professor of Music
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