O5145 - Brass Playing Is No Harder Than Deep Breathing

Love this work by Mr. Claude Gordon. This is a method of instruction that is a must read for all aspiring brass wind players. This books gives an in-depth look at the requirements of playing a brass wind instrument and the necessary knowledge of wind and breath support in forming notes and getting the proper sound from your instrument. A great book by a legendary musician, teacher, and performer.

I vacillated between 4 stars and 5 for this book, but in the end, I've got to say it's the most useful of all the things I have read over the last 55 years in terms of value and explanation. Arban and Clarke both give largely the same advice, but it somehow doesn't come through as clearly. Gordon's title immediately puts the focus on wind control and the guidance in the text helps make it understandable. So what's wrong with this book? It's a bit thin--both in number of pages, and in the depth of development. The author pursues (somewhat unnecessarily in my opinion) a lengthy tangent dismissing the diaphragm and diaphragm control, which may be an important distinction to the medical doctor who wrote the supplemental essay on the diaphragm, but which comes across as a semantic argument rather than one of great substance. In the end, the book drives home one message (breathe deeply, control your air) and manages to debunk a number of errors which many of us have pursued (the quest for the mouthpiece, for example). It was useful to me, I think it will be useful to most of you.

I wish I'd read this 40 years ago! ! !I'd been having problems with my lips quivering (like an uncontrolled vibrato) when ever I played anything longer than a quarter note.I'd also had problems with my left cheek (face) after a long rehearsal it felt as if I'd pulled a muscle.I read this book and followed the instructions along with the recommended exercises from other books.After a few days I noticed a difference in my playing.After a couple months I noticed a drastic difference.I'm just an amateur and play for pleasure not pay(n) so sometimes I don't practice as much as I should.I wish one of my teachers had recommended this book 40 years ago.I could have been a contender. . .

Absolutely. A friend advised me to get this book. It is full of sage advice that both my husband (excellent pro horn player) and myself, a trombone player of a year (ex-harpist) playing in four community bands needed. I wondered about all of this talk about diaphragmatic breathing that I had heard of for many years, being also a singer.This man made a lot of sense and I think the book was a bargain.nancy morse

In this book, Claude Gordon explains in depth his theories of the mechanics of brass playing and on how one should practice to improve their abilities. It does not contain practical exercises. For that, start with his "Physical Approach to Elementary Brass Playing". His "Systematic Approach to Daily Practice" starts off considerably more advanced and takes off quickly from there.

Sadly this book has been misunderstood since it was written in 1984. Claude Gordon's belief was "if you have been properly trained and have developed the seven elements of brass playing then ultimately BRASS PLAYING IS NO HARDER THAN DEEP BREATHING. His explanation of how to develop your breathing muscles is simply not found in any other tutors and yet it is the key essential to playing a brass instrument.

This book has exceeded my expectations! The information is written with great clarity, and in expected order, sequence, and comprehensiveness. Although Claude Gordon is a trumpeter, as a Horn player of over 60 years, I found the information well worth the close reading of this book. I would recommend it to all brass musicians, especially beginners, as it is easier to build good habits at the beginning than to try to correct bad habits later.

Anything by Claude Gordon is golden

Having now done it, lapsed and done it again, yes it all makes sense and works very.well. Once you have felt the beneficial results of learning and practicing this stuff then it opens up a whole new world of playing possibilities.

This book has no notes to play or exercises to learn, what is does have is the basic structure and basis upon which to learn playing a brass instrument. After myself playing and getting frustrated 2 years into playing I've read this boo and its like a light bulb going on and now I know how and why and what I need to do. Well worth reading

Very informative. Gives me a lot of infomation on trumpet playing, background, underlying skills, lip issues.I never knew about Claude Gordon and I regret that because his view on technic gives mean insight on problems I have had, but was to solve by myself.

Very good read, should of had this back in the 70's when I started playing

Ce livre est indispensable pour comprendre le processus d'émission du son à la trompette et développer toute la "mécanique" nécessaire.Il ne s'agit pas d'un manuel d'étude mais d'un recueil de réflexions et de pistes de travail.Le programme proposé par Claude Gordon s'appuie sur six à sept autres ouvrages qu'il faut donc acquérir pour mettre en pratique tous ces précieux conseils.Personnellement ce livre m'a sauvé en balayant toutes les croyances erronées qui m'empêchaient de progresser et en m'apportant en quelques mots les bases saines pour repartir en toute confiance.Merci à ce merveilleux pédagogue !

Super Buch - hat mir sehr geholfen mit richtiges Atmung und Ton. Habe schon viele Bücher in d. Hand gehabt, aber hiermit fühlte ich mich wohl und vertanden. Wurde ich jede Stundent weiter empfehlen! Danke Mr. Gordon!