I've been playing the horn some seven years, having just graduated high school, and I will begin attending the Eastman School of Music this fall for a degree in Horn Performance. However, before I get up there and start school, I really thought I should ask the members of this board for some advice on an issue (I think it's an issue...) I've been noticing lately in my playing.
Back in February I had a lesson with Rick Solis out in Cleveland, and he pointed out that often times, when I articulate, it sounds almost as though the tongue is rebounding, or something is happening to make the tonguing not quite so clear and more blatty sounding. I've especially noticed this when I play loud or technically difficult passages. He and Rich King both pointed out to me in my audition for the Cleveland Institute of Music that it was something I really have to work on and fix over the next few years; otherwise it could spell big problems for my playing. They said it will "hopefully go away" over time, but this still really worries me. In addition, I can't help but notice an extra sort of buzz to my sound, when I play. At times, it is even very airy sounding. I can't figure out yet if this is my horn that is vibrating ever so slightly along with the pitches I'm playing, or if this is an internal sound that I'm hearing as the note vibrates through my mouth and possibly through my teeth, or what the heck this is. Obviously, when I take the horn away and buzz on the mouthpiece, it's not just the sound of the note I hear, as I can also hear the air flow moving through the mouthpiece. Is tongue placement or something else possibly amplifying the airflow or sound of my buzz, so that it becomes noticeable IN ADDITION to the sound of the horn, itself? Does anyone have any suggestions or advice regarding this? Or, furthermore, is this truly an issue, or is it actually somewhat normal? This is really puzzling to me and I really hope to get it figured out before it's too late! Thanks so much. -William Bard _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
