The Practice
material contained herein is definitely not intended to be considered
or used as so-called "warm-up" drills. It must be carried out only
after the prescribed warm-up stages have been completed; however, it
must never be attempted when the embouchure is even slightly fatigued.
This presentation is prescribed when considering your present stage of
embouchure development advanced to a sufficient degree, so that you
may receive maximum playing benefits from your daily study and
practice of these drills. Excessive physical strain must be avoided;
nothing is gained by strain. The "stagger system of practice" (i.e.
one day strong practice followed by the next day easy practice, etc.)
must be carried out now and in the future. Remember, the eventual goal
of the PIVOT is a natural lip pucker.
Utilize Tongue and Diaphragm Level Synchronization (See
The Encyclopedia of The Pivot System) and Maintaining the "M" upper
lip at all times, proceed as follows:
STEP ONE
(Trombonists:
play all pitches presented a major step lower.)
Play the trumpet third space C with less than your normal playing
volume. Slur the ascending C arpeggio (third space C - E - G - high C)
- and do not descend. This must be carried out by LIFTING THE LOWER
JAW AND LOWER LIP ONLY AND DEFINITELY ELIMINATE THE USE OF YOUR PIVOT
IN STEP ONE. Practice this several times and then play your low,
slurred chromatics (from low C to low F# and return - many times) and
then rest. Now, in a detached manner, tongue the same ascending
arpeggio and wind up in the identical manner. When you have had
sufficient rest, start on the ascending, slurred arpeggio: this time
add the high E, IF POSSIBLE WITHOUT STRAIN. If strain is involved,
conclude step one right here; if not, carry out the slurring and
tonguing as before, adding the high G if you can without strain, with
only these step one specs.
STEP TWO
After you have
exhausted your Step one High Register Possibilities, carry out
Step Two, but again, AVOID USING ANY PIVOT AT THIS TIME. When you feel
tempted to PIVOT in the upper register, replace it immediately by
thrusting your mouth corners forward toward the rim of the mouthpiece,
but definitely not to the cup of the mouthpiece. If your cheeks become
involved to some degree at this point, pay them no heed. Carry out the
ascending C arpeggio as high as possible with step one; then when
tempted to PIVOT avoid its usage, and use your forward mouth corner
thrust and go as high as possible with louder than previous notes in
this manner. Carry this as high as possible, both slurred and tongued
as prescribed in step one details, plus the snapping forward of the
mouth corners. The BASICS IN BREATHING IS VITAL AT THIS POINT. A
double C is possible at this point WITHOUT EVEN PIVOTING. However,
discretion, in regards to strain, is the grater part of valor at this
point.
STEP THREE
As soon as you have
exhausted ALL the range possibilities from steps one and two [this may
or may not be at the double C area], now in a very sparing manner, add
your prescribed PIVOT. This is your "trump card" ; therefore use it
sparingly at first and carry your range as high as possible in this
manner. This, over a period of time should give a good lip pucker
foundation.
Note: If you do not know your prescribed PIVOT, see an authorized
teacher of the Pivot System. For a free copy of Pivot Classification
One OR Pivot Classification Two, based on your knowledge of your type
(please specify Type I, II, III, IIIA, IIIB, IVA or straight IV) see
below for e-mail address.
Happy pivoting and smooth tracking.
