Few people have realized the importance of my recent discovery of the perfect item of support for every musician. But don’t let that upset you for most people do not understand many of the things I do or say. Ask my wife.
This is an update to my first post on the perfect stool/chair and not only do I still believe the benefits of this stool, I have also broadened its virtues to something even more of you may not try or understand.
After switching to my backless chair, I have noticed several changes in my life.
1. My posture has improved.
2. I have less back pain issues.
3. I have lost one inch around my waistline.
Did I get your attention on the last advantage?
Now I will share with you something I didn’t expect and how I was able to remove a full inch around my waistline.
As most of you should know by now, I am a strong advocate for the “rest as much as you play” technique. During my short resting periods it seemed to me that these rests were moments of wasted time and you should also realize by now, “I don’t like to waste time”.
Several weeks ago, while practicing, I began to do some rocking back and forth while playing. Gradually this action formed into a regular routine and I began to realize that my periodic back pain had disappeared. A few weeks ago I realized that my trousers seemed to have enlarged around the waistlines. After checking, I found that I had lost one full inch around my waist.
To more fully explain what I was doing, I will list several important steps which could help you improve your trumpet playing and at the same time strengthen your abdominal and lower back muscles.
How to improve your trumpet playing and at the same time improve your muscle tone.
• Start with a stool (no back support)
• Sit far forward on the stool
• Both feet flat on the floor and evenly spaced in front of you
• Sit as straight as possible on the stool
• Set a metronome for the most comfortable tempo to play Clarke’s Technical Study #1
• As you play the first exercise, slowly rock forward on the stool
• Keep your trumpet level with the floor while you are playing
• Slowly rock back as you rest an equal amount of time as you played
• Repeat as you play the next line
• Keep your back straight at all times
• Do not lean too much forward nor too much backward each time
• It is a good idea to loosen your belt or any restrictive material around your waistline
• Begin the first day with no more than five minutes of this exercise
• As your muscles begin to tone, increase a little each week, not each day
Other benefits of this exercise include the following
• Sustaining the weight of your instrument in front of you will tone you biceps
• Watching your music as you rock forward and back will improve your eye site because of the constant refocusing your eyes have to do
• Movements forward and back will help to tone abdominal muscles which are very important to trumpet players
• This same motion will improve gastro intestinal functions for better health
Very important issues when doing this exercise
• Check with your physician before trying this if you have back issues beyond the norm
• Do not rock more than 10 degrees forward or 10 degrees backward
• During the first week, do not use this exercise for more than five minutes
• Keep your instrument level with the floor
• Keep your instrument in the same position resting as you do when you are playing
• If you begin to sweat, you are doing too much and cut back on the time
Warning! On our last concert I was seated very close to the edge of the stage with a two foot drop. Through the whole concert I was concerned that I might scoot too far over and finish the concert on the floor.
