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trmpt_plyr Regular Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Posts: 14
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject: Special Method of playing high notes |
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Is there a special method for playing high notes? I have a teacher who says that there is, and he wants me to stop playing all music and exercises and do nothing but slurs all day long. I feel like it's kind of necessary... what does everyone else think? |
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GenoValet Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 1244
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Usnbratt Veteran Member
Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 193 Location: Portsmouth, RI
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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I got caught up in the high note thing, and I'm still paying for it in my senior year of college. Don't get wound up in playing high notes, it can slow you down in developing the skills and habits that will make you a much better player in the long run. _________________ Yamaha 8335LA/ Selmer Paris Radial
Larsen C Trumpet
Marc Shew 1
Austin Custom Brass 3C
University of Rhode Island 11'
Assistant Band Director, East Providence High School
-Ed |
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oxleyk Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 4180
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Just put the horn down and visualize in your mind playing high notes. That's all you really need.
Kent |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8920 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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To the OP, I assume that the teacher you refer to is your band teacher and not an experienced trumpet teacher. While opinions vary, most would agree that the only good way to a better upper register is through careful practice with an experienced trumpet teacher. Without a good instructor and daily routine odds are good that you will flail, develop bad habits and wind up totally frustrated. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart |
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swingintrpt Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 1889 Location: Orange County
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: Special Method of playing high notes |
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trmpt_plyr wrote: | Is there a special method for playing high notes? I have a teacher who says that there is, and he wants me to stop playing all music and exercises and do nothing but slurs all day long. I feel like it's kind of necessary... what does everyone else think? |
I think you either misunderstood your teacher's instructions, or you need another teacher. _________________ RJM
Examining the difference between
music and Music. |
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holeypants Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 996
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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There's nothing wrong with focusing on improving your high range, if that's your favorite part of playing the trumpet. But to neglect everything else is unwise. A great high register is a function of being in great shape on the horn. _________________ Jonathan Vieker
The Lip Rip Blues
My ongoing recovery from a torn lip muscle, updated regularly!
Last edited by holeypants on Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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EdMann Heavyweight Member
Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 2481 Location: The Big Valley
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Right on, Charles. It's like watching a movie and fast forwarding to the explosions. There is so much more to playing than this ridiculous focus on the high register. I can't tell you how much time I wasted, both in school and now as a middle aged comebacker with three years under my belt fooling around upstairs in the "attic." It's ok to clean out the cobwebs a bit, but don't try to make it a living room.
Ed |
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Billy B Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 6130 Location: Des Moines
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: Special Method of playing high notes |
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trmpt_plyr wrote: | Is there a special method for playing high notes? I have a teacher who says that there is, and he wants me to stop playing all music and exercises and do nothing but slurs all day long. I feel like it's kind of necessary... what does everyone else think? |
Are you sure this is what your teacher said? I think you had better ask just to make sure. _________________ Bill Bergren |
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cb3 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 853 Location: LA
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:52 pm Post subject: ok |
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You can get the answer to your first question here http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6 _________________ Trumpets:
Martin Committee
Harrelson Summit
Bach Strad/Harrelson Conv.
Getzen Severinsen
Conn 8B (4-sale)
Martin Committee/Imperial (4-sale)
Olds Studio/(4-sale)
Flugelhorn:
Yamaha 231S Flugel |
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lucky_taino13 New Member
Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Anchorage Alaska
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:52 pm Post subject: Helping you out on your upper register |
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I also got cought up on my upper register and thought all I needed was a new mouthpiece every few days and so I found out that wasnt the case. A good way to get up there is to really work on core breathing and being able to go from lower pedal tones to your highest note possible. This doesnt work for everyone but I did it as a warm up and after awhile I saw an improvement in my intonation and how solid my notes where coming out. |
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gbdeamer Heavyweight Member
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 2303
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 9:31 am Post subject: Re: Special Method of playing high notes |
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trmpt_plyr wrote: | Is there a special method for playing high notes? |
I guess that depends on what you consider a "high" note. Anything from low C (c below the staff) to high C (C above the staff) does not require "special" methods. There are many that would argue that you don't even need anything special to double C and beyond...
trmpt_plyr wrote: | I have a teacher who says that there is, and he wants me to stop playing all music and exercises and do nothing but slurs all day long. |
You either heard him wrong or you need to find another teacher... |
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deleted_user_fdb91a0 New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:29 am Post subject: |
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Lip slurs won't give you high notes.
Great embouchure technique will give you high notes (and everything else, too). |
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silverhorn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 681
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:25 am Post subject: |
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drewwilkie86 wrote: | Lip slurs won't give you high notes.
Great embouchure technique will give you high notes (and everything else, too). |
i agree. lips slurs will definitely improve your flexibility but won't necessarily give you high notes. |
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BobList Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 1104 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Lip slurs can help the high regester develop because you can't slur if too tense and tight, so this will help your high range as far as EASE of playing, and getting a good full sound up there. It gets you to relax in the upper regester. Anybody with a decent set of chops can "ska-weee" all day long, but to sound musical up high, ( Like Severensen) flexies will help.
To get expanded range?.. Not sure if flexibilities do that for ya. I couldn't say for sure. But lip slurs in the extreme upper limits makes it sound better.
Bobby List _________________ http://www.JMB-MUSIC.COM
http://gregblackmouthpieces.com/personal.htm |
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John Mohan Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 Nov 2001 Posts: 9830 Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Ah, another misinformed teacher misleading a student....
As Claude Gordon said: "High notes are inevitable. They'll develop right along with the rest of the machine with proper practice and development."
Any method that seeks to do nothing but improve the upper register does so (if it does so, which it probably doesn't) at a cost of the lack of development in all the other neccessary and perhaps more important aspects of playing.
Find a new teacher, preferably one who studied with Claude Gordon.
Sincerely,
John Mohan
http://mattgraves.netfirms.com/john_mohan.htm _________________ Trumpet Player, Clinician & Teacher
1st Trpt for Cats, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Evita, Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Grease, The Producers, Addams Family, In the Heights, etc.
Ex LA Studio Musician
16 Year Claude Gordon Student |
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Pete Anderson Veteran Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 489 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: Special Method of playing high notes |
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gbdeamer wrote: | There are many that would argue that you don't even need anything special to double C and beyond... |
You definitely don't need anything special to play a double C. If everything else in your embouchure is working, the high notes will be there. It's just a question of practicing properly and practicing enough (and, perhaps just as important, resting enough...). If your embouchure is not efficient, all the lip slurs in the world won't save you.
But I don't think we should be second guessing his teacher, who actually sees and hears him play. |
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LeeC Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 5730
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Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:43 am Post subject: |
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All the high note systems I know of are flawed. Most seriously flawed. As well as most/all methods discussing embouchure and air movement.
None of them have much of a clue as to the physics of the game. thus they are similar to witchcraft. Would you go to a doctor who prescribed leeches and prayer as a major course of his treatment? Well then you understand my thoughts on pretty much all the publications I've seen.
The good news is that most trumpet players don't have even a solid usable high C. Thus if the original poster were to practice his sight reading and develop that range he'd be well ahead of the game compared to most.
Even the Double C is well over emphasized. In the past forty years I've seen precisely one written for a public performance for profit. And the lead singer requested that we didn't play it. Didn't want us over shining his star.
A lead player with a reliable High F who plays in tune and in time? All he needs to do is act professionally and hope the local market needs trumpet players. |
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BobList Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 1104 Location: Baltimore, MD
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LeeC Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 5730
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Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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BobList wrote: | Actually, I've used Leeches in the past to help my trumpet playing. Most of you guys on here just call them "Booking Agents".
Bob |
In addition to booking agents please include nightclub owners bandleaders, live in girlfriends and current and ex-wives.
We'll give a free pass to 'chair fillers'* for now but maybe not for long.
* "Chair filler" being a brass player who fills a seat but makes only a minimal, limited contribution to the ensemble. Less common outside of community bands (where nearly half the band may contain this species). In professional circles it is generally some kind of connected good ol boy whom the locals can't really get rid of lest he cause trouble.
The kind of cat who may own the rehearsal studio or P/A system but can't play for beans. |
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