Thanks for the advice! I feel like I was working towards something that was feeling better, and I think it was what you said - take a big breath right before and think of it rhythmically. Some professional trombone guy does a video about breathing and note attacks and mentions you want to inhale and exhale immediately in a constant, flowing cycle. If you tense up and hold your air in before playing, you will probably stutter on your first note due to the tension you initiated. Thanks for the input. One of the few regrets I have is not playing the french horn - it's my favorite instrument sound-wise.