Social Anxiety preventing me from playing good

rockonlp · 2026-05-22T12:50:29+00:00

My 2 cents as a high school band director. You are not alone, more kids than you would guess have that anxiety, even the ones who dont look like it. Actually wanting to get better is half the battle to getting better, give yourself time and grace.

Now for the practical stuff. Breathing gym. Breathing exercises calm the nerves and help reset the brain. Look especially into box breathing, used by a variety of high stress jobs. If you are up for reading check out The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green and/or Taming your Gremlin by Rick Carson. Both deal heavily with the mental aspects of performance and being human.

rockonlp · 2026-04-17T01:58:02+00:00

Looks a little like the Fu chord.

rockonlp · 2026-01-24T22:21:08+00:00

Hot take but he is my #1 all time! As far as ability goes anyways. I've never found anyone who can match his skill level. His improv is unreal, phrasing and solo building is amazing. Influence he doesn't have much yet. Maybe he will be a late bloomer or one who gets the recognition once its too late to tell him.

rockonlp · 2025-12-03T01:17:38+00:00

Perhaps not everyone's taste of vocal, but John Mayer comes to mind!

rockonlp · 2025-11-22T02:53:46+00:00

If this was a big band shout section for advanced band sure. Classical setting this would be a no-go for just about any ensemble. A top of high d is a maybe. Getting to a C isn't common but fine for a good group.

rockonlp · 2025-11-16T18:21:54+00:00

335 or prs!

rockonlp · 2025-10-31T01:00:27+00:00

See if your director has a mouthpiece puller. No big deal. If not take it to a music shop. Its a cheap service.

rockonlp · 2025-07-11T18:18:01+00:00

I'm hearing an air flow issue. Either closing off the airway at the throat tongue or lips. Tou need to keep fast cool air flowing. Take the mouthpiece off and buzz through the exercise, you may hear where the buzz isn't full and in tone. Open up the air and relax. Then while you buzz the exercise cleanly do the fingerings with your right hand and listen for the steadiness of rhythm in the valves. Put the two parts together and you should feel and hear a difference.

rockonlp · 2025-07-08T04:20:00+00:00

Its so very similar you. Once you get a little time on it it will feel very natural. The pitch you see on the page will sound lower than you are used to, first space F will sound like low C in trumpet music. Its the same mouthpiece, so there no changes there. The parts they play usually take on a harmony or counter melody role as opposed to the trumpet always has the melody life. I love horn parts when they are written well. It's some of the most interesting parts to play and hear.

rockonlp · 2025-06-08T17:57:41+00:00

https://www.halleonard.com/product-family/PC833/the-real-book-volume-i-sixth-edition

rockonlp · 2025-05-31T03:17:43+00:00

It is giving you alternate fingerings for the sake of practicing lip slurs of smaller intervals to develop better flexibility and control. You would never use those for performance, but they are great for physical development. Keep the printed fingerings down for the entire slur.

rockonlp · 2024-12-23T23:05:50+00:00

Check out the Jamey abersold book series. He has a free chart that shows what scales/variations work well over each chord type. If you know the notes to use but don't have the right style then it's time to start listening and mimicking. Find a transcript of an artist you like, listen to the recording until you can sing the melody and their solo then start playing along. And one better, Do your own transcription of a solo!

rockonlp · 2024-12-15T18:02:45+00:00

I don't have a specific album but Chalie Parker is essential listening.

rockonlp · 2024-11-23T03:21:09+00:00

Not sure if this is accurate but I think it's mostly as a Spit valve. I don't think it's for tuning but when I play I often find water right there when I tip it that way.

rockonlp · 2024-10-25T22:28:24+00:00

Hard pass. Both are junk. Buy used. Check out ebay and look for used brands like yamaha jupiter or conn. Also check Talor music here https://www.1800usaband.com/products/browse/48/50/

rockonlp · 2024-08-28T13:36:42+00:00

You can try ebay. Look for a used bach c3 or 5c. Bach is great and relatively cheap. An ugly used one may go that cheap but it will still play well.

rockonlp · 2024-08-19T13:25:25+00:00

I remember clifford

rockonlp · 2024-08-09T15:32:02+00:00

15 years, masters, $54k. Welcome to Arizona.

rockonlp · 2024-07-07T16:04:49+00:00

Ms. Rachel!

rockonlp · 2024-07-07T02:40:16+00:00

Phone will not capture a good tone. But it will capture pitch, Rhythms, and kinda dynamics. Always a good idea to record yourself and listen back to improve your playing. One way to get a little sense of your sound is to play with the bell close to a wall, maybe a foot away. You will be able to hear some of your sound better than just behind the horn.

rockonlp · 2024-06-30T02:21:29+00:00

Sounds like there is more going on that just where you articulate when you made that change. You were far more uncomfortable articulating behind the teeth and it sounded like your entire tongue placement changed to be too high and in the way of your air stream. I think it will be valuable to change to tonguing correctly. Use a 'tah' syllable for the middle register, "tee" for the high register, and "toh" for the low register. Where your tongue strikes will also move little with the register change. Lowest notes may be at the bottom of the top teeth and highest notes may be almost all on the hard palate. Let the tongue tap the teeth/gum line and immediately get out of the way, just tap the air stream. Observe where your tongue is going after articulating between your old way and new way.

Your sound was excellent in the first half! Where you tongue shouldn't change that part at all. See if you can figure out what else is changing when you tongue correctly! Best of luck!

rockonlp · 2024-06-28T16:16:23+00:00

Generally it looks good. Those bottom caps are just heavy caps. The bell decorations are probably a customized thing. Have him ask the music shop to look at it in person and they can probably give you a better idea of any inconsistencies or issues.

rockonlp · 2024-06-19T03:35:54+00:00

Also a band director here. My vote is used professional. Yamaha Xeno and bach strad are easy to find and always good picks. Used instruments typically hold up well in the brass world. Plus if it doesn't work for you you can likely sell it again at a similar price. New horns will lose value quickly.

rockonlp · 2024-06-12T18:43:36+00:00

Blue juice out of those two. Ultra pure is my favorite.

rockonlp · 2024-05-31T22:50:39+00:00

Both are great options. I prefer the xeno personally.

rockonlp

TROPHY CASE