Yeah, I’ve been using one of these things almost every day since I was 8 or 9 years old. Mine was called a Bb trumpet but there are also French horns, trombones, and the real king of resistance-breathing devices, the tuba.
The tuba virtuoso of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Arnold Jacobs, actually built a resistance-breathing device for his students in the 1950’s.
I’ve never tested my BP when playing high notes on the trumpet, but it feels like it goes up quite a bit. Don’t know if this is helping or hurting but it’s still fun after all these years.
I used to play one of those years ago. I ran, did yoga breathing exercises, and I was a much younger man back then.
Now I have COPD, thanks to a chronic condition, and my lung capacity has diminished greatly over the years.
It was fun, I wish I could have stayed with it, but getting married and having a family got in the way.
I have (somewhere) Stan Kenton’s autograph on an album, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Chase, Ed Shaunessey, and Clark Terry’s autographs. Ed Shaunessey and Clark Terry did concerts with our community college jazz band, of which I was a member.
I was blown away by his “cyclical breathing”! ( no pun intended).
Clark Terry and I played the same trumpet, a Selmer Radial 2.
Lots of great memories from almost 50 years ago…🎶🎺
Last year when I had surgery, I had to use a breathing device for a while afterwards, to keep from getting pneumonia. That was painful at first, but if I hadn’t Done it, I would’ve had my lungs fill up for sure.
From grade 4 to grade 10, I practiced trumpet 3 hours every day. My parents sent me to an orthodontist. When the initial brackets were glued on, there was no "wiring" between them. Just naked, sharp metal. I peeled my bloody lip from the brackets. Time for a change. Off to the baritone section for a few weeks (during marching season). I ended up front row, right as the reference guide for everyone behind. One I had a callous built, it was necessary to challenge my way back to first trumpet, first seat.
I did have brief fling with the French horn. A left handed trumpet in the key of F with a too small mouthpiece. Fun, but too damn big to cart home on my bicycle.
I envy you, having the inspiration in your youth to learn music. As I’ve become older, I enjoy more and more listening to the brass especially, it really moves me. I have come to truly enjoy swing, electro-swing, jazz, blues, big band music, etc, but I grew up on rock in the 60s, 70s and 80s…I find that I was born 30 years too late, judging from most of the music I appreciate now. I’m really grateful for the free Spotify app and the people who assemble the playlists there, for making available all the great music.
Kind of like playing bagpipes without the noise (i.e. ‘music’ to the cognoscenti)