TEACHING TRUMPET EMBOUCHURE TO BEGINNERS: A HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION APPROACH

The paper views music education challenges caused by the lack of attention to trumpet beginners' health promotion and prevention approach. The questions of orthodontics, temporomandibular disorders, cardiovascular dysfunction, muscle dystonia, and the larynx work are touched upon. The relevance of using additional vocal tract adjustments is argued. A special attention is paid to the mouthpiece placement. It is noticed that body and arm control reduces muscle injuries when players are touching the mouthpiece with their lips. Some ways and advantages of combining trumpet playing with regular physical and meditative exercises to reduce stress and increase efficiency are considered. A number of techniques for proper posture, breathing, stamina, flexibility, concentration, reducing of muscle tension, and breath and movement synchronization are presented. It is marked that brass students should be taught self-control skills to be physically and psychologically well-balanced. A conclusion is made that the timely health promotion and prevention approach to a beginner trumpet student's training requires teachers to be aware of psychophysiological basics of brass playing and maintain consistently the professional interest for it.