Hans Pizka coined a clever phrase when he recently wrote about practicing:

<the digital way (reading the music several times, eventually moving the fingers also as if they would do on the horn. Would save embouchure, energy, friendly neighbours, ...... And not call the "Nachtwache".>

When I can patiently diciplin myself to practice "the digital way", it works great for me. Too much woodshedding & hammering, especially high stuff, destroys my embouchure & tone. When I'm learning something new I like to play it several times in a lower octave, or even a lower key to "set" the tune in my brain. Then I hum it & practice fingers only once or twice for every one time I actually blow it through my horn. Saves time because I learn it faster and saves my embouchure from over practicing. I had a piano teacher once who taught me that slow practicing while exaggerating the physical motions of playing is the best way to develop speed and accuracy on a difficult passage. This works great for "the digital way" on my horn, too.

Valerie in Tacoma

Valerie !! Great stuff.
I had forgotten about this. Earl Morris used to teach this way to my brothers who played Flute and Oboe. It was many years ago. I did it for a little while, but I have forgotten about it. I don't know the last time I did it. I do know the next time I do it will be tonight.

Thanks!! for mentioning it.

John

Yep, John, I forget about it, too. I often catch myself hammering away at some high killer passage trashing my embouchure when I don't even have to.

Val

It's perfect timing, lately I have been given higher and higher stuff. So this is perfect timing. Tomorrow is a Hornswoggle concert. I have to play Bohemian Rhapsody (goes up to c), Titanic Fantasy (goes up to d), Caravan (d), Tici Tico (low F below bass clef), Beethoven 5 (b), Evening Prayer -Hansel & Gretel (b).

Lots of highs stuff for a 4th horn specialist.

And then next month apiece with the orchestra by Donelly goes up to an "e"!

SHISH!!!!