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ZardiChar Regular Member
Joined: 30 Sep 2017 Posts: 14
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 7:25 pm Post subject: Guilty Fracker above the staff, help needed |
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Hello, High Schooler here. Since Monday I’ve been responsible for multiple fracks within my section. (the day I write of this is Friday). As I am the 1st Trumpet Player in Big Band, I started fracking notes on very specific measures. Other than attacks and long tones with the sustained note, what else can I do to improve and frack less? |
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starkadder Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 542
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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Learn to play sax? |
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JoseLindE4 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 791
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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Make sure you can sing everything you play accurately and in tune. Pre-hear everything. |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 7080 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Take private lessons. And practice, a LOT.
Seriously.
It’s a perfectly valid question to ask on a trumpet forum, but the internet is not a substitution for everything, this is something (among MANY others) you need a private teacher to help you with.
Brad _________________ When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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Robert P Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2595
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:42 pm Post subject: Re: Guilty Fracker above the staff, help needed |
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ZardiChar wrote: | Hello, High Schooler here. Since Monday I’ve been responsible for multiple fracks within my section.
...what else can I do to improve and frack less? |
In part, the answer is - welcome to the trumpet!
This is something you'll be contending with as long as you play - you'll hear the best players who ever picked up the instrument play imperfect notes. The goal is to bring it to a minimum.
On the positive side - the horn never changes. There might be some subtle issues of variation from cold to warm but the physics of the instrument are unvarying - if you meet the requirements of physics to play the notes, the horn will respond exactly the same every time.
The problem is that the conglomeration of tissue, muscle, teeth, nerves and mind that is *you* is quite variable. If you nail a note cleanly one time but splatter it another time, it's something you did differently and it doesn't have to be a lot different. You may feel like you did it exactly the same but you didn't.
Your goal is to make yourself as consistent as possible through practice and awareness. _________________ Getzen Eterna Severinsen
King Silver Flair
Besson 1000
Bundy
Chinese C
Getzen Eterna Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Rotary Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Flugel |
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brassmusician Veteran Member
Joined: 25 Feb 2016 Posts: 273
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 12:27 am Post subject: |
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If you made it to first chair in the big band you have to be a good player who this doesn't normally happen to, right? What is different this week? There are a range of factors that might cause an episode of fracking. Could it be stiffness in your chops from too much playing which might be helped by soft chromatics eg. Clarke Technical Studies to improve response. Have your lips become dry or a bit swollen? Have you started using a bit too much pressure because the music is more demanding or your chops are a bit tired this week. How is your timing in the phrases you are fracking, sometimes trouble with rhythm can cause it? and don't discount psychological factors eg nerves. Whatever, this week will pass and it is very likely the next will be better. Good luck. _________________ Cannonball 789RL
Yamaha 635ST
Yamaha 16C4
Wick 2BFL |
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Seymor B Fudd Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2015 Posts: 1468 Location: Sweden
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 2:55 am Post subject: |
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brassmusician wrote: | If you made it to first chair in the big band you have to be a good player who this doesn't normally happen to, right? What is different this week? There are a range of factors that might cause an episode of fracking. Could it be stiffness in your chops from too much playing which might be helped by soft chromatics eg. Clarke Technical Studies to improve response. Have your lips become dry or a bit swollen? Have you started using a bit too much pressure because the music is more demanding or your chops are a bit tired this week. How is your timing in the phrases you are fracking, sometimes trouble with rhythm can cause it? and don't discount psychological factors eg nerves. Whatever, this week will pass and it is very likely the next will be better. Good luck. |
+1!
Ever present danger of overusing ones chops - particularly when one´s challenged by "incoming" concerts.
However just resting doesn´t work - striving for tensionless playing (by the way "Pops Mc Laughlin has a paper about that) is one way. Very carefully blown double pedals has helped me relax - chops getting rejuvenated. But that´s personal may not fit all chops.
Be gentle to your lips! _________________ Cornets:
Getzen Custom Series Schilke 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974) |
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trumpetherald System Administrator
Joined: 25 Oct 2001 Posts: 1494 Location: USA
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 6:40 am Post subject: |
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First of all, clamming some high notes is part of playing trumpet. It's a bit of a high-wire act, so don't feel like it's just you.
Obviously I've never heard you play, but I'll share one bit of information that may help and is pretty widely accepted among fine players that I have known.
Practice entrances on high notes with minimal preparation. Meaning, don't push the mouthpiece onto your face before the air starts moving out. Don't stop the air between the inhale and the exhale. Attacking the note should be one fluid motion beginning with the inhale. Train yourself to inhale with the mpc near the lip where you play, then immediately release the air without pausing to compress the air. It may or may not feel weird to do this at first, and it may even cause more clams for awhile. Your embouchure can set itself very quickly with training, work on this for a few weeks and your accuracy will likely improve. A famous teacher from a long time ago, James Stamp, called this a "most important point in my teaching." Also: "what pressure is needed is added after the breath."
However, the guidance of a qualified teacher sitting next to you is most important.
Good luck! |
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dstdenis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 2123 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 7:35 am Post subject: |
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I find arpeggio exercises are really helpful for improving accuracy. Things like Arban pp. 142-151, Franquin 92-94. Franquin also has lots of interval studies that are like target practice--great for working on accuracy.
You can also improve accuracy by following the Mitchell books approach to practicing exercises: play an exercise once, rest, then play it again, rest, then play it one last time. As you're resting, think about specific things you want to do better on the next iteration, whether it's accurate note placement, rhythm, intonation, clarity of articulation or whatever. Multiple reps with focus on specific issues will improve your consistency and accuracy. _________________ Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi |
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Andy Del Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 2662 Location: sunny Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:22 am Post subject: |
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So far, there has been some great advice, but only 1 piece of that advice is going to be accurate, this is because not one person here has seen and heard you play.
That advice is get private lessons from the very best teacher you can afford. There is no other way. The reason for this is, as good as the direct practical advice is, it is GUESSING as to the reason why you are splitting notes and what may be a solution for you.
The ball is in your court.
cheers
Andy _________________ so many horns, so few good notes... |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 7080 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:55 am Post subject: |
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Andy Del wrote: | So far, there has been some great advice, but only 1 piece of that advice is going to be accurate, this is because not one person here has seen and heard you play.
That advice is get private lessons from the very best teacher you can afford. There is no other way. The reason for this is, as good as the direct practical advice is, it is GUESSING as to the reason why you are splitting notes and what may be a solution for you.
The ball is in your court.
cheers
Andy |
This.
As great as the internet is as a source of information and knowledge (and sometimes lack thereof), it’s not a substitute for the old tried and true solutions, ie, private lessons.
Asking here is fine, but if the OP REALLY wants answers.... lessons.
Brad _________________ When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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