Hello Brittany, Regarding your question about loudness and projection...
Mentally envision your sound projecting forward, and fill-the-room with your sound. Of course, use loudness that is appropriate to your part - but still even at pianissimo, fill the room with your pianissimo! Strive for a 'full tone'. Keep your throat as open and relaxed as possible. Keep your shoulders relaxed and 'down'. Inhale as when doing a relaxed yawn - let your abdomen and torso expand all-the-way-around, take in a large but comfortable amount of air, and re-fill your air supply often by taking quick breathes whenever possible. Do not wear a tight belt, or other clothing that prevents a good inhale. While you are playing, don't worry about your diaphram or how you are blowing, but do have a good quantity of air available. Your duty as a player is to be heard (appropriate to your part). Generally speaking, 'moving notes' (melody, counter-melody, ornamentations, etc.) are more important than 'support notes' (long tones, pulse tones, etc.). Some notes need to be heard distinctly by the audience, and other notes just blend into the overall texture of the music. Jay Kosta Endwell NY USA ------------------ At 05:41 PM 3/15/2003 -0500, Brittany Davies wrote: > Dear Mr. West (and everyone else who is willing to offer advice), > >I have encountered the same issue. I find myself blowing with all my >might to be heard and find that my sound still seems unsupported. I do >not often listen to recordings of my own playing, but a few recordings of >my solos with a mezzo forte band behind them I am unhappy with. I'd like >to be heard over a true decent, full ensemble forte at least; I also >would like to keep a dark tone color and not get too brassy (bright would >probably be a better word), spead and unfocused. How do you accomplish >this? Please tell me if you do any exercises that help your sound, or if >it's simply your sitting or horn position. >Thank you, > Brittany Davies, Fort Myers, Florida _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
