Question 6: I have read some of your material on warm ups and daily routines.  What, if any, benefit does a practise mute lend in daily routines and general practise?

Well, to put it bluntly...........mute practice has NO benefit to daily routines and general practice.

Now, having said that, let me clarify:

If you are an apartment dweller or spend time practicing on the road in hotels (as I've done many, many times) you may not have a choice.

And, if it's a muted passage in the music you're practicing, obviously the benefits are real.

In every other case, forget it. Don't practice into a mute unless absolutely necessary. It will distort your concept of an "open" sound, and will quickly effect the responsiveness of your lips. I've noticed, too, that this kind of practice encourages bad habits with mouthpiece pressure, back pressure in the throat, and am improper manner of buzzing the lips for tone production.

If you are an apartment dweller, etc.........get outside every now and again. Go practice in the park with lots of fresh air. Playing outdoors I find to be incredibly liberating. I highly recommend it! It will almost automatically encourage you to BLOW.

Mutes do the opposite.