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Doug's Daily Doses

Air (wind), Mind (think - sing), and embouchure (muscles)

The goal is to get all three areas working properly and together on a daily basis. This concept is what I consider to be the most important aspect of the warm-up.

AIR

Image sucking the wind out of the cartoon bubble using a silent 'who'

Breath in over 4 counts, next over 5 counts, and then 6. The idea is to expand the rib cage with each count.

Blow the air out with the silent 'who', and do not hesitate between the intake and the exhale - always keep the air moving.

The following might help you to feel the air:

roll a piece of paper up to about the size of a cigar (but don't smoke it). Breath through the tube several times to feel the amount of air you can get in. Try to duplicate without the tube.

try to hold a piece of paper against the wall using only your air. Sense the idea of motion of air.

MIND (THINKING AND SINGING)

First, remember the analogy between talking and thinking.

Always image yourself producing a beautiful sound.

You can practice away from the trumpet by silently singing to yourself and carefully monitoring your responses. Use the 'who' (tongueless attack), the 'du' (soft) , and 'tu' (hard) syllables.

The tongue should strike the roof of the mouth just behind the top teeth. It should be a short, quick stroke in all cases. Be very specific in what you sing. Slight variations are magnified when you start playing into the trumpet. Consistency is the goal.

EMBOUCHURE

Pencil exercise #1: hold lengthwise pencil with lips only. Do not use your teeth.

Pencil exercise #2: hold pencil (eraser side) with lips only. Try to keep the pencil parallel to the ground. Blow air around the sides of the pencil as you try to hold it up.

Feel the foundation formed with the flexed muscles of the corners of the mouth and the chin area. This will help build up the muscles of the 'pucker'.

Do not overdo these exercises as they accomplish a lot in a short time.

BUZZING

	Hold your mouthpiece with your thumb and first finger only
	Combine the above exercises with the air, singing, and embouchure in buzzing into the mouthpiece. Practice the attached exercises. Concentrate and focus on the air, singing 'who', and the foundation of the embouchure to achieve a uniform sound .

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

	Now put the mouthpiece into your trumpet.
	Repeat the buzzing exercises on the trumpet.
	Do the lip bending exercise which will help you focus on blowing from the lips ('who') and keeping the foundation of the embouchure. Play each exercise with the natural fingerings and then bend the pitch using only the fingering for the first note for all the notes. Make sure you sing as you try to bend the pitch down. This will help you develop your 'pucker'.

IN CONCLUSION

You should now be ready to start your work. As part of your regular practice, make sure that you work on scales, arpeggios, double and triple tonguing, literature, and make sure to have fun doing it. Remember, the idea is to make this a positive habit. You can only do that by working at the exercises on a daily basis. Some days you will feel great, and others you'll feel lousy. The audience doesn't care how you feel, they just want to hear beautiful music. So your responsibility is to play at a consistently high quality level so that the audience is not disappointed. Therefore, you must work toward the goals of Doug's Daily Doses and reach that high level every day!

You can do it. Good Luck and have a great time!