it’s time to come to your senses
When you think about it, playing the horn (or any instrument) really boils down to the basic idea of sound. You need to have an idea of what sound you want and then consider what you can realistically produce.
Then you must point yourself in the direction you want to go and rely upon your senses to get you there.
So what is your sound concept?
Using all of the senses that you have, and asking a few questions, you can get to your ideal:
the sense of touch: how does it feel? are you using too much/ not enough* pressure? do you have pain? does the mouthpiece feel comfortable on the lip?
*sidenote: using too little pressure can happen when you are so fixated on avoiding pressure that air leaks and there isn’t enough of a seal to withstand a strong airstream
the sense of sight: look in the mirror, scrutinize your setup…is it well-centered? is the ratio of upper lip to bottom lip relatively “normal”? is there too much tension in your face? are your corners supporting enough (look for the diamond)?
*sidenote: there are always exceptions to the “norm”
the sense of sound: are the attacks and releases clean? is the core of your sound in tune/round/warm/even? Is the airstream strong? do you like what you hear? State the obvious. If it doesn’t sound good, there is always a reason why.
the sense of taste: is your sound appropriate for the ensemble/piece of music/instrument/time period? Is it tasteful?
the sense of smell: I’ll get back to you on this one :)
To help you get there, find a good teacher. But remember, the teacher cannot get you your ideal sound.
YOU have to get your ideal sound. A teacher can guide, recommend, diagnose, demonstrate and mentor - but that is all.
You must do the work.
If you don’t have access to a teacher at the moment, there are few things you can do in the meantime. Take initiative and don’t wait for things to happen - make them happen.
Here are some ideas:
scour Horn Call articles and reputable websites for helpful pedagogy
watch teaching videos and performance videos of reputable players where you can see various setups
listen to as many great recordings as you can - there are too many to count
play along with these great recordings and copy what you hear
verbalize those qualities (warm, rich, smooth) that you want to manifest and visualize/hear yourself playing that way
and finally, RECORD yourself, develop a critical ear that is focused on the detail of your playing; listen as if you are the teacher - what would you tell this student?
get together with musician friends, play for each other, play duets, etc and ask for feedback (offer the same)
