Sometimes a note comes out, sometimes a note doesn't?

[afehler]

Hi everyone,

I hope this is the right place to ask a question about this. I've only been playing the trumpet for about a year now. Tomorrow is my band's placement test and quite frankly, I'm a bit nervous. Up until now my tone has been alright, not great but not awful, but lately (since about the past five practices) my trumpet's gone awry. I can play up to a high B only but I can only get to a high G (last space on the staff) at a stable level. I know that I can play those notes because I have. The notes used to come out easily. But for the past five practices, I've noticed that I'll play a song and this note here won't come out -- just air. It's not that particular note either because I'll be able to play it the next measure but not the next note. It's just a load of air. If anything, I feel like that began ever since I oiled my valves. I noticed that the old valve oil that I used was... gross. It had floaties in it so I chucked it away but I'm wondering if the oil could be causing problems? I've checked to make sure I have the right corresponding valves in their places and I've turned the tops to make sure they're aligned.

Please help! Thank you so much.

-D

[JetJaguar]

do you have access to another trumpet to try, to eliminate equipment issues?

ruling that out, it will likely be temporary stiffness that will go away shortly.

[connicalman]

To play high, think low. Same advice for vocalists as for brass players.

My guess it that your throat is getting closed off due to concentration & nervous energy. Or you may benefit from thinking ..eee.. and raising the mid part of your tongue a bit for the higher notes.

Welcome & good luck.
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[afehler]

Thank you for both your responses!

jetjaguar: Unfortunately, no. I hope this problem will go away quickly!
connicalman: That could actually very much be it. Sometimes when I play, my throat hurts. It's not the scratchy sort of pain but a feeling like it's blocked. Thank you for the idea!

[VetPsychWars]

When's the last time you cleaned your horn?

Tom
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[Nos Mo King]

Tom is right..snake out the leadpipe and your tuning slide. Check your water keys and make sure the cork is still in place and sealing the air.

Do you have a teacher who can play your horn and make sure the valves are in place and seated properly and that the horn is ok?





You will get there. Sounds like you are on your way!
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Russ Chapman




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[HornnOOb]

Been there done that.

1. You may have worn your chops down / playing too much in prep. for this band thing. Take a full day off and rest your chops.

2. Clean your horn.

3. When horn's dry, trickle some valve oil down your lead pipe and blow some scales - blow the oil through the tubes then expell remainder.

Practice some high notes playing very softly. Don't over-practice high notes. Play them until you first notice it cliping and stop, rest on move on to other exercises. Also, try alternating from practicing a few high notes, rest, then play some lower register notes.
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[afehler]

VetPsychWars/Tom: I did a full thorough clean down of my trumpet about a month ago. How regularly should I clean it? And by cleaning, I soaked it in lukewarm water for a bit and ran the cleaning snake through the pipes, cleaned out the inside of the valves, and cleaned my mouthpiece.

Nos Mo King: I cleaned out the tuning slide and leadpipe but I still sound like pure air on some notes. I don't take private lessons or anything but perhaps I'll ask my band teacher tomorrow.

HornnOOb: I think your first suggestion could be possible. I didn't practice for the past two days though because my instrument was at school but I do feel that my lips get weak/air goes out through my lips out my horn.



Also, I noticed that I play my trumpet off-center of my lips. I place them on the right side of my lips when I play. I tried playing in the center but my tone and range gets much worse. Is it alright to play off-center or should I work on centering it?

Thank you everyone for all your responses!!

[Trptca]

I think you really need to get a private teacher for a few lessons. Your trial and error approach is a great tactic but it can take FOREVER sometimes to make things work. Much better to plunk down 50$ and get the answers you need today (hopefully) as opposed to practicing for 2 months to get the same answer.

[VetPsychWars]

[JetJaguar]

just take the tuning slide out and look down the leadpipe. It should be circular, not a Rorschack ink blot.

[Nos Mo King]

Take your slide out and cover one end with your finger. Then blow on the other end (or suck if the slide is clean). You should have a tight seal with no air leaking out the slide.

If you have a water key on your 3rd slide do the same experiment.

If you have air leaking you will need to find the leak and correct the problem. Likely the leak is at the spit valve.

If no leak then you just need some time to let the lip learn to respond to the air. Patience...it will happen.

good luck with your auditions.

rc
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Russ Chapman




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[Wilktone]

Hi, afehler.

Remember that we haven't watched you play, so none of us really know for sure what's causing your problems. If you can hook up with a private teacher, that's usually the best way to go.

[Nos Mo King]

afehler....



How did the placements go?



All the best,


rc
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Russ Chapman




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