I don't know how many of you remember when Jeff Smiley and I were the center
of controversy back in March, but, I now feel exonerated by the latest
addendum Wendel Rider has posted on his website. Wendell has graciously
mentioned my name & Jeff Smiley's name for providing inspiration & feedback.
I'm impressed with Wendell's blatant honesty, integrity & humility.
Please note that Wendell recognizes that rolling in & out for range
development not only gives rapid results for every student, but also
improves tone & efficiency, and is a very important concept to teach horn
players! Wendell writes, "I now consider this to be one of the most
important concepts and methodologies that I can provide to you as a horn
player."
Wendell's approach is quite different from Jeff Smiley's, but I believe it
will benefit many as it's based upon the same simple concepts of mechanics.
To read his latest addendum, go to his website,
http://www.wendellworld.com/html/HornBookSamples.html scroll down to the
purple box on the left, click Addendums & Extras. In the preface to the
addendum is where Wendell specifically mentions my name & Jeff Smiley.
Thanks, Wendell!
I hope this is the beginning of some real changes in horn pedagogy. No horn
player should have to go through what I went through, but sadly many do. 35
years ago, I was young, talented, concientious, but no matter how hard I
worked, I could not break into the upper range. No horn teacher was able to
help me. I finally found help a year ago from a trumpet teacher in Garland,
TX who had the guts to break with tradition & put his unorthodox ideas in
writing. I now enjoy playing the full range of the instrument as I continue
my growth & development, thanks to Jeff Smiley! Balanced embouchure did not
provide me with a "quick fix" or a "short cut" to the upper range. It's
still hard work, of course. But Balanced Embouchure provided me the keys I
needed to open the door to upper range development.
Valerie Wells, balanced embouchure student
_______________________________________________
post: horn@music.memphis.edu
unsubscribe or set options at
http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
