SERAFIN -- Have you ever heard anyone say what my teacher did about pressure? That using pressure can be okay, but it's better coming from the bottom of the horn than the top?

When he played, and was going for the gusto -- which for him was anything above a G -- his left arm posture would change. He'd drop his left elbow in by his body, and visibly wrap his pinky/ring fingers around the bottom of the valves harder. His sound would brighten up a lot, and he was able to grind his way to usable double C, D and sometimes brave enough to use the E in a show -- -- but it would wipe him out pretty fast. (He was in his mid sixties at the time - and he was not Maynard...)