Upper Register Articulation

CTrumpeter · Regular Member Joined: 22 Feb 2022 Posts: 43

.....

JayKosta · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:31 pm Post subject:

Trying using a little more (or just different) control and adjustment of the rim pressure on your lower lip. No 'embouchure change', only finding if a different distribution of rim pressure (upper / lower) helps.
_________________
method 1: DO it right and right things will HAPPEN
method 2: make the RIGHT THINGS happen
--
See / Think / Adjust / Do
becomes See & Do.

abontrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1283

I'm going to add a little bit of "beginner language" below for people that stumble upon this in the future. I know you're a pro so, long story short, basically do some tongue stops and restarts up there to see if you're changing things when the sound and air is turned "off"

I extrapolated this technique from lesson's with Bob Sullivan and Jim Wilt and their concept of TUHD

1. Ensure you can hold out a note and be able to play it from mp-mf+. Crescendo and decrescendo to check.

2. hold it at a comfortable dynamic (on the softer end of comfortable), then use the tongue to seal the system and stop the sound. Do not "push (like pooping)" when the tongue seals it. You can practice this off the trumpet by blowing, then stopping it with your tongue - notice how you don't force (like pooping) when the tongue stops the air?

3. release the air that you are stopping with the tongue and see how cleanly and quickly the sound begins again. If it doesn't begin cleanly or immediately, then you are changing the position of your lips in the period where the sound stops or you are interrupting the lips with your tongue.

4. Don't focus on the lips, focus on restarting the note cleanly and immediately.

Once you get a hang of it, try changing notes in the "stopped" period. And once you get it, there will be quick improvement in your articulation in general (because I'm sure the problem exists in other parts of your range for the same reason).

CTrumpeter · Regular Member Joined: 22 Feb 2022 Posts: 43

.....

abontrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1283

CTrumpeter · Regular Member Joined: 22 Feb 2022 Posts: 43

.....

Richard III · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:19 am Post subject:

What you are describing is supporting muscle weakness. Each time you tongue, that burst of air pushes a little extra against the supporting muscles, therefore to conquer that, you must do more tonguing in that range. Sounds simple? Start low with double and triple tonguing and work up and down. I love the stuff at the end of St. Jacome and use that regularly.
_________________
Richard

King 2280 Euphonium
Conn 10J Tuba
York Eminence Cornet
Cleveland Toreador Trumpet

Orchtpt95 · New Member Joined: 13 Oct 2019 Posts: 1

The Gekker articulation studies helped me with this same issue. Sort of allowed me to “sneak” into the upper register, carrying the good articulation from the mid register on the way up.

Just_Another_Hack · Regular Member Joined: 27 Feb 2023 Posts: 41 Location: USA

Anchor tonguing is the answer.
_________________
Professional lower-split 3rd clarinet player.

Mr NiceNotes · New Member Joined: 02 Feb 2016 Posts: 5 Location: Belgium

Mr NiceNotes · New Member Joined: 02 Feb 2016 Posts: 5 Location: Belgium

Doug Elliott · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2023 2:40 pm Post subject:

I suggest practicing triple and double tonguing, legato, in all ranges. That helps to identify and solidify the relationship between the articulation motion in the position required to support the note being played. The extreme eeee (hiss) position is difficult to maintain while articulating, but multiple tonguing helps because it keeps your tongue more in the necessary position.