Posted by Wade on May 15, 2003 at 11:07:44:
In Reply to: Re: hot air posted by Rick Denney on May 14, 2003 at 12:01:38:
Rick,
Do you think that the Holton has assisted you in steering your timbre into more of a consistent focus? I had trouble getting a wide palate of "sounds" out of Don Little's Holton, but all of them were "big, fat, and happy" (for lack of a better, more technical term). I felt as though all young students should have occasional access to a nice BAT to shore up their concept of sound; it makes you open up and relax . . . kind of . . . sort of . . .
Also, I try to give an air volume/pressure example to my private students thus:
Turn on a water hose about a third of the way while placing your thumb over the end, trying to shoot the water as far as possible. This is the type of air that you might use if you were playing a trumpet. Now turn the water up as high as it will go and remove the thumb. The tuba uses much more air that is under less pressure than the trumpet. This also helps me when I pick on them about the shape of the oral cavity and openness of the throat. "Think about that water hose-you have your thumb over the end right now." ALWAYS works.
Wade "Where is YOUR thumb?" Rackley
;-)