Pressure Headaches

[WinxonN44]

Hey y'all, I'm a junior in High School, I have a pretty useable range up to high e. My highest note is double a. Lately I've been progressing really fast but every time I play past E I get terrible headaches for a few minutes. I haven't had these since middle school and my question was what causes pressure headaches, and how can I get rid of them? Is it relaxing, too much tension, any thought is much appreciated!

[WinxonN44]

[Doug Elliott]

Too much air pressure, which reduces blood flow to your brain and can cause you to pass out. Something you're doing isn't efficient and you're relying on extreme air pressure, much more than is actually necessary.

[stuartissimo]

Playing the trumpet shouldn’t hurt. If it does, then either there’s a serious flaw in your technique, or there is some underlying physical issue that you may wish to get checked out by a doctor.

That being said, when do the headaches happen? Is it only with high notes? Do you feel you require a lot of force (muscle and/or air) to play? Have you discussed this with your teacher (presuming you have one)?
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1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces

[etc-etc]

I would suggest to contact a doctor and have a general health check.

If the doctor OKs continuing to play the trumpet as usual:
One day at a time, measure and record your blood pressure immediately after:

1) being relaxed (Monday) - baseline;
2) playing low notes (Tuesday);
3) playing in staff (Wednesday);
4) top of the staff to high C (Thursday).

I think it is better to stop before getting into the range above high C.

Usually it is not recommended to do multiple blood pressure measurements in sequence, hence the spacing. If you feel strange playing any of the above, stop, relax, do not continue playing (particularly, higher) and go to the doctor again.

You could also measure the blood pressure once fully woken up every day and then according to schedule. This would give a daily morning baseline in addition to effects of trumpet playing on the blood pressure.

I would also ask for MRI imaging of the cranial area, just in case.

[JayKosta]

[HERMOKIWI]

[Billy B]

https://mmd.iammonline.com/index.php/musmed/article/download/400/273/677
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Bill Bergren

[etc-etc]

[ldwoods]

[etc-etc]

@ldwoods: Thank you for posting the abstract!

For me, it is paywalled out.

[JayKosta]

I've put a copy of the article here -
http://users.hancock.net/jkosta/headache.pdf

I will delete it in a few days, so download a copy if you want to save it.
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Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

[Tivolian]

[etc-etc]

@JayKosta: Thank you!

[Shaft]

Louis Armstrong is rumored to have been told not to play high c or above (possibly anything Bove the staff) by a doctor later in life. I feel as though I heard that from the other Pops, Clint McLaughlin. If anyone has moreon the story perhaps they can mention it.

I completely agree with the above posts citing an issue with technique and backpressure. There really is a wide spectrum of physical work and ensuing pressure that can be employed by people ranging from uber-efficient to downright brute force. If someone is utilizing all of the tricks in their bag to play notes in the staff and perhaps a couple notes higher then by high c that player may be working themselves to their own physical limits.

Good luck and check out lessons outside of school with a competent trumpeter who may be able to look up close at what you are doing.

[Al Innella]

You're over breathing. It's air quality not quantity.

[Billy B]

[Al Innella]

There's too much tension in your whole body. Instead of playing the note you're trying to muscle it. Work on your fundamentals. If you can't play the note at an mezzo forte with control ,then you don't own that note. Don't worry about playing it loud, just play it clean with control. Too much body tension along with over breathing is causing your headaches.

[Billy B]

What is "over breathing"?
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Bill Bergren

[Al Innella]

Over breathing is inhaling more than the required amount of air needed. When accompanied with too much body tension , this usually causes headaches.
I found when I backed off on body tension and not trying to push as much air as is humanly possible trough the horn, I had no more headaches. In other words, don't try so hard.