The forum of the Royal Navy Volunteer Bands

greenfairy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:46 am Post subject: Cornet playing

So. Anyone got any tips? *looks at Ants*

Because it's seeming to me that the more I try and practise the worse I'm getting and I hate being rubbish at things

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Hornblower · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:04 pm Post subject:

Hmmmmmmmm

Difficult that, when I don't know your standard at the moment.

What's your range?

I'm sorry to say that the only way you're gonna get better (and this bit is painfully obvious) is to just keep playing.

Do you do any warm-up exercises? What do you play to practice?

Try a range of different things, including long notes (V important) and tongueing exercises. Use a metronome - that way you'll know if you're improving as you can measure it rather than guess.

Slur from one note to another - then do the same thing but this time accenting the notes. The more you practice different ways of playing, the better you'll know your own skills (or lack of them.)

You should slowly start to improve, but you won't if it stays in the case.

Hope some of this helps.

Is the cheque in the post yet?

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ITMA!

bootybandy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:44 pm Post subject:

Why not try and get a lesson from one of the Solo Cornet players in Pompey Band, or try and thick skin it and go and see John Yates in the School of Music??

The worse thing you can do is to keep practicing the wrong things. Sounds silly I know, but if you do not know what you are doing wrong, or wondering why you aren't progressing as you ought, then it could be that you are just reinforcing bad habits.
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One is hardly sensible of fatigue while he marches to music.

Thomas Carlyle

greenfairy · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:31 am Post subject:

It's getting my mouth to stay in the right shapes that's the killer. It's just so alien compared with the woodwind I've been brought up on that I just can't seem to get the hang of it. And just when I think I've got it, it goest pfhut

Plus I'm worried that I might ruin my mouth and not be able to play flute & picc properly any more (although not being able to play picc isn't necessarily a bad thing....)

I guess it'll be practise, practise, practise and hope my mother doesn't kill me in the meantime for "making that horrendous noise" - and yes, she means the cornet, not the piccolo!

I hate not being perfect at everything

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Hornblower · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:50 am Post subject:

Just ignore my questions then GF!!!!

Looooooong notes... (Played relatively quietly).
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ITMA!

bootybandy · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:05 pm Post subject:

Hornblower · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject:

Botts - looks like we're on our own in here now - perhaps we took the question too seriously!

What shall we talk about next?

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ITMA!

ANTS · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject:

EMMA · 2nd Piccolo Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Posts: 183

I'm just glad to see that you have had a the sense to change from woodwind to brass - well done!!!

Good luck with the cornet its the bestest instrument in the whole wide world!!!!

ZedHorn · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:04 pm Post subject:

greenfairy · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject:

I just get bored easily and after successfully managing to not be shite on the clarinet I figure I needed a new challenge

I would try a French horn but the last time I picked one up and tried it, Sylv winced so much I had to stop

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ZedHorn · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject:

don't let it stop you... he did very much the same with me in Cologne all week, and i've been playing 21 years!!

bovverd!!!
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water... it's just a whixer for misky!

ANTS · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:09 pm Post subject:

EMMA · 2nd Piccolo Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Posts: 183

ZedHorn · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject:

teehee... giggle giggle - "DRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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water... it's just a whixer for misky!