Welcome back to the "Land of All Things Brass." This installment of Brass Advantage will focus on developing strength and control of the muscles of the face with the use of Lip Isometric exercises.

Isometric exercise is a form of exercise involving the static contraction of a muscle without any visible movement in the angle of the joint, which usually occurs while lifting weights and other types of exercises devoted to developing muscular strength. The difference is reflected not only in the name but in the action as well. The term "isometric" combines the prefix "iso" (same) with "metric" (distance), meaning that in these exercises the length of the muscle does not change. Resistance to isometric contractions generally involves the body itself (i.e. pressing the palms together in front of the body) or structural items (i.e. pushing against a door frame). Put more simply, muscle working against muscle.

Another weekend; another audition. I had no access to a mellophone over the holidays, so I had no idea what to expect. I brought my French horn for a second time. I carpooled with the same people as last camp, minus one who is probably not marching this summer. We actually left earlier and stayed in Atlanta for awhile before heading over to Jacksonville. It gave us time to rest, and the drive was a little under two hours from Atlanta.