Stiff Chops on Trumpet

Coping with Stiff Chops on Trumpet
by Eddie Lewis
In this video I discuss what we do in my lessons studio to avoid stiff chops and what to do if they do happen.
It's important to keep in mind that there are two different kinds of stiff chops for trumpet players. One kind is a stiffness you get from damaging your lips with too much pressure. Then there's another kind of stiff chops you get from getting a great muscular workout.
One of these is good, the other is NOT! Guess which one is which. I bet you already know!
I did write a blog article about this topic that you can read here:
eltigredo.com/?p=14982
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Trumpet Q and A Archive:
If you want to watch the old live stream Trumpet Q and A sessions, we have most of them archived at the blog. You can access them by clicking on the following link:
bit.ly/2ZYfFET
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Behind the Wheel Videos:
We are no longer making the Behind the Wheel videos public. The only way to access them is to watch them through my blog. So, to watch the Behind the Wheel videos, follow this link:
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Eddie Lewis' Websites:
www.EddieLewis.com
www.TigerMusicStore.com
eltigredo.com

[@CanadianDivergent]

the One Range book is awesome! I think I have discovered the key to great playing. Your book helps to confirm that for me. the key seems to be, "two steps forward one step back" i.e. I practice high range on two days. the third I rest completely, for minimum of 24 hrs. I started this a month ago, and I have gone from a high A above the staff to an effortless High C and D. within 30 days. of course, now that I have the One Range philosophy, I can do a more structured practice. but the key it seems and the one, that I was missing for so many years is REST!!! intense practice, then intense rest. that cycle is like forging steel. you use high heat, then quench it, then high heat, then quench it. etc. this makes the steel ultra hard. The practice is the crucible, and the 'rest' is equivalent to skimming off the dross. so for me after the intense practice, when I rest I am not usually able to play due to stiff chops but the following day usually I can play with ease into the new register. The other ingredient for me, was realizing that I was pinching my lips. I started to play more freely, and started to understand that the lips are simply the reed, and they do nothing more than vibrate. We cannot close the aperture to get a smaller buzz. that comes from the air, and the tongue... all of this recently just clicked for me. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I believe now that I can get to where i want to be. I do have a request Eddie?...if you are willing to do it? I watched on of your vids where you described how you came to understand HOW to practice. How you gave up, and two weeks later came back to the horn and played really well. Can you make a video of this story? I think it will help many students and it will help to get the point across about rest and about practice. Your story confirmed what I was starting to realize about trumpet. thanks!

[@eltigredo]

I’ll see what I can do. Right now I’m in Dallas for a gig tonight and because I’ve been away from home, things will be hectic when I get back. But maybe I can put something together for the following week. I’m glad you are gaining use from the materials. It’s exciting to hear back from you this way.

[@harrystamper2665]

Didn't think anyone could talk for 25 minutes on this topic and maintain full interest! Great explanations which I can fully identify with and now recognise only too well! Understanding what is happening is a great prerequisite to learning how to deal with overplaying and over-practicing. Many thanks Eddie.

[@eltigredo]

I thought I had replied to this. I guess for some reason it didn't go through. Anyway, I'm glad you like the video. Thanks for checking it out.

[@GarySheehanMusic]

Thank you for this video. This is an extremely important issue for many of us trumpet players and I really appreciated the details you went into.

[@eltigredo]

You're welcome, Gary. Thank you for your feedback.

[@bringo9385]

Great video!

[@eltigredo]

Good. I'm glad you think so!

[@emkjam1088]

Thank you

[@eltigredo]

You're welcome!

[@djkcel]

Thanks man! I wonder which one led to Freddie Hubbard's awful lip rupture. Just thinking about that makes my lips shrink back in pain.

[@eltigredo]

Right!
Yeah, it's difficult to know what happened to Freddie Hubbard. I don't trust most of the gossip. I do know it was bad enough that it changed his playing forever.

[@harleyzeth]

Is that a Puje?