Quick question

BeanPlayingATrumpet · New Member Joined: 17 Apr 2022 Posts: 5

I have one question. Earlier today I saw a video that said to play higher notes instead of tightening your lips you should breathe faster. I am wondering if this is true and I have been playing it wrong. Thanks in advance.
Fellow forum member,
BeanPlayingATrumpet

kalijah · Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 7:47 pm Post subject:

BeanPlayingATrumpet · New Member Joined: 17 Apr 2022 Posts: 5

Thanks for answering my question.

JayKosta · Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 3:55 am Post subject:

It's not so much 'tightening' your lips - don't stretch them as guitar strings!

The overall lip 'posture' (combination of position, compression, tension, etc.) all have to be adjusted so as to make vibration / pulsation possible at the desired pitch.

For high pitches the lips often need to produce more resistance to air flow, so higher internal air pressure is needed to produce flow and to activate the lips. The sensation of that higher pressure air flow is often felt as 'faster air'.

I think that some of the recommendations about using 'faster air' are made to cause the player to find a way to adjust their lips to produce more resistance - but to still have the lips flexible with a controlled amount of internal air pressure.

The lips HAVE to be ABLE to vibrate / pulsate with air flow.

A typical mistake is using too much rim pressure for high notes - the rim pressure makes the lip UNABLE to vibrate. The 'trick' is to find the lip 'posture' that doesn't have excessive rim pressure. The rim pressure needs to be adjusted and coordinated between the upper and lower lips - using only the upper lip is not effective.
_________________
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'.

starkadder · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 542

I heard a Don Jacobi story, where he was talking about high notes: he pushed the music stand flat and said "those notes are not higher, they are farther away".

Sometimes a change in perception can be helpful.

kalijah · Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 10:02 am Post subject:

Shifty · Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 10:10 am Post subject:

Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2596

kehaulani · Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 10:39 am Post subject:

JayKosta · Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 11:16 am Post subject:

People say a lot of things ... sometimes trying to be precise and accurate, sometimes trying to use an allegory about a difficult to explain item, sometimes trying to be clever. As a listener / reader it is necessary to do more than just understand the words - some interpretation and filtering might be needed.
_________________
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'.

kehaulani · Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 12:00 pm Post subject:

Trumpjerele · Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 12:09 pm Post subject:

"Everything doesn't have to be tangible."

Nor helpful!!
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Notice!!! Amateur musician without formal studies

Trumpet: Yamaha 8310Z
Mouthpiece: the great Yamaha11b4

Sax tenor: Yamaha YTS 23
Mouthpiece: Otto link tone edge