In observing tendencies among young players, it’s easy to see the correlation between lack of PRESSURE in the air column and the inability to keep the pitch of any given note steady. A telltale sign of lack of a pressurized air stream is a diffuse sound, without any core. An almost perfect synonym for CORE in the sound in this case would be steadiness of pitch. A great sound, no matter if you play a bright or and dark instrument, is always accompanied by steadiness of pitch. Why? Because both happen naturally when the center of the airstream is highly pressurized (by your body)! More on this next time!