A most instructive embouchure & high range video.

[Lionel]

This truly is the most instructive video on embouchure and high notes that I know of. It's finally on Youtube. I try to watch it myself at least once a month and have directed my students to view it regularly too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkpiO9ThrxQ&feature=emb_logo

This is purely a talk given by Dr William Moriarty back in 2005. Is his only video actually on the ''Roy Stevens Tribute Page''. Yet there are numerous other instructive videos done by Roy Roman. OMG you should hear Roman blow! In his band performances (sorry, not shown) he's a lot like Maynard was from his younger days. It was unfortunate to learn that Roy Roman has recently retired from playing. This I heard from a conversation with Dr. Moriarty a year ago. I was fortunate enough to gain his phone number through a respected contact. Hey, to my mind Moriarty is a living ''Trumpet God''. At least in terms of instruction.

Here follows the page where Bill's video comes from. See: http://www.roystevens.org/?page_id=12

His is found by scrolling all the way down. You ought to watch the remainder of the videos done by Roy Roman too. Good luck and ask me for my thoughts if you feel like it. Let us hope that this generates some discussion back and forth here.

Just as a side note, I began the total conversion to the described embouchure method about thirteen months ago, and let me tell you, the high notes are REALLY coming in. I've never played high notes so easily before. Sad when you think that it took me well over fifty years to ''find the key''. I pray that you'll avoid the long struggle that I've gone through.

Cheers!
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[daniel76309]

Thanks for posting this! I watched all the videos, and have been trying the recommended exercises for a few days. It is too soon to say too much about it but it really seems to be making a difference. Doing the minimal pressure squeaking of high notes really works the orbicularis oris muscles. I can really feel the burn after just a minute or so, so have been trying to do this for a short time multiple times during the day. I am a "competent amateur" euphonium player, trying to also play flugelhorn. I don't need a double high C, but a solid and reliable high C above the staff would be nice.

[HERMOKIWI]

The Roy Roman videos are excellent explanations of the principles of high range. They are very instructive not only regarding technique but also regarding the concept that a strong high register is a function of the uninterrupted airstream applied to the correct positioning of the embouchure (which includes jaw position, tooth position (gap between the upper and lower teeth) muscular position and relative lip position) and does not require super human muscle strength. Yes, there is muscularity involved but nothing even close to what many players perceive is necessary.

What is not explained in the videos is the specific movement of the relative lip positioning to effectuate the changing pitch (although the general principles of the foundational setting and the muscles involved are identified and explained). In all fairness, it would be extremely difficult to explain the specifics of the movements because the movements are very tiny and there is a knack and feel to getting it correct that can take a long time to perfect through training and coordinating the muscles to produce the desired result. The central point, however is clear: Correct movement does not cut off or compromise the air stream while incorrect movement does cut off or compromise the air stream.

No doubt there are some players that simply can't do it the way the video describes because their physiology is inconsistent with the set up being described. However, I suspect that most players can form the foundational setting described.

If you're serious about high range development it will benefit you to watch the Roy Roman videos and think about the concepts he explains and demonstrates.
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HERMOKIWI

[Rapier232]

Interesting and makes more sense than the Tim Morrison video. He says the aperture should remain the same, just increase the air speed to go higher and open the aperture to play louder. That doesn’t make sense to me.
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[BChamberlain]

[HERMOKIWI]

[JayKosta]

[Rapier232]

[gtromble]

[steve0930]

Hello chaps

Hermokiwi wrote

[HERMOKIWI]

[Lionel]

I'm always hesitant to criticize great players. Simply because I know how hard they work even with the superior natural ability that they possess. Heck even if you have a Double C during your first month of playing the horn it still takes a helluva lot of work to polish and develop one's technique.

Having stated that? I'm also certain that most of the powerful high note trumpet players can only really offer you the inspiration to learn to excel such as they've done. As they can not teach what they don't understand. And if they never struggled? Then they simply haven't a clue as to what you & I went through. Also, the concept of ''faster air'' is old school and not based in science.

Me? I'm about fifteen months into starting the Stevens System*. This is long enough to really observe some fantastic development. However it's not quite long enough to display professional results. Except in isolated instances. And this is true of any method you may attempt. I don't care what system that you employ. If you're only in your second year on it you're not gonna play like Doc Severinsen. However, I also believe that the principles found in Stevens-Costello will produce the quickest improvement for anyone who gives it a sincere try. Granted that some cats will need to modify the system as I've needed to do.

But just to give the gallery a clue as to my progress? Tonight I started warming up and about one minute into it I performed a G major arpeggio ALL THE WAY UP TO G OVER DOUBLE C!!! While this isn't quite the Triple C as promised in Stevens-Costello? Heck, it's pretty damned close. And no doubt but as my new embouchure develops and gells the Triple C and higher will arrive. Also, if I never played a note higher than what I'm capable of presently? It wouldn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I've never felt happier. .


*Have made some significant changes in what Roy Stevens described so I'd say that what I'm doing is a combination of Stevens-Costello and my own ideas.
_________________
"Check me if I'm wrong Sandy but if I kill all the golfers they're gonna lock me up & throw away the key"!

Carl Spackler (aka Bill Murray, 1980).

[steve0930]

Hi again

Hermokiwi - thanks for your reply - this helped a lot

[gtromble]

[Lionel]

[steve0930]

Hi Lionel
Motivating post from you Sir and 5 minutes after reading it I bought
Embouchure Self-Analysis The Stevens-Costello Embouchure Technique on amazon. This is only the 4th book I have bought after The Arban, Trumpeting by Nature Pocius, and Jeff Smiley's Balanced Embouchure (BE) If this book gives me 10% of what BE continues to give I will be well happy. At 57years i am still so very young as trumpet player (1566 days) so I for one very motivated for any tips from seasoned pros like yourself.. keep them coming cheers steve
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[Seymor B Fudd]

Lionel!
I think that you are right on the spot! Grit, true grit is the significant variable!How come some of us stay at home whilst some of us sail beyond the horizon, at many times not knowing why and where (like old Columbus, he sailed out not knowing where he would end up or what to find, arrived at a place he did not know where it was and sailed back not knowing where he had been). But he sailed!
Some of us practice 10000 hours! But why? Well, who am I to know?
I´ve practiced quite a lot throughout life(and was helped a lot when I finally took lessons)striving towards, yes what? And, will I know if I have arrived? How to define the goal? Look - how about sounding like Jim Wilt (Mr Clean)? Being able to sing through your horn without any apparent limitations? Tempting! But why?
Life and trumpet playing are projects. They should never come to en end. Or?? Practicing every day in spite of Corona? Yes! See you at the end of the tunnel!
Better stop before I drown myself in Quantum physics (making it possible to be at several places/goals at the same time).
However keep on walking....these horns are made for playing!
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