Lee
Newbie
Low Brass Section Leader
Posts: 28
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Post by Lee on Aug 14, 2009 23:23:06 GMT -5
Well, I went from freshman noob, to all knowledgeable section leader. Go figure.
Well anyways, especially since I will be leading a section, I am looking to really up my marching performance for the year. Music is never an issue (I'm a quite accomplished euphonium player) but posture and keeping the horn up is difficult.
I'm not very big (5"4 110lbs.) and not very strong, but I play a marching baritone. I am great with the footwork, I just need to keep the stinking horn up. Much of the time, I bend my back in an attempt to lessen the weight on my arms. Any useful tips to keep my marching great for my second marching season?
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Post by Trombonium on Aug 15, 2009 12:26:00 GMT -5
Hey there!
I have the same exact problem of keeping the horn up lol.
One thing you do NOT want to do is lean back or bend your back in. This is the "lazy" way of holding the horn, as my marching instructor has said.
Just practice holding up the horn at home or where ever you have access to it. When you start to feel the "burn" in your arms, count to 60, then rest for about 5 minutes. Then do the same thing again.
Don't worry, it WILL hurt for the first month, but you will get used to it with time.
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Post by trumellotonium on Aug 15, 2009 23:06:48 GMT -5
TLDR version: use the right muscles and exercise them frequently.
Long version:
My low brass section all hates (in a loving way) our brass tech because during everydays (call it our equivalent band camp) he has them do, literally, over 100 pushups every day (just for him-- that doesn't count pushups for messing up or morning PT). Pushups are great because they exercise the primary muscles used to hold up a horn. That said, you do want to make sure you're using the right muscles. It should come from your front abs, your pecs, and your delts (upper shoulder muscles). None of these should be overly tense, and you want to make sure your shoulders are "relaxed" and down, but that's where you should feel the pull. Try to keep the stress out of your lower back, butt, legs, etc, which are all common muscles to flex even though they don't actually help.
That was long... woops. Hope that helps some!
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Post by the_sousabone on Aug 17, 2009 11:24:16 GMT -5
Get an ankle weight and put it on the bell end of the horn. Then hold it up. When you take it off the horn will feel alot easier.
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Lee
Newbie
Low Brass Section Leader
Posts: 28
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Post by Lee on Aug 17, 2009 20:33:55 GMT -5
Well, today went MUCH better then my freshman year, to say the least.
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Post by trumellotonium on Aug 17, 2009 22:09:13 GMT -5
yep, it's always a little easier the second time around.
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Post by bluescalesdragon on Aug 21, 2009 8:09:51 GMT -5
Holding up the baritone so far has been easier than I thought, but I dread quick checks, where we run many pages, but stop for 10 or more seconds in between each page to adjust. We're not allowed to put down our instruments or change our upper body in any way. Ouch.
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