| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
tptLad
Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024
Posts: 38
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:32 am Post subject: Playing Lines in the Upper Register |
 |
|
First post!!!
I am planning on auditioning for lead for my school's jazz band soon (I'm a sophmore). I talked with the director yesterday, and he said that the chair tests will be primarily based on range, specifically "playing lyrically in the upper register." At this point, I can play solidly up to a d above the staff, but tone and accuracy starts to suffer around g top of the staff. Do any of you seasoned players have any tips for how to develop tone, accuracy, and overall beautiful playing above the staff?
Thank you!
_________________
"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
JayKosta
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 3309
Location: Endwell NY USA
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
Learn to use and control rim pressure on the lower lip to ALLOW the upper lip to be capable of vibrating properly.
Have control of your jaw.
I believe that when a player is told to use less rim pressure, what it often really means is to transfer some of the upper lip pressure onto the lower lip.
_________________
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'. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tptLad
Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024
Posts: 38
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| JayKosta wrote: |
Have control of your jaw.
|
Are you referencing vowel shapes?
I'm on a bach 3c piece BTW
_________________
"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JayKosta
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 3309
Location: Endwell NY USA
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| tptLad wrote: | | JayKosta wrote: |
Have control of your jaw.
|
Are you referencing vowel shapes? ... |
---------------------------
no, not regarding vowel shape. Just controlling the position of the jaw and lower teeth so they can contribute to the overall amount and distribution of rim pressure. The goal is to have the lip tissue that is inside the rim not be inhibited from vibrating properly
Vowels, tongue control, rim pressure, lip muscles, air pressure, 'feeling' of air speed, lip resistance, etc., are all important because they help determine how the lips inside the rim operate.
_________________
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'. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Richard III
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 2655
Location: Anacortes, WA
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:48 am Post subject: Re: Playing Lines in the Upper Register |
|
|
| tptLad wrote: | First post!!!
I am planning on auditioning for lead for my school's jazz band soon (I'm a sophmore). I talked with the director yesterday, and he said that the chair tests will be primarily based on range, specifically "playing lyrically in the upper register." At this point, I can play solidly up to a d above the staff, but tone and accuracy starts to suffer around g top of the staff. Do any of you seasoned players have any tips for how to develop tone, accuracy, and overall beautiful playing above the staff?
Thank you! |
Back in the stone age when I was in high school, the lead player had to own the G above high C. Whether that can be obtained quickly is doubtful.
The question for those who have that range, I might ask how long it took to get there if you were in the shoes of the OP.
_________________
Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tptLad
Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024
Posts: 38
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Playing Lines in the Upper Register |
|
|
| Richard III wrote: | | tptLad wrote: | First post!!!
I am planning on auditioning for lead for my school's jazz band soon (I'm a sophmore). I talked with the director yesterday, and he said that the chair tests will be primarily based on range, specifically "playing lyrically in the upper register." At this point, I can play solidly up to a d above the staff, but tone and accuracy starts to suffer around g top of the staff. Do any of you seasoned players have any tips for how to develop tone, accuracy, and overall beautiful playing above the staff?
Thank you! |
Back in the stone age when I was in high school, the lead player had to own the G above high C. Whether that can be obtained quickly is doubtful.
|
We're a tiny little school and they other 2 guys auditioning have about the same range as me (though one of the guys is a little rusty after playing mello for a marching and concert season).
_________________
"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Richard III
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 2655
Location: Anacortes, WA
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 12:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | We're a tiny little school and they other 2 guys auditioning have about the same range as me (though one of the guys is a little rusty after playing mello for a marching and concert season). |
Interesting. So maybe the charts you'll be possibly playing are not that strenuous?
Funny though. When I was that age, the Drum Corps I played mello in had an arranger that pretty much had us playing mostly between high C and the G above. I used to joke that he must have hated us. 
_________________
Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tptLad
Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024
Posts: 38
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 12:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Richard III wrote: | | Quote: | | We're a tiny little school and they other 2 guys auditioning have about the same range as me (though one of the guys is a little rusty after playing mello for a marching and concert season). |
Interesting. So maybe the charts you'll be possibly playing are not that strenuous?
|
Yeah. Mainly because our 3rd and 4th trumpet players will be freshman mello players who have never touched a trumpet in their life
_________________
"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
abontrumpet
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 08 May 2009
Posts: 1784
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: Playing Lines in the Upper Register |
|
|
| tptLad wrote: | | Do any of you seasoned players have any tips for how to develop tone, accuracy, and overall beautiful playing above the staff? |
Joey Tartell always had amazing little nuggets to take home. For high range, get your beginning band book, start at the beginning, and play it up the octave. You're a "beginner" high note player" and the progression in a book like that will take you from "beginner" to "serviceable."
Play it with a great sound and not too loud. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tptLad
Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024
Posts: 38
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Playing Lines in the Upper Register |
|
|
| abontrumpet wrote: |
Joey Tartell always had amazing little nuggets to take home. For high range, get your beginning band book, start at the beginning, and play it up the octave. You're a "beginner" high note player" and the progression in a book like that will take you from "beginner" to "serviceable."
Play it with a great sound and not too loud. |
Thank you so much! I will definitely start working through this when I get home!
_________________
"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
