Aerophone Technique & Body
When something hurts while you play, or a key never seems to arrive at the right moment, it usually means there is unnecessary force somewhere. It is rarely a matter of trying harder.
These articles are my record of finding that force and letting go of it — where the pain came from, what I changed, and how long each change took. I started with no wind instrument experience at all, so everything here is written from a beginner's point of view.
There is a second thread here too: what it takes to sound like the instrument you chose. Picking a cello sound is not the same as sounding like a cello, and that turned out to be a question of technique as well.
Playing Without Pain
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Aerophone Playing Posture, Part 1: How to Sit and Adjust Your Strap
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Aerophone Playing Posture, Part 2: A Grip That Saves Your Thumb and Wrist
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Aerophone Right Thumb Pain: Why It Hurts and How to Hold It Comfortably
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Aerophone Arm Fatigue: Check Your Chin Angle and Music Stand Height
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Aerophone Left Thumb: Why Octave Key Timing Is Hard and Where to Place It
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Aerophone Embouchure, Part 1: My Two Years of Trial and Error
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Aerophone Embouchure, Part 2: How I Fixed a Bunched Chin and Air Leaks
