When Things Go Bad...

The last couple of days have been frustrating because I'm not improving as much as before. Also not being able to play in the lower register and having endurance problems are things that I have never dealt with before. So it's very frustrating not being able to do something as simple as playing in the lower register of the horn.

I know that with time my endurance will improve but it's frustrating when you start to accomplish things and then you can't continue because you run out of gas.

Whenever I start to get frustrated I just stop, take a break and come back. The break is to get my chops recovered but it also helps get my mind clear.

This entire process of a embouchure change is very humbling. Specially when you have auditions coming up in February. I feel like I have a lot of work to do and every day that I wake up feels like audition day which is probably what keeps me on the edge during practice sessions.

This will be my last blog of the year. I will be going away for a few days to spend time with some friends.

Come January 2006 I will be stepping up the intensity of my practices and just take everything up to another level. I'll keep you updated.

Feeling Accomplished

First I'd like to say that I posted up a clip from yesterday's gig. It can be found on soundclick.com/jorgeayala it's titled "Higher Ground".

Lately I've been really excited about practicing and that's probably because of the amount of improvement that I see from day to day. My main problem is that I have to slow down and not try to do too much. Sometimes in trumpet playing too much can be a harmful thing.

Now everyday that I practice I make sure that by the end of the day I feel like I've accomplished something. In order to do this I have to practice with a purpose or a goal in mind. I believe that this mentality has to do a lot with my success because I'm no longer walking in the practice room blowing through stuff without thinking.

Feeling like I've accomplished something doesn't only help my chops but it also helps me mentally. I feel confident in what I can do.

Tested Out the New Set Up....

First I'd like to say that I hope everyone had a happy Christmas.

Today I tested out the new embouchure in a gig that I played. It went pretty well. I still don't feel like I have 100% control over the new embouchure. Range, dynamics and tone control were things that I thought needed work. Things that I was impressed with were my articulations and endurance.

I started out playing flugel because for some reason with the V cup flugel mouthpiece I can play easier with the new embouchure. As my confidence grew I switched over to trumpet.

I think that just being able to play a gig with this new set up says a lot about how much I'm improving because certainly a couple of weeks I wouldn't of been able to use the new embouchure on a gig. If everything keeps progressing the way that it's been going within a couple of weeks I should have complete control over everything.

Wish me luck and I'll try to post some sound clips from the gig.

New Routine

In my never ending quest in trying to find the most efficient practice routine for me, I've come up with something new.

As you all know I've been working on a developing a new embouchure. Up to know I've only been doing random exercises to help out my day to day weaknesses. Now I feel that the new embouchure is steady and strong enough to do a daily hardcore routine. The problem with this is that I know that the new embouchure is not at performance level so I had to figure out a way to keep my old embouchure while building the new one up. This is what I developed:

1. Building Up New Embouchure:

- Buzzing (lip and mouthpiece)
- Clarke's Technical Studies
- Arbans Interval Studies and Arpeggio studies
- Scales
- Collins Lip Flexibility studies.

2. Maintenance work Old Embouchure:

- Long Tones
- Clarke's
- Tunes

I feel like this new routine will help me get the most out of my practice sessions. Hopefully it works. I'll keep you guys updated.

Embouchure Change Update

Todays practice sessions went pretty well. I feel really good about this new embouchure.

I know that this embouchure is going to work because of the security that I feel when I play with it. Everything seems to come out cleaner and effortless. My range of dynamics is incredible and most importantly my tone has become resonance.

Incase you're wondering what I'm doing to develop this new set up here is a little list:

1. I'm taking private lessons
2. I'm using Jeff Smiley's "Balanced Embouchure" book as a guide.
3. I do calisthenics (caruso)
4. I do clarke technical studies
5. I use Arban's to help me practice the things that are weak.

Back Again(2005 Recap)

It's been a very long time since I last posted. Allow me to bring you guys up to date with what has been going on:

In 2005 I did All State Jazz band, played the lead book for west side story, did a couple of trumpet features my senior year and got to play with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. I've also been doing a lot of blues band gigs and still playing for churches.

Graduation was cool. When it was all set and done I felt very accomplished about my high school career.

Right now I'm taking trumpet lessons from an excellent teacher and I'm currently going through a embouchure change. My jazz chops are strong and my legit chops just keep improving week after week.

I'm preparing for a couple of college auditions for February, so I don't know how smart it was to do an embouchure change right now, but oh well, I know that it will benefit me in the long run.

For 2006 I have a lot of big things planned that I'm looking forward to. Actually by the end of next year my goal is to have improvisation and classical playing under control and mastered..

yes it sounds like a lot to do but I'm going to be getting a lot of help from some excellent teachers, and I will not let the opportunity of learning from great teachers go to a waste...

Please wish me luck and I will keep you all updated!