Has this happened to you guys before?

redhawktrumpet85

So, I practice a lot every day and I don't miss days unless circumstances out of my control dictate it. I practice smart-resting as much as I play, focusing on sound and sound alone. However, recently, my high range has taken a nose-dive. Toward the end of the school year, my range was about an E or F on good days and D-Eb every day. However, the past 2 weeks I've been struggling to get above high C! Is this just because something is changing in the way I play and my body is in a state of adjustment? To answer the first questions everyone will ask me...my range sounds the same from top to bottom (for the most part...still working through that) and the quality of sound is generally good. Maybe I'm just thinking to much about this and should shut up and pick up my horn for another few hours today, but I just wanted to know if any of you guys have had an experience like this before. Thanks!
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Matt Miller

kevinwoods · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 1:04 pm Post subject:

Matt,

It sounds like what you are descibiing is being physically worn out. Take a couple days off. If you are breathing correctly, it is good to give your Ol' air support muscles a break!! I used to never take days off, then I realized that any athlete that didn't take a regular day off once in a while would be a fool and burn him/herself out. Take two days off, and come back to the horn only focusing on your breathing for the first session. It is easy when you are young to think that days off are bad, but everybody needs rest!!

-Kevin
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Kevin Woods
Director of Jazz Studies
Western Washington University

Billy B · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 1:11 pm Post subject:

It is impossible to diagnose your problem without hearing you play, but I would bet if you listen more carefully you will hear your sound is changing as you approach the high register. Make sure you are listening to good examples, Doc, Bud, Charly Davis, Jussi Bjorling. Check your air with the water bucket and play lots of lyrical etudes that are not too demanding such as your Getchell and the songs in the back of Arban's. You can always give Mr. Adam a call or better yet get back to Bloomington!
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Bill Bergren

redhawktrumpet85 · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 1:39 pm Post subject:

Dang Bill, you really know your stuff!
I just did another session and was listening even more closely, and sure enough my sound changed as I went up...I know usually adjectives don't properly describe what our ears pick up in these cases, but as I got higher, my sound seemed to thin out and became much brighter...like the higher I went, the less bottom there was on the sound. I do need to give Mr. Adam a call...just gotta find a weekend where I can get out there...with my brother graduating the next few weekends are looking pretty bad!
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Matt Miller