I’ve been playing for almost 7 years now.. this has been an intense struggle for me, I’ve had immense progress since I started playing the trumpet up until HighSchool, I’ve had so many directors and teachers say the center is where it needs to be but have read contrary, you are the first successful player that’s had this problem. I’ve been feeling real insecure about my playing because I would try to shoot the horn straight and my notes always crack, and been a journey, thank you for this. God Bless.
I'm glad that the video helped you. Often teachers will tell you the mouthpiece should be centered because they are not caught up with current pedagogy. Teachers who learn how to teach at universities are taught according to long standing traditions. I am typically in favor of those traditions. But with the mouthpiece placement, many of them just haven't caught on yet.
Great! Thanks for standing up to be counted! I think it helps people to find out that there are trumpet players who play successfully with off center embouchures.
Once I was noodling around off to the side and for 15 minutes I played as well as I ever did, my range was higher and my response was quicker ....but I could never find that same position again, not sure what happens that day.
This is not uncommon. I think the key phrase in what you described is "noodling around". I believe that the way our minds work, just "noodling around" breaks down a lot of our mental blocks. When we realize we are doing something better while we are noodling, we then shift mental gears and try to recapture whatever it was when we played so well. But that's the problem!!! It wasn't necessarily a mouthpiece position that made it work, it was our frame of mind. The better approach is to strive to "noodle around" EVERY TIME we pick up the horn. :-) That's how I see it. I wasn't there, ha! so I can't know for sure what happened with you. But as a player and a teacher, what you described is VERY familiar to me.
Hello. Vincent of Normandy in France. having had a car accident where I lost my front teeth and part of the gum tissue, successive dentists have succeeded in making me an excellent dental appliance. Despite this device, I succeeded after multiple positioning of my trombone mouthpiece the right position to go up in the treble with a very clear sound without having cracking notes. My position is to the right and I found this position by playing G4, A4, B4 and C5 without forcing. I will verify that the pressure on the mouthpiece is the same everywhere. Thanks for your video.
Your advice is very helpful to me. Because i didn’t think that my posture(up/side) isn’t good as trumpet player. Thx and please keep to upload this kinda useful lessons
This is a great video. I'll give you my experience. I'm 74 now. Played since I was 10. Drum and Bugle Corp, all through school, High School, Jazz Band, Show Band, College Music Major, classical, played it all. I was always the soloist. The high note guy. Maynard Ferguson clone. Or sweet and mellow.Heavy lifter of every band. My instructor said I was the trumpet player's trumpet player. But I always played to the right side. My teeth would cut my lip otherwise. Had a Juliard instructor try to change that and it screwed me up. Anyway, I always tried to hide the offset playing by never facing straight to the audience on solo pieces. Didn't look cool. We had a guy who had all the stances and played right in the middle, knees bent. Trumpet aiming at the ceiling. But I was actually playing what the audience heard. He looked cool. Did a bunch of easy stuff the crowd thought was something. Years later I started watching and listening to Chris Botti. He plays to the left side. I play on the right. If I only had played on the left side, maybe, just maybe... lol. Chris Botti: news.stonybrook.edu/featuredpost/the-arts-are-back-live-at-staller-center/
Thank you for your story. I think the more people that share stories like this, the better it is for people who are being criticized for playing off centered mouthpiece placements. I think it's also a wonderful resource for the teachers out there who may have never heard these stories before. They are taught to teach that the mouthpiece must be centered, and just assume that what they were taught is correct. I hope they all read your story to see that it's not one size fits all.
Most piano technique purists would say that Vladimir Horowitz had appalling posture. Sagging wrists, floating 5th fingers, sitting very low with forearms bent up. I think he did just fine for himself in the end. :) I'm a long-time pianist who is learning trumpet as an adult. My top lip is too thick in the middle to produce a buzz. I get a much better buzz and sound just off to the right of centre. :) I've only been playing 8 weeks, but my past week has been ruined by chasing "conventions" and forcing myself to play in the middle, so this video has really helped me psychologically. I think I just needed a little reassurance that I wasn't doing anything bad by playing to the side a little. It's the most efficient way for me, and efficiency is usually the "best" technique, provided it is making a good sound.
I just discovered if I put the mouthpiece off the left just a little bit my range and sluring ability increased greatly. Worked for me, and I just got on here trying to see if anyone does this.
@@eltigredo I have a problem, when I play my trumpet my mouthpiece is off to the right. I want to center my embrouchure but i do not know where to start. Are there any tips?
@@rickyl7697 Hello, thanks for checking out my videos. So, why do you want to center your embouchure? I don't believe in centering the embouchure for "just because" reasons. And 99% of trumpet players who have asked me about centering their mouthpieces have been in the "just because" category. And I should point out to you that this video is actually about being okay with playing of to the side. There's nothing wrong with an uncentered embouchure. So please let me know why you want to center yours and maybe I can help you.
hello ed i started playing the trumpet in 4th grade 38 years ago ive been back playing for 3 years now and i play to the side of my lips i also play with denture now upper and parture on bottom and it hard for me to hit higher notes now what can i do to work on getting better at this.
I haven't done any videos on how to develop range yet, here in my channel. I have a very different approach from what most people teach, but I don't want my channel to be labeled as a high note thing. So I have been slow putting that kind of content up. I have what I call a "use it or lose it" approach to upper register and it works the same no matter what physical issues you are having with the instrument. I don't think it will be a very popular approach here on youtube because it does not promise overnight success. I believe that the best way to develop range is to use ALL of what you already have but do not go beyond. It's when we go beyond our current range that things start getting bad. And I think those negative effects are even worse with dentures. I do not have any video content yet, outlining my approach to building the upper register. However, there is a book I wrote that is waiting for me to finish the distribution work on it (to make it available at Amazon etc.). It is available but only at one place right now. I am calling it the "pre-release" version of the book. I call it One Range and it outlines a clear strategy for using the "use it or lose it" approach for building range. You can get that book here: www.lulu.com/shop/eddie-lewis/one-range-a-trumpet-chops-strategy-guide/paperback/product-23633958.html Let me know if you have any other questions.
It seems as if more "off center" players play to the left than to the right. Do you know if there has been any research done on the topic of where trumpet players actually place their mouthpieces on their lips?
I am a recovering player for the past two months. I used to play 20 years ago for only 5 years. Now I am back at it since June 2020. I ve been practicing every day. The reason I searched for this video is that today I noticed that I can actually play off center(to the RIGHT). it's sound decent...can I be successful playing both ways center and off right ? Or should I stick to one position and work at it?
I was wondering if there is a negative influence if the aperture is also off - center inside the mouthpiece. For me it tends to be in the middle of the lips but because i play slightly off center this is what i somehow ended up with since my embochure change to have more top lip inside the mouthpiece. Any thought´s on that? Thanks.
My short answer is, NO. I don't think it works like that. What it can do is change your pivot. But instead of learning all about pivots, (which can be done if you have the time to study) I prefer to learn how to hold the horn in a way that allows it to respond naturally to whatever pivot you need. I also have a question for you about your aperture being off center inside the mouthpiece. How do you know this? Are you using a visualizer or an endoscope or something like that?
Absolutely true ! Teeth structure determines your embouchure , period == band directors know nothing of jaw position - teeth and face muscular formation ! Don Cherry - Maynard Ferguson - Louis Armstrong and many great trumpeters played on either side , not center --- there is no such thing as “ proper or correct mouth piece placement “. Your mouth piece placement is unique to you only !!!
Thanks for your comment. I think the more people let their opinions be known, here and elsewhere, the more chance of some of those band directors coming right.
I've got one year of experience now and made a ton of progress in high school. A lot of people commented on why i played to the side and its something i just developed. Ive been able to play up to a D above the staff with this embouchure but it feels like it causes too much pressure. Recently i was messing around and did something on my mouthpiece that made me play way high without pressure. However it feels very different from normal playing and it actually happens when i play centered. Ive really been wanting to increase my range for pep band so i can comfortably play in my higher range. Id like to have some advice on what i should do and if i wanted to, how to transition to a centered embouchure?
What makes you think that playing centered will make you get higher notes? I teach that all physical work (or changes) should be done for musical reasons. We change something ONLY because of the musical results that change brings us. We do NOT change because of the way it looks. We do NOT change because someone said that's what we should do. We do NOT change because everyone else is doing it a different way. In my approach to the trumpet, anything that has to do with the embouchure (like mouthpiece placement), we should be looking for our own most natural embouchure. The way I teach how to find that most natural embouchure is to use the Physical Trumpet Pyramid. Here's a video about the PTP: th-cam.com/video/in98VTOjNfU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5G-mHmb5ah3TbrFg
Hi, I have crooked teeth and I find that it’s significantly easier and sounds better when I play to the side. The thing is that I’ll be performing with a DCI group and I’m honestly not sure how I’d be able to play to the side while marching at the same time. Do you have any advice for that?
That's the sort of thing you will need to work out when you get there. Every embouchure is unique so your solution for this will be unique. You could practice now, to figure out how to make it work. I marched for 9 years. It was difficult, but I made it work.
I'm 35 years old I always wanted to play the trumpet but when I was in high school I was made to play the clarinet because my uncle was a session player and said Don't Mess the boys lips up... Fast forward 2 month ago I decided I'm getting a trumpet so I went online won an auction on a trumpet got at home cleaned it up Norma hold could make one now watch every Wynton Marsalis Video Charlie Porter you name it couldn't do it came across your video said oh my God that makes total sense my teeth are a little crooked I'm playing the trumpet now thank you sir
I can't know without working with you to get to know your playing better. However, if I was forced to choose between sound and range, I would choose sound. If you are getting a bad sound on the higher notes, then you aren't really "playing" the higher notes. Which is an indication that you're probably doing something wrong.
hey Eddie, im thankful that finally i saw video that speaks of a person i am. i nearly stopped trying to learn to play trumpet because every tutor i try to take classes from tell me to play on the center and that made me to take time to learn because i have 2 years learning the instrument and i really dont see any progress compared to people i started playing the instrument with. i ended coming o youtube and learning on myself. one question ii have is with buzzing excersizes, how does people like me approach the skill of doing those successfully? and i was asking whether do you have any platform i could reach for some other tips i may need from you because i think you the only relevant player/teacher to my case
Hello Kheo, Yeah, that happens sometimes. If you have that sort of trouble with a teacher again in the future, ask them to watch this video. Some people should NOT play in the center. Sounds like you may be one of them. I have a video about how to get a better lip buzz. You can check it out here: th-cam.com/video/AFpMRKhkuZc/w-d-xo.html As for other platforms, I do have my website at www.EddieLewis.com and my blog at www.eltigredo.com/blog but for trumpet help stuff, TH-cam is the only platform I'm using right now. Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions. Eddie
You have the teeth problem. I have a center upper lip hanging down problem. The center of my upper lip is big and hanging down like a beak. The center lips don't open. The sides lips open. Louis Armstrong has the same lip as mine and he did play at his right side. You play on your left side.
Hello Eddie, I am an older, adult (aspiring) cornet player, (note: a cornet is kind of like a small, somewhat shorter trumpet), and a bit earlier, I watched another video of yours about "free buzzing" (i.e. just buzzing the lips - *without* the use of a mouthpiece or a trumpet). I'm basically just a beginning cornet player, and I'm still trying to develop a proper, effective embouchure that will work well for me. But after watching this above video on "Off-Center Mouthpiece Placement," I tried to lip buzz (i.e. to lip buzz without a mouthpiece), and I noticed that the only way that I can seem to most effectively get a sound through my lips is by blowing a bit off to the right-hand side of center (i.e. to the right-hand side of the direction that I am facing). So now I have a question for you... Do you think that it would be a good idea for me to *experiment* with off-center free lip buzzing (and perhaps also with off-center cornet/trumpet playing): in order to try to find out if I would be better off by playing a bit to the *right-hand* side of my lips - rather than by just arbitrarily playing "dead-center" through my lips: (as apparently, most band directors and/or trumpet teachers teach their students to do). Perhaps with time my making a sound through my lips may change from being a bit to the right of center to "dead-center," but I can't yet be sure that this will happen. Incidentally, I can really see how your above video would be of benefit to both band directors and to trumpet teachers generally, as well as to people who find that they do best when they are playing their trumpets off to one side or the other (or perhaps above or below) "dead-center" through their lips. Thanks very much for sharing about this interesting and important subject with your above video. -- Lar Tes
Hello again, Lar Tes, I am a firm believer in experimenting to see what works best for you for most things trumpet (or cornet) related. I believe that all of the trumpet help you can find online serves one basic purpose and that is to give you ideas to try out in your own trumpet/cornet experiment time. Of course, there are so many sources of trumpet information online, and specifically here on TH-cam, that you can't possibly try all of it. And I say this only in the context of time constraints. So there is a need for wisdom and discernment. But my short answer is, "yes", the more trumpet/cornet experimenting the better. Something else to keep in mind is your mouthpiece size. If you are struggling with placement, left, right, up, down.... sometimes it is not a placement issue but a size issue. So that's something to keep in mind as you move forward in your experiments. Oh, and one more thing, I have a video about the "Mouthpiece Placement Exercise" that I teach to my students. This is the exercise that helps you transition from doing a proper lip buzz to playing properly on the trumpet. You may want to check it out: th-cam.com/video/15UCophHsis/w-d-xo.html Thanks again for watching my videos. I'm happy to hear that they are working for you.
Hi Eddie Lewis, Thank you very much for reading and for answering my comments/question. Eddie, you certainly do sound like a busy person!! (I checked out your webpage: http:/www.eddielewis.com ) My goodness! How much free time do you manage to get: just for yourself and your family? Incidentally, I play almost entirely by ear; I hardly read any music at all. Lately, I've been in the process of trying to learn that great old nostalgic song: "Stardust" and also, "Our Love is Here to Stay". I've already learned to play "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and "Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling" (At this point in time, I'm just trying to get these two hymns "polished up" - while I continue to work on establishing a more workable embouchure and a better sound.) I haven't yet seen all of your TH-cam videos, but I have received a lot of good advice and some valuable "food for thought" from the ones that I have seen. Best Wishes to you and your family, Lar Tes
Thank you for checking out my website. My busy times are seasonal. Today I am in the process of getting caught up on emails and responses, mainly because last week there was no time for any of that. But yes, there is a little free time sprinkled throughout the year. I love your song wish list. I'll tell you what, if you tell me which version is your favorite Stardust recording, I will make a video for you to help you learn it. Nothing wrong with playing by ear. I actually believe that everyone who can play the trumpet well plays by ear. That's what reading music is.... you see the notes.... you hear the notes you saw in your head... then you play the notes you hear. When you look at it that way, we are all the same in that sense. There are people who say they cannot play by ear, but it's because they have never thought of it that way. I must do some practicing now, but please feel free to ask if you have any questions.
Eddie, I just wanted to correct my typing of your website's URL. (I forgot to include one of the forward slashes...) Properly typed, it is: www.eddielewis.com Sorry about my original "typo" Lar Tes
Hi Eddie, I forgot to thank you for sharing your web link URL with me for the proper placement of the trumpet mouthpiece. Thank you! (For those readers who did not already see this particular web link, I'll share it again with you now): th-cam.com/video/15UCophHsis/w-d-xo.html There is one version of "Stardust" being played that I very much like the *sound* of (although the video portion of this same presentation is *not* done well at all [IMO]). This particular version is played about as "straight" as it gets - which would make it easier for me to learn it by ear. (Plus, at this point, I almost feel that it is somehow "sacrilege" to embellish the trumpet playing of this great, old classic piece of music.) Here is the web link to it: th-cam.com/video/kks1_PEKW3U/w-d-xo.html Eddie, would you really be willing to make a video of this trumpet version of "Stardust" being played? Wow, that would be really wonderful! Plus, if you made a video of "Stardust" being played, then you would expose so many people to this wonderful old song: which (I think) is perhaps one of America's greatest pieces of music that was ever composed and written! (And yet, there are probably some people who have never heard this great old song - whether on trumpet or not.) I would also like to thank you for *all* that you do, Eddie -- especially here on TH-cam. I never would have become aware of you (*or* of your personal website) if it were not for your video recordings here on TH-cam. Take care, and my very best wishes to you and your family, Lar Tes
I’ve been playing for 3 years now and I play off center but one side of my lip is weack and my cheek puffs on that side and I don’t know how to strengthen that side, I practice every day buts it’s the same.could you pls give me a tip?
I suggest you should watch my video about the three levels of rest. If you are practicing every day, that might be part of the problem. Here's the link to the video: th-cam.com/video/jId5o7B4QcM/w-d-xo.html Another video that may help is my video called The Strength Formula: th-cam.com/video/b7B3Wpc7kBM/w-d-xo.html Give that a try and see if it helps. If not, then let me know and we can look at some other options.
So i played trumpet for like 13ish years from elementary school-college... regular, dead-center embouchure... i put it down once i graduated, then tried to play again after a few years, now i can ONLY PLAY off to the side/with the corners of my mouth. Why?!
Our teeth, bone and muscle structure are always constantly changing. This is true, even if you are playing on the exact same mouthpiece as you played before. But if you are trying to play on a different mouthpiece, then that would make it even more different.
Well too bad for professional trumpet teachers not everyone has the same teeth structure. I have no choice but to play to the side because of my teeth so I feel you brother. Just discovering this video...I know I'm 6 years late. Better late than never LOL
am an off center player two fingers to the right and one on the left i have been having some problems of range when playing and am insecure bout my playing i need some help on this what can i do ??? also my lip swells faster when i play on the sides..
I've noted alot of cracking notes. I noted what appeared to be off to the side position of Miles Davis. I tried a few degrees to the right and 100% better, to the left, 100% cracking of notes.
I seem to play better off and center and now my OCD is out to kill me. But, well, if it sounds good it is good. In fact, I'm getting amazing, never heard of range for me, just struggling a bit with some notes cracking since I'm not used to the posture.
Ha ha ha.... I never thought of the OCD angle in this context, but I can see that now. :-) I'm so glad to hear this has helped you. It's this kind of feedback that keeps me going with this stuff.
You know what's sad? A big reason you see most professional trumpeters (especially classical) playing in the center of their mouths is because many would-be trumpeters gave up since they weren't allowed to play any other way and, therefore, couldn't play very well. Good thing that no one insisted Maynard Ferguson play dead center, jeez.
There is some of that. There are also stories about players who found a way to make things work. Sometimes we just need to do our own thing for a while.
Thank you for weighing in on this. I think it's important that people see that we are not alone. Right? There have been many generations of false dogma trying to force people to play in the center. If we can show them that it's not true, then maybe more teachers will stop teaching that way.
At age 75 I feel I must first congratulate you for having the courage and gumption to resist any well-meaning unenlightened pressures you may have had regarding mouthpiece placement, and, equally importantly, thank you for sharing your insights. I could go on for a long time about my years of struggle resulting from erroneous mouthpiece assumptions and lack of insightful instruction. In my case there may have been a dental component requiring a shift to the side, however I began to realize also that a small amount of the tissue in the middle of my upper lip just hangs there and does not respond to attempts to adjust the shape or tension of the embouchure. I believe this is the reason for split tones and a limited upper register. In order to progress, a shift to the side seems essential, at least for me. Thank you again for putting this out there.
Wonderful! I'm glad this helped. Yeah, I'm not one for just going with what people say without testing it myself. When the masses are wrong, they are wrong. And sometimes they get it very, very wrong. :-(
Playing from the side is due to the accident I had with my mouth where I got busted in the mouth while at work with a poll under high pressure snapped hitting me in the mouth and having my front tooth go completely through the center top lip, Muscles will not form in the area of damage I am trying to establish the best alternative. I am readjusting as I play to gain an attainable embracer capable of reaching the fifth "C" way above the treble clef staff lines. This is a center lip problem trying to find this has been a challenge So I may have to find the right mouthpiece also.
Yes, finding a mouthpiece that fits your lips, with the scar tissue and all that, is a big step. You may want to check out the Maggio method because what happened to you is very similar to what happened to Maggio. There are others, too, who recovered from similar injuries and went on to become great players. But Maggio actually created a trumpet method out of his experiences. I don't have any references here, but if you google Maggio Trumpet Method, information should come up. It's a very interesting story and method.
I’ve played 5+ years now and over time it’s moved to the right side of my lips and everyone always points it out in class and i hate it so much. I wish I played normally but now it’s so late it would be like starting all over again if I tried to change it. I’ve cried so much over this crap and I’m probably gonna quit because of this stupid little thing.
It sounds like you didn't watch this video. Have you considered the possibility that your natural setting is off to the right and that, over the years, it crept to where it needs to be? If you were my student, I would be asking you if you are playing worse now, to the right, or better. Most students I talk to say better. If you are playing better, than you were when it was centered, then why would you want to change it? Just because some kids are noticing that you are different? See, I can't understand that. In music, different is almost always better. I don't know your precise situation, but according to your comment, you don't like something about your trumpet playing that has nothing to do with trumpet playing and everything to do with how it looks.
If you would like to discuss this live, then you can join us at the live stream Trumpet Q and A tomorrow. Here’s the link: th-cam.com/users/liveQyvwxEGvB8Y?feature=share
@@eltigredo I missed the Q&A live last week. I watched the video last night and an hour or so ago. While did not hear anything on my issue I got a few useful pointers. When are you having your next Q&A session? I am in Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean area and there is a one hour time difference with Florida and New York (AtlanticST or EasternST) I'm not sure which one is used but I think we are an hour ahead. I can check those details and coordinate the timing. I'll try to check my email and notifications daily or twice daily for alerts in future.
@@elsonharewood7933 we have another Q and A today. I just haven’t set it up yet. Are you wanting to discuss the off center placement specifically or something else?
Right. That's how prominent the belief is for "everyone must have a center placement". Trying to play on a centered embouchure has ended thousands of trumpet careers before they ever got started. I'm glad you were able to continue playing.
I’ve been playing for almost 7 years now.. this has been an intense struggle for me, I’ve had immense progress since I started playing the trumpet up until HighSchool, I’ve had so many directors and teachers say the center is where it needs to be but have read contrary, you are the first successful player that’s had this problem. I’ve been feeling real insecure about my playing because I would try to shoot the horn straight and my notes always crack, and been a journey, thank you for this. God Bless.
I'm glad that the video helped you. Often teachers will tell you the mouthpiece should be centered because they are not caught up with current pedagogy. Teachers who learn how to teach at universities are taught according to long standing traditions. I am typically in favor of those traditions. But with the mouthpiece placement, many of them just haven't caught on yet.
Daniel Saintival dude same
Same, I mean, it works for me, but my directors hate it
I've always played this way when hitting the upper register feels a hell of a lot easier, great tips
Great! Thanks for standing up to be counted! I think it helps people to find out that there are trumpet players who play successfully with off center embouchures.
Once I was noodling around off to the side and for 15 minutes I played as well as I ever did, my range was higher and my response was quicker ....but I could never find that same position again, not sure what happens that day.
This is not uncommon. I think the key phrase in what you described is "noodling around". I believe that the way our minds work, just "noodling around" breaks down a lot of our mental blocks. When we realize we are doing something better while we are noodling, we then shift mental gears and try to recapture whatever it was when we played so well. But that's the problem!!! It wasn't necessarily a mouthpiece position that made it work, it was our frame of mind. The better approach is to strive to "noodle around" EVERY TIME we pick up the horn. :-)
That's how I see it. I wasn't there, ha! so I can't know for sure what happened with you. But as a player and a teacher, what you described is VERY familiar to me.
Hello. Vincent of Normandy in France. having had a car accident where I lost my front teeth and part of the gum tissue, successive dentists have succeeded in making me an excellent dental appliance. Despite this device, I succeeded after multiple positioning of my trombone mouthpiece the right position to go up in the treble with a very clear sound without having cracking notes. My position is to the right and I found this position by playing G4, A4, B4 and C5 without forcing. I will verify that the pressure on the mouthpiece is the same everywhere. Thanks for your video.
Good job! It sounds like you're on the right track.
Your advice is very helpful to me.
Because i didn’t think that my posture(up/side) isn’t good as trumpet player. Thx and please keep to upload this kinda useful lessons
Thank you. I'm glad the video and information helped.
This is a great video. I'll give you my experience. I'm 74 now. Played since I was 10. Drum and Bugle Corp, all through school, High School, Jazz Band, Show Band, College Music Major, classical, played it all. I was always the soloist. The high note guy. Maynard Ferguson clone. Or sweet and mellow.Heavy lifter of every band. My instructor said I was the trumpet player's trumpet player. But I always played to the right side. My teeth would cut my lip otherwise. Had a Juliard instructor try to change that and it screwed me up. Anyway, I always tried to hide the offset playing by never facing straight to the audience on solo pieces. Didn't look cool. We had a guy who had all the stances and played right in the middle, knees bent. Trumpet aiming at the ceiling. But I was actually playing what the audience heard. He looked cool. Did a bunch of easy stuff the crowd thought was something. Years later I started watching and listening to Chris Botti. He plays to the left side. I play on the right. If I only had played on the left side, maybe, just maybe... lol.
Chris Botti: news.stonybrook.edu/featuredpost/the-arts-are-back-live-at-staller-center/
Thank you for your story. I think the more people that share stories like this, the better it is for people who are being criticized for playing off centered mouthpiece placements. I think it's also a wonderful resource for the teachers out there who may have never heard these stories before. They are taught to teach that the mouthpiece must be centered, and just assume that what they were taught is correct. I hope they all read your story to see that it's not one size fits all.
Most piano technique purists would say that Vladimir Horowitz had appalling posture. Sagging wrists, floating 5th fingers, sitting very low with forearms bent up. I think he did just fine for himself in the end. :)
I'm a long-time pianist who is learning trumpet as an adult. My top lip is too thick in the middle to produce a buzz. I get a much better buzz and sound just off to the right of centre. :)
I've only been playing 8 weeks, but my past week has been ruined by chasing "conventions" and forcing myself to play in the middle, so this video has really helped me psychologically. I think I just needed a little reassurance that I wasn't doing anything bad by playing to the side a little. It's the most efficient way for me, and efficiency is usually the "best" technique, provided it is making a good sound.
Thanks for sharing your perspective as a pianist. I hope your trumpet journey is an enjoyable one.
I just discovered if I put the mouthpiece off the left just a little bit my range and sluring ability increased greatly. Worked for me, and I just got on here trying to see if anyone does this.
Congratulations Andrew! Yes, people do this. We are not alone. :-)
@@eltigredo I have a problem, when I play my trumpet my mouthpiece is off to the right. I want to center my embrouchure but i do not know where to start. Are there any tips?
@@rickyl7697 Hello, thanks for checking out my videos. So, why do you want to center your embouchure? I don't believe in centering the embouchure for "just because" reasons. And 99% of trumpet players who have asked me about centering their mouthpieces have been in the "just because" category.
And I should point out to you that this video is actually about being okay with playing of to the side. There's nothing wrong with an uncentered embouchure. So please let me know why you want to center yours and maybe I can help you.
hello ed i started playing the trumpet in 4th grade 38 years ago ive been back playing for 3 years now and i play to the side of my lips i also play with denture now upper and parture on bottom and it hard for me to hit higher notes now what can i do to work on getting better at this.
I haven't done any videos on how to develop range yet, here in my channel. I have a very different approach from what most people teach, but I don't want my channel to be labeled as a high note thing. So I have been slow putting that kind of content up.
I have what I call a "use it or lose it" approach to upper register and it works the same no matter what physical issues you are having with the instrument. I don't think it will be a very popular approach here on youtube because it does not promise overnight success.
I believe that the best way to develop range is to use ALL of what you already have but do not go beyond. It's when we go beyond our current range that things start getting bad. And I think those negative effects are even worse with dentures.
I do not have any video content yet, outlining my approach to building the upper register. However, there is a book I wrote that is waiting for me to finish the distribution work on it (to make it available at Amazon etc.). It is available but only at one place right now. I am calling it the "pre-release" version of the book. I call it One Range and it outlines a clear strategy for using the "use it or lose it" approach for building range.
You can get that book here:
www.lulu.com/shop/eddie-lewis/one-range-a-trumpet-chops-strategy-guide/paperback/product-23633958.html
Let me know if you have any other questions.
It seems as if more "off center" players play to the left than to the right. Do you know if there has been any research done on the topic of where trumpet players actually place their mouthpieces on their lips?
That's a good question. I'm not aware of anything like that. But I will try to poke around and see what comes up.
Thanks.
I am a recovering player for the past two months. I used to play 20 years ago for only 5 years. Now I am back at it since June 2020. I ve been practicing every day. The reason I searched for this video is that today I noticed that I can actually play off center(to the RIGHT). it's sound decent...can I be successful playing both ways center and off right ? Or should I stick to one position and work at it?
I play slightly to the left, I'm also left-handed. I don't know if being left-handed has anything to do with it or not.
I was wondering if there is a negative influence if the aperture is also off - center inside the mouthpiece. For me it tends to be in the middle of the lips but because i play slightly off center this is what i somehow ended up with since my embochure change to have more top lip inside the mouthpiece. Any thought´s on that? Thanks.
My short answer is, NO. I don't think it works like that. What it can do is change your pivot. But instead of learning all about pivots, (which can be done if you have the time to study) I prefer to learn how to hold the horn in a way that allows it to respond naturally to whatever pivot you need.
I also have a question for you about your aperture being off center inside the mouthpiece. How do you know this? Are you using a visualizer or an endoscope or something like that?
Absolutely true ! Teeth structure determines your embouchure , period == band directors know nothing of jaw position - teeth and face muscular formation ! Don Cherry - Maynard Ferguson - Louis Armstrong and many great trumpeters played on either side , not center --- there is no such thing as “ proper or correct mouth piece placement “. Your mouth piece placement is unique to you only !!!
Thanks for your comment. I think the more people let their opinions be known, here and elsewhere, the more chance of some of those band directors coming right.
I've got one year of experience now and made a ton of progress in high school. A lot of people commented on why i played to the side and its something i just developed. Ive been able to play up to a D above the staff with this embouchure but it feels like it causes too much pressure. Recently i was messing around and did something on my mouthpiece that made me play way high without pressure. However it feels very different from normal playing and it actually happens when i play centered. Ive really been wanting to increase my range for pep band so i can comfortably play in my higher range. Id like to have some advice on what i should do and if i wanted to, how to transition to a centered embouchure?
What makes you think that playing centered will make you get higher notes? I teach that all physical work (or changes) should be done for musical reasons. We change something ONLY because of the musical results that change brings us. We do NOT change because of the way it looks. We do NOT change because someone said that's what we should do. We do NOT change because everyone else is doing it a different way. In my approach to the trumpet, anything that has to do with the embouchure (like mouthpiece placement), we should be looking for our own most natural embouchure. The way I teach how to find that most natural embouchure is to use the Physical Trumpet Pyramid. Here's a video about the PTP: th-cam.com/video/in98VTOjNfU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5G-mHmb5ah3TbrFg
Hi, I have crooked teeth and I find that it’s significantly easier and sounds better when I play to the side. The thing is that I’ll be performing with a DCI group and I’m honestly not sure how I’d be able to play to the side while marching at the same time. Do you have any advice for that?
That's the sort of thing you will need to work out when you get there. Every embouchure is unique so your solution for this will be unique. You could practice now, to figure out how to make it work. I marched for 9 years. It was difficult, but I made it work.
I'm 35 years old I always wanted to play the trumpet but when I was in high school I was made to play the clarinet because my uncle was a session player and said Don't Mess the boys lips up... Fast forward 2 month ago I decided I'm getting a trumpet so I went online won an auction on a trumpet got at home cleaned it up Norma hold could make one now watch every Wynton Marsalis Video Charlie Porter you name it couldn't do it came across your video said oh my God that makes total sense my teeth are a little crooked I'm playing the trumpet now thank you sir
That's what I like to hear! Congratulations and thank you for letting me know that this video helped you improv your trumpet playing.
man I appreciate you
To the side I can play one octave higher. But I can also play centered and it sounds fuller. Where should I play?
I can't know without working with you to get to know your playing better. However, if I was forced to choose between sound and range, I would choose sound. If you are getting a bad sound on the higher notes, then you aren't really "playing" the higher notes. Which is an indication that you're probably doing something wrong.
hey Eddie, im thankful that finally i saw video that speaks of a person i am. i nearly stopped trying to learn to play trumpet because every tutor i try to take classes from tell me to play on the center and that made me to take time to learn because i have 2 years learning the instrument and i really dont see any progress compared to people i started playing the instrument with. i ended coming o youtube and learning on myself. one question ii have is with buzzing excersizes, how does people like me approach the skill of doing those successfully? and i was asking whether do you have any platform i could reach for some other tips i may need from you because i think you the only relevant player/teacher to my case
Hello Kheo,
Yeah, that happens sometimes. If you have that sort of trouble with a teacher again in the future, ask them to watch this video. Some people should NOT play in the center. Sounds like you may be one of them.
I have a video about how to get a better lip buzz. You can check it out here: th-cam.com/video/AFpMRKhkuZc/w-d-xo.html
As for other platforms, I do have my website at www.EddieLewis.com and my blog at www.eltigredo.com/blog but for trumpet help stuff, TH-cam is the only platform I'm using right now.
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Eddie
You have the teeth problem. I have a center upper lip hanging down problem. The center of my upper lip is big and hanging down like a beak. The center lips don't open. The sides lips open. Louis Armstrong has the same lip as mine and he did play at his right side. You play on your left side.
right
Hi Eddie, can you tell me what mouthpiece you use, please?
I use a number of different mouthpiece but they all have the same rim size. The mouthpiece in this video is a Schilke F1.
Hello Eddie, I am an older, adult (aspiring) cornet player, (note: a cornet is kind of like a small, somewhat shorter trumpet), and a bit earlier, I watched another video of yours about "free buzzing" (i.e. just buzzing the lips - *without* the use of a mouthpiece or a trumpet). I'm basically just a beginning cornet player, and I'm still trying to develop a proper, effective embouchure that will work well for me. But after watching this above video on "Off-Center Mouthpiece Placement," I tried to lip buzz (i.e. to lip buzz without a mouthpiece), and I noticed that the only way that I can seem to most effectively get a sound through my lips is by blowing a bit off to the right-hand side of center (i.e. to the right-hand side of the direction that I am facing). So now I have a question for you... Do you think that it would be a good idea for me to *experiment* with off-center free lip buzzing (and perhaps also with off-center cornet/trumpet playing): in order to try to find out if I would be better off by playing a bit to the *right-hand* side of my lips - rather than by just arbitrarily playing "dead-center" through my lips: (as apparently, most band directors and/or trumpet teachers teach their students to do). Perhaps with time my making a sound through my lips may change from being a bit to the right of center to "dead-center," but I can't yet be sure that this will happen.
Incidentally, I can really see how your above video would be of benefit to both band directors and to trumpet teachers generally, as well as to people who find that they do best when they are playing their trumpets off to one side or the other (or perhaps above or below) "dead-center" through their lips. Thanks very much for sharing about this interesting and important subject with your above video.
-- Lar Tes
Hello again, Lar Tes,
I am a firm believer in experimenting to see what works best for you for most things trumpet (or cornet) related. I believe that all of the trumpet help you can find online serves one basic purpose and that is to give you ideas to try out in your own trumpet/cornet experiment time.
Of course, there are so many sources of trumpet information online, and specifically here on TH-cam, that you can't possibly try all of it. And I say this only in the context of time constraints. So there is a need for wisdom and discernment.
But my short answer is, "yes", the more trumpet/cornet experimenting the better.
Something else to keep in mind is your mouthpiece size. If you are struggling with placement, left, right, up, down.... sometimes it is not a placement issue but a size issue. So that's something to keep in mind as you move forward in your experiments.
Oh, and one more thing, I have a video about the "Mouthpiece Placement Exercise" that I teach to my students. This is the exercise that helps you transition from doing a proper lip buzz to playing properly on the trumpet. You may want to check it out:
th-cam.com/video/15UCophHsis/w-d-xo.html
Thanks again for watching my videos. I'm happy to hear that they are working for you.
Hi Eddie Lewis,
Thank you very much for reading and for answering my comments/question. Eddie, you certainly do sound like a busy person!! (I checked out your webpage: http:/www.eddielewis.com ) My goodness! How much free time do you manage to get: just for yourself and your family?
Incidentally, I play almost entirely by ear; I hardly read any music at all. Lately, I've been in the process of trying to learn that great old nostalgic song: "Stardust" and also, "Our Love is Here to Stay". I've already learned to play "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and "Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling" (At this point in time, I'm just trying to get these two hymns "polished up" - while I continue to work on establishing a more workable embouchure and a better sound.)
I haven't yet seen all of your TH-cam videos, but I have received a lot of good advice and some valuable "food for thought" from the ones that I have seen.
Best Wishes to you and your family,
Lar Tes
Thank you for checking out my website.
My busy times are seasonal. Today I am in the process of getting caught up on emails and responses, mainly because last week there was no time for any of that. But yes, there is a little free time sprinkled throughout the year.
I love your song wish list. I'll tell you what, if you tell me which version is your favorite Stardust recording, I will make a video for you to help you learn it.
Nothing wrong with playing by ear. I actually believe that everyone who can play the trumpet well plays by ear. That's what reading music is.... you see the notes.... you hear the notes you saw in your head... then you play the notes you hear. When you look at it that way, we are all the same in that sense. There are people who say they cannot play by ear, but it's because they have never thought of it that way.
I must do some practicing now, but please feel free to ask if you have any questions.
Eddie, I just wanted to correct my typing of your website's URL. (I forgot to include one of the forward slashes...) Properly typed, it is: www.eddielewis.com
Sorry about my original "typo"
Lar Tes
Hi Eddie,
I forgot to thank you for sharing your web link URL with me for the proper placement of the trumpet mouthpiece. Thank you! (For those readers who did not already see this particular web link, I'll share it again with you now): th-cam.com/video/15UCophHsis/w-d-xo.html
There is one version of "Stardust" being played that I very much like the *sound* of (although the video portion of this same presentation is *not* done well at all [IMO]). This particular version is played about as "straight" as it gets - which would make it easier for me to learn it by ear. (Plus, at this point, I almost feel that it is somehow "sacrilege" to embellish the trumpet playing of this great, old classic piece of music.) Here is the web link to it: th-cam.com/video/kks1_PEKW3U/w-d-xo.html
Eddie, would you really be willing to make a video of this trumpet version of "Stardust" being played? Wow, that would be really wonderful! Plus, if you made a video of "Stardust" being played, then you would expose so many people to this wonderful old song: which (I think) is perhaps one of America's greatest pieces of music that was ever composed and written! (And yet, there are probably some people who have never heard this great old song - whether on trumpet or not.)
I would also like to thank you for *all* that you do, Eddie -- especially here on TH-cam. I never would have become aware of you (*or* of your personal website) if it were not for your video recordings here on TH-cam.
Take care, and my very best wishes to you and your family,
Lar Tes
I’ve been playing for 3 years now and I play off center but one side of my lip is weack and my cheek puffs on that side and I don’t know how to strengthen that side, I practice every day buts it’s the same.could you pls give me a tip?
I suggest you should watch my video about the three levels of rest. If you are practicing every day, that might be part of the problem. Here's the link to the video: th-cam.com/video/jId5o7B4QcM/w-d-xo.html
Another video that may help is my video called The Strength Formula: th-cam.com/video/b7B3Wpc7kBM/w-d-xo.html
Give that a try and see if it helps. If not, then let me know and we can look at some other options.
So i played trumpet for like 13ish years from elementary school-college... regular, dead-center embouchure... i put it down once i graduated, then tried to play again after a few years, now i can ONLY PLAY off to the side/with the corners of my mouth. Why?!
Our teeth, bone and muscle structure are always constantly changing. This is true, even if you are playing on the exact same mouthpiece as you played before. But if you are trying to play on a different mouthpiece, then that would make it even more different.
Placing mouthpiece off-the center of Lips or teeth? My teeth center and Lips center are different.
You are correct. However, everything in the video applies to both.
Well too bad for professional trumpet teachers not everyone has the same teeth structure. I have no choice but to play to the side because of my teeth so I feel you brother. Just discovering this video...I know I'm 6 years late. Better late than never LOL
That's right. Always great to hear from someone else who plays off to the side.
am an off center player two fingers to the right and one on the left i have been having some problems of range when playing and am insecure bout my playing i need some help on this what can i do ??? also my lip swells faster when i play on the sides..
can u help me???
Do you have a video of you playing I can look at?
I've noted alot of cracking notes. I noted what appeared to be off to the side position of Miles Davis. I tried a few degrees to the right and 100% better, to the left, 100% cracking of notes.
Congratulations! You're doing it! Thanks for sharing your story!
I seem to play better off and center and now my OCD is out to kill me. But, well, if it sounds good it is good.
In fact, I'm getting amazing, never heard of range for me, just struggling a bit with some notes cracking since I'm not used to the posture.
Ha ha ha.... I never thought of the OCD angle in this context, but I can see that now. :-) I'm so glad to hear this has helped you. It's this kind of feedback that keeps me going with this stuff.
You know what's sad? A big reason you see most professional trumpeters (especially classical) playing in the center of their mouths is because many would-be trumpeters gave up since they weren't allowed to play any other way and, therefore, couldn't play very well. Good thing that no one insisted Maynard Ferguson play dead center, jeez.
There is some of that. There are also stories about players who found a way to make things work. Sometimes we just need to do our own thing for a while.
Thanks a lot!
You're welcome (one year later)
I am new to trumpet playing and I too feel comfortable not playing dead center, but a little to the left.
Thank you for weighing in on this. I think it's important that people see that we are not alone. Right? There have been many generations of false dogma trying to force people to play in the center. If we can show them that it's not true, then maybe more teachers will stop teaching that way.
At age 75 I feel I must first congratulate you for having the courage and gumption to resist any well-meaning unenlightened pressures you may have had regarding mouthpiece placement, and, equally importantly, thank you for sharing your insights. I could go on for a long time about my years of struggle resulting from erroneous mouthpiece assumptions and lack of insightful instruction. In my case there may have been a dental component requiring a shift to the side, however I began to realize also that a small amount of the tissue in the middle of my upper lip just hangs there and does not respond to attempts to adjust the shape or tension of the embouchure. I believe this is the reason for split tones and a limited upper register. In order to progress, a shift to the side seems essential, at least for me. Thank you again for putting this out there.
Wonderful! I'm glad this helped. Yeah, I'm not one for just going with what people say without testing it myself. When the masses are wrong, they are wrong. And sometimes they get it very, very wrong. :-(
Playing from the side is due to the accident I had with my mouth where I got busted in the mouth while at work with a poll under high pressure snapped hitting me in the mouth and having my front tooth go completely through the center top lip, Muscles will not form in the area of damage I am trying to establish the best alternative. I am readjusting as I play to gain an attainable embracer capable of reaching the fifth "C" way above the treble clef staff lines. This is a center lip problem trying to find this has been a challenge So I may have to find the right mouthpiece also.
Yes, finding a mouthpiece that fits your lips, with the scar tissue and all that, is a big step. You may want to check out the Maggio method because what happened to you is very similar to what happened to Maggio. There are others, too, who recovered from similar injuries and went on to become great players. But Maggio actually created a trumpet method out of his experiences. I don't have any references here, but if you google Maggio Trumpet Method, information should come up. It's a very interesting story and method.
I’ve played 5+ years now and over time it’s moved to the right side of my lips and everyone always points it out in class and i hate it so much. I wish I played normally but now it’s so late it would be like starting all over again if I tried to change it. I’ve cried so much over this crap and I’m probably gonna quit because of this stupid little thing.
It sounds like you didn't watch this video. Have you considered the possibility that your natural setting is off to the right and that, over the years, it crept to where it needs to be? If you were my student, I would be asking you if you are playing worse now, to the right, or better. Most students I talk to say better. If you are playing better, than you were when it was centered, then why would you want to change it? Just because some kids are noticing that you are different? See, I can't understand that. In music, different is almost always better. I don't know your precise situation, but according to your comment, you don't like something about your trumpet playing that has nothing to do with trumpet playing and everything to do with how it looks.
I want discuss this issue with you. It is 5.15am and I haven't slept yet. I will get some rest and get back to you later in the day it tonight.
Ok
If you would like to discuss this live, then you can join us at the live stream Trumpet Q and A tomorrow. Here’s the link: th-cam.com/users/liveQyvwxEGvB8Y?feature=share
@@eltigredo I missed the Q&A live last week. I watched the video last night and an hour or so ago. While did not hear anything on my issue I got a few useful pointers. When are you having your next Q&A session? I am in Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean area and there is a one hour time difference with Florida and New York (AtlanticST or EasternST) I'm not sure which one is used but I think we are an hour ahead. I can check those details and coordinate the timing.
I'll try to check my email and notifications daily or twice daily for alerts in future.
@@elsonharewood7933 we have another Q and A today. I just haven’t set it up yet. Are you wanting to discuss the off center placement specifically or something else?
Here's the link for today's Q and A. I hope you can join us: th-cam.com/users/livetYORdnWvKNQ?feature=share
made top 5 tmea all state playing to the side, nothing wrong with playing to the side
That's right! Congratulations!
When I play to the left a bit, my tone is just a lot clearer.
Right! Bingo! That's what I'm saying.
I thought I was a weirdo for years for playing off to the side...
Right. That's how prominent the belief is for "everyone must have a center placement". Trying to play on a centered embouchure has ended thousands of trumpet careers before they ever got started. I'm glad you were able to continue playing.