Tony,

I've been doing Lip Buzz for 12 years now. It is the key stone of my entire approach to the instrument. Through Lip Buzz, I have developed from a relatively weak player into a trumpet player who is known for my range and endurance. Before I began using lip buzz, I had none of that.

The way I use lip buzz is as an example. I make my embouchure on the trumpet match that of my lip buzz. To many players, this doesn't make sense because their embouchures that they use on the trumpet are strikingly different from what they use on the Lip Buzz. This was also the case for me when I first began using the lip buzz. But I reasoned that, since my trumpet playing was so retched back then, and the tone I got on my horn from a lip buzz embouchure was so much better, I would fashion my entire approach on that embouchure.

The way I used to play, with the other, non-lip buzz embouchure, my developement was limited. Doing lip buzz teaches you how to use the lip muscles to control the pitch. There is no limit to what you can do with that. I have not stopped growing, physically, as a trumpet player, since the day I began doing lip buzz. I am constently getting stronger which gives me a greater range, longer endurance and much more control over my sound than my old non-lip buzz embouchure.

The hard thing for me was developing the method. Noone in my area was playing like that. I had to work it out on my own. The resulting method was formalized into two books which I now use with my students and several TPIN members are using on a daily basis.

So, don't be so concerned about not having a MP on the buzz. There are LOTS of people who have had great results with free lip buzz. There are several famous players who use it on a regular basis.

Eddie Lewis
TigerLewis@aol.com
Houston, TX
http://members.aol.com/TigerLewis/gcs.htm

In a message dated 97-10-07 09:58:39 EDT, you write:

<< I do a bit of buzzing around just out of habit but I am concerned that
 regular buzzing as part of a routine without something against the lips (ie
 MP), may not utiliise the muscles in the right way and not be that
 effective????
 
 Just some thoughts...............
 
 Tony >>