37 Weeks to Double High C?

Scout95 · Regular Member Joined: 01 Mar 2015 Posts: 28

I am currently going through Spaulding's 37 Weeks to Double High C and I'm struggling. I am up to day 57 and am supposed to be able to reach high G but can only get to about E. Is this normal? If you have done through the book I am very curious about your experiences.

kehaulani · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 7:18 pm Post subject:

I believe he says go as high in the series of notes as as you can. That you are supposed to do the book several times, so in later iterations, you've got time to expand your range. In other words, you don't have to do everything the first time, do you?
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Scout95 · Regular Member Joined: 01 Mar 2015 Posts: 28

I am unsure, I know the book is meant to be gone through 4 times total so maybe its just going for the notes and more range will develop as it goes on?

MF Fan · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 9:08 am Post subject:

I haven't gone through that book, but can tell you that forcing notes beyond your playable range just because they're printed on the page is a recipe for failure. You'll pick up bad habits that will affect your long-term potential. Commonsense dictates you play an exercise as high as you reasonably can with good sound and moderate effort. Using excessive arm pressure and closing off the throat in an attempt to make more compression are common traps people fall into when doing range building exercises. Building a reliable upper register is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to rethink the approach if you find yourself falling into bad habits for the sake of squeezing out one more note. Playing through the book multiple times, avoiding bad habits will provide the slow steady progress that makes for good long-term development.
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Brad361 · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 11:13 am Post subject:

I used portions of that book in high school, over the course of about 18 months went from a weak D above the staff to a useable G. I really don’t know how much of the range increase was from the material, and how much of the increase was because that was about the time I became a serious student and started practicing three or more hours daily. I will say it certainly did not happen in 37 weeks, but then again, I was just using portions of the book under the direction of my private teacher.

Brad

epoustoufle · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 2:08 pm Post subject:

I have to say, there are embouchures and mechanical issues that will prevent people from reaching even a high C. Those posting on this forum are already a rarified bunch of trumpet players - let's keep it real, guys who can play a high C reliably are already in the upper percentiles.

37 weeks on a defective embouchure will lead you nowhere special. If that is not addressed - and again keeping it real, it's very hard to know if you're in the unlucky camp of players with a decent sounding but defective embouchure - then you will not get your "double C" in 37, 72 or even 370 weeks of excercises.

I'm just posting this here to keep expectations realistic. Yes, probably anyone can probably get a double C range but not by simply following a book of excercies. You need all your mechanics lined up properly first.

falado · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 2:13 pm Post subject:

Hi, some years ago I got a copy of that book and tried it. However, I found something that worked better for me. I had gigs a could not do as he says, no gigs and no other playing. Here’s what I did. Since this method was similar to another method, I got my old copy of Claude Gordon’s Systematic Approach and got a good online teach, Jeff Purtle, and went to work. I found this to be a better approach as you are also using Clark, Colin, Williams, Smith, etc. I found it more a balanced and better approach. This worked for me. I did make some headway with the Spaulding, but something just seemed lacking or missing.
Hope this helps,
Dave
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rufflicks · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 4:14 pm Post subject:

It is not the order of notes or studies. It is learning the technique required to play in the upper register. A qualified teacher is extremely valuable. Here is a play list that might help a bit though it should not replace one on one study.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjtQbOLXI0BB_2bn5GjxlWCYsEM8DDVTH

Best, Jon
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Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2595

I personally regard this

Lionel · Heavyweight Member Joined: 25 Jul 2016 Posts: 783

gabriel127 · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 4:26 am Post subject:

If practicing the routines in that book was really all that is required to become a double-c player, everyone would have a double-c and that book would be as standard as the Arban's.

Brad361 · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:36 pm Post subject:

Scout95 · Regular Member Joined: 01 Mar 2015 Posts: 28

Many of the responses I am reading is that the lack of high range comes from my underdeveloped or improper embouchure. My embouchure is quite consistent and produces a full sound in all registers that I am physically able to play. My question may have been worded to the wrong answer I was looking for. I am wondering if it should be taken as more of your own pace or keep pushing for the high notes even though they are not coming out. Thoughts?

Brad361 · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 4:22 pm Post subject:

MF Fan · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:21 am Post subject:

Oldpipesandchops · New Member Joined: 27 Nov 2017 Posts: 5

kehaulani · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:55 am Post subject:

Back to the book. As I was introduced to it, the exercises, just themselves, were similar to those found in Maggio and Gordon without the time-framed pattern. The exercises, in themselves, are fine.

You already have it, so I would just go ahead and use the exercises but add others from Clarke, Schlossberg and Arban or Franquin or St. Jacome.

But as has been said, it's all for naught if your embouchure and air usage is faulty. I'm living proof of that. All the "right" exercises in the world won't help of you're embouchure is wrong. And don't try to take too much too soon. Play the exercises only up to your comfort level.
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shakuhachi · Veteran Member Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 195

deleted_user_fdb91a0 · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

It does not take 37 weeks to play a double C. Range is not evolutionary.

A book of exercises will not get you there. It requires very little muscle power to play high.

Trying to discover some magical breathing technique will not get you there. It requires very little airflow to play high.

Range is purely a function of efficient embouchure technique, which can be discovered in about 37 seconds.

kehaulani · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:15 am Post subject:

Well, I think "37 Weeks" is just a brilliant marketing catch phrase. After all, we've used it as a mantra for several decades now. While what is said above may be true, it shouldn't be overlooked that this is still a good set of exercises, in and of itself.
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