The Journey from "Musical Purgatory" to Improving the Lives of Brass Musicians feat. Marcus Reynolds

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**This interview was originally published on the Brass Mastery podcast in May 2024.

We welcome to the podcast Marcus Reynolds, who with his Stratos Brass device has provided a beacon of hope for the thousands of brass players across the globe who struggle with embouchure issues.

Like many great triumphs in life, Marcus' journey to becoming a tireless promoter of safer and healthier brass playing began with a tragedy. A major lip injury completely derailed Marcus' successful playing career. In an instant his sole source of income and personal identity was gone.

In this episode, Marcus shares in-depth the painful - both physical and psychological - road to recovery, and how a mysterious "nocturnal hieroglyphic" ultimately became the inspiration for a device that is changing lives for the better. Indeed it is no exaggeration to say that Marcus' tireless efforts have even extended playing careers that once appeared to have reached their end.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode highlights:

-Belief in the mission compels a tireless promotion of the solution for the problem...01:55

-A catastrophic lip injury set Marcus through the extreme depths and heights of human emotion...03:50

-The psychological damage was just as profound as the physical...09:35

-A "nocturnal hieroglyphic" circa 2008 is ultimately the genesis of the Stratos Brass device....11:05

-You become a self-psychologist when your identity is taken away from you...18:10

-Clarifying the "upstream" and "downstream" of air flow...24:40

-Success stories from high-profile musicians who've worked with Marcus and his invention...27:30

-The basic physiology of what's going on with your body when you use the Stratos device...33:00

-How Marcus' personality and self-perception has changed after becoming a quasi-celebrity in the brass world...45:05

-"It's very possible that you've had a greater impact in light of that accident than you ever would have had you stayed perfectly healthy"... 54:50

-Plus whatever your discerning ears deem worthy of your time and interest...

Resources mentioned:

Stratos Brass

Brass Mastery podcast w/ Larry Meregillano

About the Guest:

"I am a brass instrument tutor of over 40 years experience in both the private and local government sectors. As well as general brass teaching, I also specialise in embouchure development and rescue for brass players. Building on my experience as a teacher and professional musician I am also the creator of the unique STRATOS Embouchure System. I am also an author of ‘Range without Resistance’. Stratos Encore Pro is an adaptable and adjustable embouchure system that can be fitted to virtually all brass instruments to help players adapt and improve their embouchure. I have also written a series of articles on the brass embouchure which have been published in Brass Band World, Brass Herald and British Trombone Society Magazine.

As a professional musician I have over 30 years experience of recording music and performing live, both as a lead trombonist and a solo artist. I also have many years experience in the role of musical director for several big bands and brass ensembles. I currently play a Rath R12 trombone which I co-developed with Michael Rath Trombones."