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Thread: Roast Me

  1. Roast Me

    I recently started playing euphonium again after a few years hiatus. With less free time now, I'm trying practice smarter than in my high school days. In the past I have focused too much on technical playing and I figured I should go back to the fundamentals - tone and musicality. A useful tool I've been using is listening to my own recordings. I've been inspired by some posts I've seen on a few online forums (including this one) and decided to post a clip of myself here asking for critique. Feel free to leave your criticism and offer advice.

    I have a few questions to start:


    1. How often do you breath? I find that if I don't breath often enough, I can't make a lot of notes speak and the tone goes thin. However, breathing too often can break the flow of some passages.
    2. My high range, 6th partial and above, sounds fairly thin especially if I have been practicing a while. My strained 6th partial can be heard in the clip. What's the best way to achieve a more open higher register?


    Link: https://soundcloud.com/jasonium/panache-intro-v1
    Yamaha Neo 642TSII
    Denis Wick SM4 Ultra X

  2. #2
    Welcome back!

    Don't think I can give any critique as I am still finding my footing after 2+ years of hiatus and a few more years of bad habits and lack of motivation before that.

    I find that I don't breathe enough. I try to finish phrases and, as you mentioned, compromise my tone quality near the end. Still trying hard to kick that habit.
    "Never over complicate things. Accept "bad" days. Always enjoy yourself when playing, love the sound we can make on our instruments (because that's why we all started playing the Euph)"

    Euph: Yamaha 642II Neo - 千歌音
    Mouthpiece: K&G 4D, Denis Wick 5AL

    https://soundcloud.com/ashsparkle_chika
    https://www.youtube.com/user/AshTSparkle/

  3. #3
    Air is what makes tone and what helps us hit notes accurately. Breathe as often as you need to make sure your notes are amply supported. While you are rebuilding, you should probably breathe more often and strive to make every note centered and clear. Then over time you need to start building your air supply and your efficient use of air so you can manage longer phrases. But build a solid note/tone foundation first.

    For high range, take a look at this conversation:

    http://www.dwerden.com/forum/showthr...and-High-Range

    The whole concept discussed is maintaining tone while you build your range. The two work together very well.
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  4. Since you have been away for awhile, I would spend a few lessons with a good professor to help you re-acquire your deep breathing and breath management skills. Also, are you in relatively good cardio-vascular shape? Breathing involves the entire body, not just the lungs and local muscles. If your entire body is in good enough shape that you can relax everything else while playing, then that will also help you be more efficient with breathing and help you focus on the music naturally, and the technique will also come back as you practice and rehearse.

  5. Quote Originally Posted by iiipopes View Post
    Also, are you in relatively good cardio-vascular shape?
    Yes, I am in pretty good physical shape! I need to be more efficient and translate that into my euphonium playing. It might also be that I'm not confidently pushing for those high notes especially in an apartment.
    Yamaha Neo 642TSII
    Denis Wick SM4 Ultra X

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