Mellophone advice?

[MacNCheese]

I'm learning mello to hopefully march with the Colts next season, I was planning on marching with the Colt Cadets this season but between money and numerous band trips I think I will just wait. Anyone have any advice on improving? I play long tones, flexibility warmups, and scales every time I play, and I'm improving, but not as quickly as I want. My main instruments are clarinet and sax so this is definately a change. I also cannot stay in tune and it feels like I practically have all of the tuning slide out sometimes, any advice?

[ironlips]

You can do this if you proceed logically. You are using some new muscles, and some old ones in a different way, Building strength and flexibility will take a little time.

1. Strength - you must play every day, religiously, but not to the point of bruising your chops. As with all muscular activity, recovery time is crucial. Rest in between the etudes. For the first few months, limit your sessions to 1/2 hour or less. Long tones are required but are very taxing. Go for good tone, in the comfortable middle register.

Play crescendos/diminuendos, 8 counts at quarter note = 100.

2. Flexibility - slurs are the best exercises for this. Begin with the open pitches, 1-5, 1-5-1, 1-5-1-...,etc., up and down, slowly, evenly, moderate volume. Repeat with second valve, first valve...etc., downwards, then upwards.

3. Overall - take a private lesson or two so you can avoid developing any bad habits. Ask you teacher to evaluate your mouthpiece choice.

4. Corps Skills - the Colts Cadets, or anyone else, will require that you can move as well as play. Both skills are necessary. Get some instruction on this, marching and/or dance.

5. Avoid Boredom - teach yourself some songs, simple ones at first.

If you play every day, even for 1/2 hour, you will notice significant progress in 4 weeks. Your pitch control will improve as your strength does. Take that lesson and ask about posture and breathing.

Go for it.