Thinking about selling the E2

[Magikarp]

As per the title, I am thinking about calling it a day. There are too many problems in my playing seemingly to resolve without recourse to a full embouchure rebuild. I have laboured on for a long time, more by luck than judgement and I think that I’ve reached the end of my ability to get around the fact that things aren’t working right. I have had a toot at band and done some home practice and I’m simply not enjoying it because I don’t know what will happen.

The big problem is that I don’t think I would be able to rebuild. Too many ingrained and deeply set issues. I have had an embouchure specialist have a look and listen and the exercises he is asking my to do I simply cannot do. I understand the principle and want to do but when I try it, nothing works. .

I resigned from the band I’ve played for and am wondering whether this particular instrument would be of any interest to anyone?

The specs are
Adams E2 0.80 Yellow Brass
Satin Lacquer
Main tuning slide trigger
Blue abalone buttons
Marcus Bonna case with all associated gubbins

There are two marks - a small ding on the bottom bow, and a patch of lacquer off on the 3rd slide, although Adams have agreed to relacquer this.

I’m going back to playing the drums which I do much better than playing the euphonium and from which I should never have strayed in the first place.

[iMav]

Love the satin lacquer look. Great looking horn!

[guidocorona]

Hi Magikarp, sent you a PM.

G.

[TheJH]

Sorry to hear you're in such a bad situation, I hope you find joy again in playing the drums and that your instrument goes to a deserving, happy new owner!

[Sara Hood]

Magikarp, take it easy on yourself. It sounds like you are letting a bad performance get the better of you. Only you can say when the right time to hang it up musically is, but after a bad experience is seldom a good idea. Take the time to remember what it was about your instrument that attracted you to it in the first place. See if there is something that can help you recapture that. If not, God speed and enjoy playing the drums.

Your postings sound self-critical and discouraged. I understand the anxiety that comes from not knowing what will happen. I feel that way when I am in unfamiliar territory too. I want to encourage you. Remember, rests are a part of both music and life. Feel free to press pause, but don't give up.

- Sara

[UglyGrayDuck]

I'd like to second what Sara says! Don't let a bad performance get you down. It really seems like a lot of pressure to put on yourself for something that is mostly a hobby, no? I feel like if a few issues were all it took for one to be required to just abandon euphonium playing entirely, there would be far fewer of us here discussing the lovely instrument!

And regarding your "embouchure specialist"... From the Carl Fischer edition of the Arban book, under a section in the beginning titled "Danger of Changing the Position of the Mouthpiece":

"In his further instructions, he dwelt upon the fact that some teachers in his time, just as they still do, make a point of changing the position of the mouthpiece previously adopted by pupils, who come under their care. Arban seldom knew of thsi method to succeed. According to his knowledge, several remarkably talented players had attempted what was called the French Conservatoire as the 'orthopedic system', which simply consisted of rectifying and correcting the wrong placing of the mouthpiece. Arban in his time, considered it his duty to state that these players, after wasting several years in uselessly trying the system in question, were compelled to return to their primitive mode of placing the mouthpiece, not one of them having obtained any advantage, while some of them were no longer able to play at all."

I get that this is specifically about mouthpiece placement, but I feel in your case it applies to this idea you have that you need to change your embouchure completely! You have several samples of your playing on youtube, and you sound fine, quit being so hard on yourself!

[Pat]

I'd recommend that you stick the Adams in a closet, pull it out for servicing as needed and to just caress the horn as inclined. SOME day you might just plug in a mouthpiece and give it a toot or two. I got rid of some gorgeous horns when I thought life was taking me away from the euphonium, but here I am, playing again... and I wish I had those old horns back!

[iMav]

I wish I had those old horns back!

I feel the same about past cars and motorcycles (and maybe one or two horns)….

[Jharris]

I wouldn’t give up yet.

I developed focal dystonia 12 months ago, 6 months later could not play at all…. Tried everything, changing equipment, mouthpieces, how I sit etc.

Practiced everyday just starting notes, tried to do the exercises a tutor who specialises in Dystonia issues, very little if nothing in the way for 6 months… left the tutor, too expensive for so little return.

Finally able to get a doctors appointment, had a full battery of tests , and what showed up wasn’t directly related to the dystonia, so more tests are due. I am being sent to a neurologist at some point for a scan, but NHS waiting times mean I have to be patient.

But, in the last 2 weeks I have made the most amount of progress, after Icing and resetting my Vagus nerve.

Ice packs on my chest and back of neck for 15-20 minutes.

Within 24 hours the impact was apparent, able to produce and hold notes again them collapsing, breathing more in sync, range is back.

It’s not perfect but I think the issues left behind are from practicing so much with the dystonia low need to be unlearnt. So currently, starting notes cleanly is a struggle, tongue coordination has suffered it’s not quite sure where it needs to be, and coming down the register is harder than going up them so still flexibility issues, both of which can be explained by effectively not being able to practice properly, but now every day is starting to feel that much closer to being able to get back to band.

After months of being reduced to just one or two notes, these last two weeks have felt miraculous!

The tutor I had also said it was a full rebuild, and at this stage of my journey I am actually going to say it is more of a finding your way back to what you had rather than a fresh start entirely.

I am having to dissect problems in the minutiae, so I might spend most of an entire session just looking at flexibility between 2 notes, then recapping on what I already know I can do again, scales going up for example. To remind myself how far I have progressed.
Putting a silent mute in and doing very simple repetitive things whilst watching telly is my way of coping with the monotony of the process, but like I said I feel like I am finally on the right road and the Embouchure is almost feeling natural and normal again.

Don’t give up, not yet!

[ann reid]

Jharris- Inspiring! Please post as you progress even more.

[Magikarp]

I wouldn’t give up yet.

I developed focal dystonia 12 months ago, 6 months later could not play at all…. Tried everything, changing equipment, mouthpieces, how I sit etc.

Practiced everyday just starting notes, tried to do the exercises a tutor who specialises in Dystonia issues, very little if nothing in the way for 6 months… left the tutor, too expensive for so little return.

Finally able to get a doctors appointment, had a full battery of tests , and what showed up wasn’t directly related to the dystonia, so more tests are due. I am being sent to a neurologist at some point for a scan, but NHS waiting times mean I have to be patient.

But, in the last 2 weeks I have made the most amount of progress, after Icing and resetting my Vagus nerve.

Ice packs on my chest and back of neck for 15-20 minutes.

Within 24 hours the impact was apparent, able to produce and hold notes again them collapsing, breathing more in sync, range is back.

It’s not perfect but I think the issues left behind are from practicing so much with the dystonia low need to be unlearnt. So currently, starting notes cleanly is a struggle, tongue coordination has suffered it’s not quite sure where it needs to be, and coming down the register is harder than going up them so still flexibility issues, both of which can be explained by effectively not being able to practice properly, but now every day is starting to feel that much closer to being able to get back to band.

After months of being reduced to just one or two notes, these last two weeks have felt miraculous!

The tutor I had also said it was a full rebuild, and at this stage of my journey I am actually going to say it is more of a finding your way back to what you had rather than a fresh start entirely.

I am having to dissect problems in the minutiae, so I might spend most of an entire session just looking at flexibility between 2 notes, then recapping on what I already know I can do again, scales going up for example. To remind myself how far I have progressed.
Putting a silent mute in and doing very simple repetitive things whilst watching telly is my way of coping with the monotony of the process, but like I said I feel like I am finally on the right road and the Embouchure is almost feeling natural and normal again.

Don’t give up, not yet!

Thanks for posting this. I have neither time nor inclination to go through a rebuild. I have played, successfully, and it seems so far away as to be nonsensical.

I don’t want to have to play bottom C for half an hour before moving onto a middle G.

I have decided I need a musical pursuit that doesn’t fill me with despondency. I could play at a level where my playing would be suitable but I would hate the music, and my own lack of ability. My musical thoughts and ideas do not tally with my ability to articulate them and that is utterly intolerable.

I’ll will be going back to drums, and the E2 is up for sale. As is the Yamaha Silent Brass system and a huge archive of music.

Thanks for all your help and support. It’s been an education.

[Jharris]

Completely understand where your head is at with it, I have lived in that mental state for a long while!

I realise once your mind is made up over something, then that has a significant power over the outcome, please just know that if you change your mind, that’s it’s not impossible to get back on track.

Now I think I am managing the under lying problem, issues with my Vagus nerve, which possibly could be long covid leaving a legacy behind… as the vagus nerve controls breathing, stomach, bowels and facial muscles… progress is happening much faster now than before, more in the last 2 weeks than the last 6 months.

I would still advise going to the doctors.

Issues are either going to be:

Medical
Physical
Mental

Elimination of potential sources of your issues might help. Or even if it’s just to avoid issues also potentially happening with the drums in the future.

Feel free to reach out if you want any tips on the exercises I have been doing.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[ydave]

Simon….. message sent….

[comebackplayer]

I started trying to play violin with my kids and that showed me (1) violin is really hard to learn to a good level (and harder as an adult) and (2) I enjoy music. I'd been pretty good on brass before. So now I'm about five years back onto brass and really enjoying it and have moved beyond trumpet to euphonium and trombone. I think going back to an instrument you loved is in no way a defeat.

[Magikarp]