Tom, I use a B.E.R.P. to do most of my warming up backstage before concerts. I like to do my usual routine of scales and arpeggios and finger the notes (as much as feasible) to emulate actual playing. I guess one of the reasons I use the B.E.R.P. is to score some "Brownie" points with the string players because it's soft. They all really like me now. They all wish all the other brass players would warm up on the B.E.R.P.....
Seriously, there are many other reasons, one being I can't get into a warm-up "competition" with anyone else backstage (higher, louder, faster). I usually want to save my embouchure for the actual performance. I don't want to waste it getting sucked into a "blastfest" session just before the concert. Another advantage is other players don't really know if you are missing any notes. They really can't tell what note you are playing (nor I for that matter!). The true advantages of using the B.E.R.P. on a daily basis is that it can be set for varying amounts of back pressure. There is an adjustable plastic sleeve to cover as many holes as one desires. One can cover almost all the holes for a lot of back pressure (good for embouchure building) or leave all the holes uncovered to work on air speed and air volume. Regardless, this device is instrumental for toning my embouchure in ways that cannot be achieved otherwise. It's a bit like the cross training serious athletes do. I do not play more than 1/2 hour per day on the B.E.R.P. It's for the same reasons I never play for more than 1/2 hour on a practice mute, no matter how good the quality. The danger here lies in getting stuck with a "small" sound that won't carry to the back of the hall. People who only practice in small, dry practice rooms face the same dilemma when they get on stage and say"but it sounded good in the practice room". Let's face it, nothing can replace good solid horn practice (without any encumbrances) in the big hall. Gerald Onciul Assistant Principal Horn Edmonton Symphony Professor of Horn University of Alberta _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
