YES! I'm still selling BE books.....and lots of them! Brass players around the globe are taking advantage of this down time to improve their chops. So....don't be afraid to contact me for a book order.
Just email me: ValerieW78 "at" Gmail "dot" com
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Monday, July 8, 2019
Renewed Interest at Ripe Old Age of 77!
Robert: |
I am using my own modification of the roll in/roll out method. I have always had a good low register down to the pedal c on the B flat horn, but have had to work hard to play extreme the upper register and have endurance. I have extended my upper register with my version of the roll in technique to a consistent High B flat so that I can get those places in the Strauss that I have always feared. I started my instrumental career as a trumpet player and had to make a traumatic change to horn in college because of embouchure issues. I still enjoy playing out of the Arban book as I teach my twelve year old grandson to play trumpet. Transposing to play out of his books has also made me hustle.
Again, thanks for my renewed interest in horn playing at the ripe old age of 77.
Valerie:
Robert, Thanks for contact me again. Sound like you're making solid progress. You are doing EXACTLY what you are supposed to do.... you are adapting the BE instructions to what works for you! You're fiddling around with it. I'm tickled to hear this. That's how we develop. this means you aren't getting hung up on details that could hold you back. Bravo!!! You may find later, even a year or more later, that you have developed more flexibility and technique and may be able to do the exercises exactly as Jeff describes them, but please don't fret about that now. I didn't "get it" all at first, so I did my own thing as best I could like you. With time was was able to more closely emulate Jeff Smiley's instructions and the improvements were solid.
Robert: Although I don't follow the technique exactly, my high range and endurance have improved. Maybe if I followed the book better and practice more I would see even more improvement. But, at the ripe of age of 77, my inspiration to practice is a bit inconsistent to say the least. I can now get through the Strauss without getting panicky over the high B flats and that is something I have sought for many years. Many thanks.
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Valerie:
Robert, Thanks for contact me again. Sound like you're making solid progress. You are doing EXACTLY what you are supposed to do.... you are adapting the BE instructions to what works for you! You're fiddling around with it. I'm tickled to hear this. That's how we develop. this means you aren't getting hung up on details that could hold you back. Bravo!!! You may find later, even a year or more later, that you have developed more flexibility and technique and may be able to do the exercises exactly as Jeff describes them, but please don't fret about that now. I didn't "get it" all at first, so I did my own thing as best I could like you. With time was was able to more closely emulate Jeff Smiley's instructions and the improvements were solid.
Robert: Although I don't follow the technique exactly, my high range and endurance have improved. Maybe if I followed the book better and practice more I would see even more improvement. But, at the ripe of age of 77, my inspiration to practice is a bit inconsistent to say the least. I can now get through the Strauss without getting panicky over the high B flats and that is something I have sought for many years. Many thanks.
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To Order The Balanced Embouchure book:
Step 1. Email me: ValerieW78 “at” Gmail “dot” com. Please tell me what instrument you play and the country you live in.
Step 2. I send you an invoice with payment options (credit card, PayPal, check or money order).
Step 3. You pay the invoice.
Step 4. I ship your BE book.
Happy horn playing!
Valerie Wells Thursday, January 31, 2019
Almost 13 Years & Still Going Strong!
It's been forever since I've posted. Why? Well, there's really nothing new to report about my horn playing. I still practice The Balanced Embouchure exercises to stay in shape. I'm still very happy with my range and endurance. BE has been great for me and lots of others. Thank you, Jeff Smiley! This is how I came to BE.
The Balanced Embouchure Book with CD is $45.00.
The BE for French Horn booklet and/or PDF of horn adaptations is $3.00 (with book purchase).
Shipping & handling is $5.50 to $25.00 depending on location. (The quoted prices are in US dollars.)
The Balanced Embouchure Book with CD is $45.00.
The BE for French Horn booklet and/or PDF of horn adaptations is $3.00 (with book purchase).
Shipping & handling is $5.50 to $25.00 depending on location. (The quoted prices are in US dollars.)
Those who purchase The Balanced Embouchure with a Comfy Horn Strap, receive a $5.00 discount (as well as break on shipping).
To Order:
Step 1. Email me: ValerieW78 “at” Gmail “dot” com. Please tell me what instrument you play and the country you live in.
Step 2. I send you an invoice with payment options (credit card, PayPal, check or money order).
Step 3. You pay the invoice.
Step 4. I ship your BE book.
Happy horn playing!
Valerie Wells
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
A little BE goes a long way!
Sometimes I get feedback from horn players who bought the book several years before, read it, but for whatever reasons, didn't work the program. It's fun to get feedback from them when they finally take time work at the exercises.
A third example is from Colin Ng which is linked here.
A little BE goes a long way!
Please see this link for more articles & information on acquiring The Balanced Embouchure for Horn.
The Balanced Embouchure Book with CD is $45.00.
The BE for French Horn booklet and/or PDF of horn adaptations is $3.00 (with book purchase).
Shipping & handling is $5.50 to $25.00 depending on location. (The quoted prices are in US dollars.)
The first example is from Andy in the UK:
Hi Valerie,
I wrote to you a couple of year ago about how much my stamina had improved since reading BE. Now to be honest, I’m not a serious horn player these days - occasional amateur playing but mainly just play a bit of jazz at home for fun. However, it always played on my mind that despite studying at a London Conservatoire I couldn’t really play the horn other than being a vaguely good low player in orchestral music (Doesn’t matter these days - I’m a school teacher/composer/conductor). My stamina let me down for solo repertoire and getting out of the stave was a great struggle. Anyway, I haven’t practiced any of the exercises religiously and I sometimes go a few weeks without playing at all but I can now get out of the stave and I’ve attached a top Bb video just to prove that even just reading the book and doing the exercises a bit can transform your technique! The Bb was a very insecure high note for me before I read BE. Thanks for promoting BE. Andy Meyers (London -UK)The second example is from a local horn player in the Tacoma, WA area. Steph has played low horn for years but was recently given the fourth horn with challenging high register requirements. Here's what she wrote me in a text message recently:
Steph: Been working on RO and RI. Is much easier to play the upper range. Doesn't sound pretty yet, but will keep at it.
Val: you go, girl!!! It's amazing what a little BE can do for the chops. BE still dazzles me after 11+ years using it. If it weren't for Jeff Smiley, I would have given up long ago.
Steph: Well right about the time I resigned myself to not playing the highest couple of notes in the 3rd movement of Star Wars between 71 and 79, I was able to play it today without cracking or pinching the notes. Go figure... I guess I'll have a couple weeks to keep working at it.
A third example is from Colin Ng which is linked here.
A little BE goes a long way!
Please see this link for more articles & information on acquiring The Balanced Embouchure for Horn.
The Balanced Embouchure Book with CD is $45.00.
The BE for French Horn booklet and/or PDF of horn adaptations is $3.00 (with book purchase).
Shipping & handling is $5.50 to $25.00 depending on location. (The quoted prices are in US dollars.)
Those who purchase The Balanced Embouchure with a Comfy Horn Strap, receive a $5.00 discount (as well as break on shipping).
To Order:
Step 1. Email me: ValerieW78 “at” Gmail “dot” com. Please tell me what instrument you play and the country you live in.
Step 2. I send you an invoice with payment options (credit card, PayPal, check or money order).
Step 3. You pay the invoice.
Step 4. I ship your BE book.
Happy horn playing!
Valerie Wells
Friday, March 10, 2017
The Balanced Embouchure for Horn
THE BALANCED EMBOUCHURE FOR HORN
COMFY HORN STRAP
My horn strap is now available.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BE
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Just Thinking....
I was thinking this morning that if it weren't for BE,
there's no way I would have the confidence to calmly approach the high register. What other method teaches you exactly, precisely how to set your chops to play the highest notes on the horn straight on, cold turkey, without slurring or "glissing" up to it? I could be wrong, but there are none that I'm aware of. Jeff Smiley is very clever.
The Balanced Embouchure Book with CD is $45.00.
The BE for French Horn booklet and/or PDF of horn adaptations is $3.00 (with book purchase).
Shipping & handling is $5.50 to $25.00 depending on location. (The quoted prices are in US dollars.)
Those who purchase The Balanced Embouchure with a Comfy Horn Strap, receive a $5.00 discount (as well as break on shipping).
To Order:
Step 1. Email me: ValerieW78 “at” Gmail “dot” com. Please tell me what instrument you play and the country you live in.
Step 2. I send you an invoice with payment options (credit card, PayPal, check or money order).
Step 3. You pay the invoice.
Step 4. I ship your BE book.
Happy horn playing!
Valerie Wells
Monday, May 2, 2016
BE Now for Doug Wagner
The following is an email sent to Jeff Smiley and shared with me March 16, 2016. Doug is retired, played trombone for many years, and took up horn 10 years ago. Doug has been studying BE since 2010.
Jeff,
It has been a few years since I contacted you, and I don't even remember what I told you about my progress. The main thing I remember from your first reply, was that age was not my issue. That had to have been nearly seven years ago, and today I am approaching seventy years old, and my chops have never been in better shape! You were so right, and I am so grateful for your encouragement back then.
The thing I believe age has influenced, is how long it takes to get to the same place a younger person would take. The good news is that consistent practice and dedication can still get you there. I will never play with a major orchestra, or even play professionally, though I have been paid for a few performances. My goal is to play to have fun and to get better and have even more fun. Music and playing horn is the passion of my retirement.
For several years I have not steadfastly practiced the BE routines, but I have always kept firmly in mind the BE principles as I progressed. I have stayed in contact with Valerie over the years, and she and I have become good friends.What is personally important to me is that I struggled and struggled with the lower register on horn, and came up against the Reicha trios for horn, opus 82. The 3rd part drops down into the bass trombone/tuba range and expects that the player has the flexibility to play nimbly in that range. So I began experimenting, keeping BE in mind. I certainly could play the lowest notes without any difficulty, having learned from BE how to play that low, but to move back into a more RI embouchure for the higher notes was a daunting task.I kept experimenting and one day recently, the epiphany/eureka moment arrived and I found that I could still roll out enough to reach those lower notes without rolling entirely outside the mouthpiece. It's kind of a pooch of the lips that still allows a quick roll in of the embouchure. It made all the difference.I'm not quite up to tempo yet on being able to perform those low passages, but I'm closing fast. On the high side, my upper range has increase a solid performable fifth, from my beginnings. This I truly believe is because of embracing the principles of BE, and finding ways to implement them in my day to day playing.
I play principal horn in a small town pops orchestra in Colorado, and occasionally sub in area orchestras that play major works. I travel to California each summer to play in the Brass Chamber Music Workshop at Humboldt State University, and have such a fantastic time with all those terrific brass players.So I just wanted to give you an update and a huge thank you for what you have brought to my playing. I'm so glad to see that your web site is up and active, and that BE is alive, well, and thriving.
Regards and appreciation,Doug WagnerLakewood, Colorado
The Balanced Embouchure Book with CD is $45.00.
The BE for French Horn booklet and/or PDF of horn adaptations is $3.00 (with book purchase).
Shipping & handling is $5.50 to $25.00 depending on location. (The quoted prices are in US dollars.)
Those who purchase The Balanced Embouchure with a Comfy Horn Strap, receive a $5.00 discount (as well as break on shipping).
To Order:
Step 1. Email me: ValerieW78 “at” Gmail “dot” com. Please tell me what instrument you play and the country you live in.
Step 2. I send you an invoice with payment options (credit card, PayPal, check or money order).
Step 3. You pay the invoice.
Step 4. I ship your BE book.
Happy horn playing!
Valerie Wells
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