Many brass players struggle with slurs that feel disconnected or uneven.
Often the problem is not finger technique or embouchure strength...it's the airflow stopping between notes.
In this short lesson segment, Oberlin professor and horn soloist David Byrd-Marrow explains the idea of connected air. Instead of letting the sound drop out between pitches, he demonstrates how a continuous airstream creates smoother, more musical slurs.
He also shares a practical practice method using widening chromatic intervals to strengthen airflow and coordination.
The concept applies across brass playing. Whether you perform on horn, trumpet, trombone, or tuba, learning to maintain consistent air through slurs can dramatically improve tone, flexibility, and control.
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