The second month is all about the isometric exercises that Dr. McGrail recommends. These are very basic but very effective in shaping the lip . Out of respect for Dr. McGrail, I will not post these exercises here. However, I did come up with exercises on my own. One is simply saying "X" and "O". Another is a mock embouchure set up without really engaging the muscles. I do this by saying and holding "M" and following it with "POO". I don't form my embouchure or make any motions that will tighten the lips. It comes out like "MmmPoo". I also move my jaw back and forth with my teeth slightly separated.
The third month brings the mouthpiece into play. I continue the exercises but also begin to buzz. Starting very low and slow and just slightly increasing the task everyday. I don't try to buzz high or loud ever. The goal is to retrain the muscles. I have taken to the Stamp, Schlossberg, and Shuebruk methods and I am starting every note with the air. I am only buzzing the first and lowest exercises and NEVER exceeding 5 minutes at any one time.
The fourth month has seen me begin to play the trumpet again. While the buzzing feels great something about putting the horn to my face feels strange and uncomfortable. I feel this discomfort must be overcome before I can move on. I feel slight pulling of my muscles and an unfamiliarity with the mouthpiece once it is on the horn. I am keeping it low and slow. Not going higher than a second line G. I use the first exercise in Shuebruk, Stamp, and the Schlossberg exercise in fifths.
Here is where I am today. In the early stages of reacquainting myself to my trumpet. Thirty years of playing trumpet has led me to acquire a great deal of knowledge but I/WE must remember that trumpet is a physical instrument and the knowledge (at this time) only serves to rehabilitate. I equate this to an astronaut going to space for, say 8 months, tearing his ACL and coming back to Earth and having to deal with recovery from a reconstructive surgery, re-learning to walk (due to atrophy), and rehabbing the knee. There is a lot the mind and body have to deal with.
