Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 12:11 pm Post subject: Augie Haas - Build Your Range
I just bought the book "Build Your Range" by Augie Haas. I learned about it from Northwest trumpeter Jared Hall and I just had to buy it. It's a fun and musical approach to upper register playing and it's shown quick results for me.
I've never been a strong high note player. I've worked through some other approaches (Maggio, Stamp, etc.) and find most exercises to be tedious and severely lacking in musicality, making practical application nearly impossible. This book doesn't have any mind blowing exercises. In fact, they are all very practical. The genius in this book is how the information is presented, it's variety, and the clever play-along accompaniment. In the past I've found it easy to be distracted by the physicality of high note playing. With the play-along tracks I become grounded in the music and I'm able to focus more on my breath and how my sound blends with the "band." Upon first listen, you might find the backing tracks to be a little cheesy but the band is tight and the more you listen the more you'll hear how awesome they are. There's also built-in rest which prevents us from rushing/powering through the exercises.
Here's the link to order the book, should you feel so inclined:
I've worked through some other approaches (Maggio, Stamp, etc.) and find most exercises to be tedious and severely lacking in musicality, making practical application nearly impossible.
I actually use it in conjunction with Stamp, Caruso, etc. I think that some of the studies -- third, fourth, fifth, ... -- are really useful complements to those methods.
I'm no stranger to Caruso either and I do believe that the tried and true approaches are the best way to develop embouchure. I'm only saying that Augie's book has helped me musically. _________________ Kevin
It’s exercises intended to play musically with the play along. The first study is just 2 octave major scales but the harmonic content of the backing track makes it musical. And then there’s built-in rest that increases as you play higher. It’s simple, practical, and accessible. The second study is less fun but it’s an accuracy study. The third study is similar to Clarke 2 but it’s set in the upper register and the harmony of the backing track is a little unexpected.
There’s not a lot of guidance for a physical approach, if that’s what you’re after. But it’s a great book to help you play musically in the upper register and it’s worked well for me. _________________ Kevin
I wish this book had come out sooner. It wasn't until my senior year in college that this wonderful gem was released. I use this book twice a week mainly to keep my high range there. Being a band director doesn't leave me much time to practice, but this at least keeps the lips in shape so when I need to I can play up there.
When I was playing every day, this book had bumped my workable range from an F to a G#. I still can't play above that, but I am happy to report I am absolutely solid on everything up to G#. I can peg the notes, I can slur up to them diatonically or in a skip, etc. I am happy at the open sound this has helped me create. I too have worked out of a few other books the only other one I found some help in was the Maggio book. This one is 10x as beneficial.
I really enjoy this book!
Especially the warm up exercises are really fun to play.
I like the backing tracks. They really make this practice routines to become music. _________________ Kanstul 1537
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Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 903 Location: Bay Area, California
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 5:24 pm Post subject:
I also highly recommend it. Play alongs make a big difference in development and make practicing more relaxed, musical, and enjoyable. This book was my first venture into really tackling upper register, a few years ago.
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9088 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:37 pm Post subject:
What level/practical range should someone have before really taking advantage of it? _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis." Attributed to Chet
What level/practical range should someone have before really taking advantage of it?
Of the 10 range building studies in the book, the first exercise of the first study goes up to a top line F# (and the exercises go progressively higher). The first exercise in the second, third and eighth studies goes up to a G (and the exercises go progressively higher). The first exercise in the other studies goes up to high C.
Thus, I'd say that that book -- as written -- would be most useful for someone who has at LEAST a comfortable A above the staff, and seems more targeted for someone who already has a comfortable high C and is looking beyond that.
Having said that, each of the studies/exercises can easily be modified to start within someone's comfort zone and help them expand from that point.
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9088 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 11:05 am Post subject:
Thanks, folks. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis." Attributed to Chet
Joined: 31 Dec 2015 Posts: 903 Location: Bay Area, California
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 5:34 pm Post subject:
kehaulani wrote:
What level/practical range should someone have before really taking advantage of it?
The exercises go up through the keys very high but don't need to be taken way up there. Even just the warm ups and first 2 studies are very useful played below high C. If you have a high C and feel stuck somewhere around there, you can get a lot out of this book.
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