Three Good Reasons Why You Should NOT Practice Long Tones!
1. They are boring.
2. They tend to build stiffness in your chops.
3. No one ever pays to hear long tones.
Now that I have angered most of the trumpet players reading this post, I need to explain my thinking on the abolishment of long tones.
Long Tones Are Boring-
No one in their right mind would argue this statement. Playing long tones is like watching paint dry. Even the non-musician questions one’s mental capacity when they hear someone play twenty minutes on long tones. Usually their comment is, “Why don’t you play something we recognize”? That is a very good question and one that made me contemplate the hours I have spent playing l o n g t o n e s.
If only there were a way to get the befits from long tones and be able to play something melodic and recognizable. Well my friend, there is something you can do and still gain the benefits.
Long tones stiffen your chops-
This morning while playing through the wonderful book by Vincent Cichowicz, “Trumpet Flow Studies”, I came upon the realization that due to the edited slurs throughout the book, what the player ends up doing is playing each phrase as a long tone. The extended phrases change the embouchure ever so slightly which adds to relaxation and contraction of lip muscles keeping the embouchure flexible, unlike long tones which force the lips to remain rigid and increase stiffness.
No one ever got paid for playing long tones-
I think it is time for trumpet players to start thinking of a better way to strengthen their embouchure which does not increases stiffness, is more interesting to practice and help build their ability to perform well and make money. I think I have found the solution and in my next post, not only will I explain how to go about your substitution for long tones, but will also give you the exercises to make it happen.
Check back in two days for my follow up on this rebellious act of anarchy.
Until then, send me your views on the use of long tones, both pro and con. We may have begun an overthrow of a long time trumpet tradition.
And in the distance was heard the faint battle cry of a lone ranger, “DOWN WITH LONG TONES”!
