Jeff Smiley's Balanced Embouchure System: Does It Really Work?

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  • Опубліковано 5 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 14

  • @da11king
    @da11king Місяць тому

    Wow, look@ that book! I remember purchasing it because I never took lessons at the time. It messed me up so bad that I had to quit trumpet. Now I am back 20 years later giving it one more try.

    • @trumpetthoughts
      @trumpetthoughts  Місяць тому

      How did it mess you up?

    • @bertlochsinspirationforimp4902
      @bertlochsinspirationforimp4902 Місяць тому +1

      It's really sad to hear that this book messed you up so badly. It strikes me as weird that you want to try it again after 20 years. That said, this same little book saved my trumpet life. Without it, I wouldn't have played anymore. Did you have contact with mr Smiley when you got into trouble? If not, and if you are willing to give it another shot, please contact him first. He always answers and is very knowledgeable. He knows what he is talking about, doesn't charge you and is simply in this to help people. Do it, it might save your trumpet playing after all, but don't go messing with the book alone, I am afraid it will give you the same bad result as twenty years ago.

  • @bertlochsinspirationforimp4902
    @bertlochsinspirationforimp4902 Місяць тому +1

    This simple book saved my trumpet life about twenty years ago. I was a mess after five years of extensive playing with a jump 'n jive band and forcing my chops.
    I think you got a lot of it right, but instead of comparing it too much to TCE, look at it as it's own concept. There are certainly some Callet ideas in it. In fact, it made me aware of Callet's teachings and I have done my share of TCE. I visited clinics of Callet and Bahb Civiletti and practiced it a lot. It only got me so far, and now I am completely back with BE again. (One of the things I learned from TCE is of course to be able to anchor my tongue on my bottom lip. That is a concept that is very much encouraged by Jeff also. He doesn't talk about it in the book, if you don't do it, there isn't necessarily a need to learn it, but once you play this way, no need to go back and do it differently all over again, just saying).
    The simplest explanation of the method is what Jeff says himself: a series of exaggerated motion exercises to make the lips move in more or less the right direction. That has to be taken very literally and is all he ever claims. These are exercises, not a way of playing or setting your embouchure. There will be no BE embouchure, or a BE setup, only exercises to get your lips to move in more or less the right direction. For me that was gold: no need for drastic embouchure changes, other ways of playing, manipulating the chops. Just do the exercises as literally as possible, in the prescribed order, and you are on your way. One major benefit to all other methods: Jeff is still alive and very much prepared to help you grasp these concepts. everyone who askes about this method I encourage to write an email to Jeff and tell him your story. Don't expect tailor made solutions, do expect a lot of knowledge and patience. For me this is the safest way to improve your embouchure. Not quick, but sure.

    • @trumpetthoughts
      @trumpetthoughts  Місяць тому

      Great advice - thanks for sharing. I'm also finding LOTS of value in it this time around!

  • @freeLM90
    @freeLM90 Місяць тому +2

    I still have this book and I really liked it when I got it few years ago. I moved to TCE but I think this book has lot of similar concepts. The real problem with Callet's books is that sometimes he is a bit confusing and not easy to understand. I had some lessons with Colqhoun and he helped me as a "guide". I think your channel is really helpful too for learning TCE 😉

  • @d-rumusic4662
    @d-rumusic4662 Місяць тому +1

    Great, yeah I appreciate BE too... also the recorded examples at the end by his students are really good... teenagers with real power!

  • @GregZentTrumpetMan
    @GregZentTrumpetMan Місяць тому +1

    Yes, it helped me to gain consistency

  • @williamchan1414
    @williamchan1414 Місяць тому +2

    You got captions now! Is it auto generated?

    • @trumpetthoughts
      @trumpetthoughts  Місяць тому +1

      Yup, they are. Do you like them? Thought I would try it...

    • @freeLM90
      @freeLM90 Місяць тому

      @@trumpetthoughts They help a lot