Folks:

        The text quoted below is part and parcel of the philosophy that brings so many older players to me with chop problems....

        Now, since a large part of my teaching practice is taken up with the correction of embouchure problems, it would seem that I'd welcome  the idea of players playing with *continued pressure* in the upper register....The converse could not be more true....

        It's irresponsible to advocate the use of excess pressure to play the instrument--at any time!

        Trumpeters should only use sufficient pressure to maintain a seal between the lips themselves and between the lips and the mouthpiece....Any more than that and you WILL INJURE the delicate membraneous tissue of the *red* of the lip, and may, in fact, injure the muscle (*white*) surrounding that membrane as well....

        Use of sufficient air and bodily support (using back, interstitial and abdominal muscles) negates the need for using the muscles of the left arm and right pinky finger....

        And a big part of learning to use air efficiently, as well as the proper muscles to support that air, is the process of *balancing* the trumpet on the left hand, rather than *choking the valve casings* as so many of those players who wind up consulting me to regain their abused chops had been taught to do....

        You can learn to play efficiently now, or you can pay for reconstructive lessons, and even surgery for the sorts of cysts formed by the body in response to excess pressure on delicate tissue, later....

        Frankly, I'd rather spend time talking about interpretation of music and the philosophy behind those interpretations, instead of having to undo decades of bad habits developed by players who didn't learn properly the first time.....

        But with advice such as Mr. Fanning gave below I can expect to have lots more poor souls with damaged faces knocking on my door....

        Pity......

Richard Fanning wrote:
<%SNIP%>
> I don't believe it's possible to play the trumpet without pressure.  I
> know many trumpet players that are incredible players (and very well
> known) that "appear" to use a lot of pressure.
> Instead of thinking about using less pressure (or even no pressure),
> start thinking about using your air more efficiently (sp?).  <%SNIP%>