Who's Full of IT?

[Dale Proctor]

Looking through the "High Range Development" forum, it appears that a vast majority of players are not only capable of hitting notes to double high C and beyond, but regularly perform in this range. Do you believe this, or do you think some of the posters are "full of it"?
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"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[ustacouldplay]

I think probably everyone exaggerates at least a little but I only think about 50% of the people on here are completely FOS.
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John Ford's next stop:

[deleted_user_c11c97e]

http://www.eclipsetrumpets.com/d.mp3
Judge for yourself.

[blasticore]

I say 50%. I think a lot of the people talking about the stuff are a little hazy on the definition of being able to perform a note, and that's what'll cause some speculation as to (and I sigh even saying this phrase) how high they can play.
I hardly ever use the high range forum myself, but I can imagine the BS that must fly around within its walls.
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Chris King
http://www.cktrumpet.com
http://www.ckbrassworks.com

[deleted_user_c11c97e]

The purpose of that forum, I believe is to learn how to play high. Sure, you have to sift through the crap to find gold...

[DaveH]

IMHO...and based on years of personal experience and observation...and the "words of wisdom" of people I have known personally who are qualified to comment, and not on Internet "conversation."

I would say at the very least 75%. Probably more.

Again, I am guessing.

But, I am convinced, again based on my opening paragraph, that playing in the extreme high register is not a common and readily accessible performance attribute.

When I say playing, I mean exactly that. NOT someone who accidentally gets lucky and somehow squeaks out a double high C at the risk of their head exploding and their eyeballs falling out; but plays it with reasonable ease, good tone, good intonation, and with a level of consistency that allows one to say that the tones in the extreme high register actually can be produced at any time, on demand, with confidence, in performance, and with a sound that is musically and auditorily excellent.

Given the total number of people who claim to play the trumpet, I think the abilities and skills I have mentioned are generally to be found among the minority of players.

I am also convinced that certain players have physical make-ups that greatly FACILITATE this kind of playing. I think that certain dental, lip, and facial structures will either help or hinder this kind of playing. And, that doing it doesn't come overnight, but takes years of dedicated work, along with good instruction supervising the techniques needed to actually play in that range.

Again, it is my opinion...FWIW...

[Dale Proctor]

DaveH, I agree with you completely. I've squeeked out a couple of double high C's in my life, but I wouldn't claim I could PLAY in that range. People who can consistently play musically in the extreme high register are probably in the upper 5th percentile or smaller. I'd say my usable, consistent range on a Bb trumpet ends with an E above high C (if I'm in good shape practice-wise), and that's only if I'm fresh.

Now, who thinks I'm full of it?
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"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[DaveH]

Not me...I think you are describing what is the general reality- give or take a note or two - for a very large amount; perhaps even most, excellent trumpet players in general.

[Ben17]

I know this kind of goes against the original question. But I would like to think that with a strict practice routine I can get the double C, and use it on a regular basis. I mean, I've already got the doulbe G, what's to stop me from more? A few years ago I was only at a high G, and at 18 I have a double G. While there are tons of kids my age or slightly older that just blow my existence away with awesome capabilties, like Andrew Fowler, I'd still like to think I can improve my range. Maybe your right, and maybe I will plateau. I don't expect to go much beyond a double C, just enough to make that note work. O yeah, and I do think many posters there are full of it.

[old geezer]

Hey Gary - - thanks alot, I played that sound clip and dogs all over my neighborhood started howling. haha old geezer Dave
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[dbacon]

[Ben17]

Thanks Dave, I'll definetley remember that once I get back in to the swing of things this school year.

[davidk]

[trumpetmike]

I would suggest that the answers apply to much of the "knowledge" that can be found on just about every forum. There will be "players" who claim mastery of certain aspects of playing, if not every aspect of playing - the number of those people who can actually do half of what they claim is probably not too high.

There are certain people on TH that I know can do what they say (from personal, first hand experience), there are those that I believe can do it (through reputation and what they say) and there are those who are full of it. This goes for more than just who can play double c.

[ustacouldplay]

I got a new perspective from a guy who joined a group I'm in that plays everything from swing to rock to Sousa. He was telling me how he played the "scream chair" or whatever you wanna call it in a band in college. He said basically he would lay out until he had a dubba' note here then a dubba' note there. I'm like, man, if all I had to do was rest up and hit about 40 notes a night, I could probably claim to "own" the notes, too. It's the 2,673 notes in between that kill me.
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John Ford's next stop:

[gio trumpeter]

Most are lying.... i for one am not I provided video

but a lot are over exaggerating

[blasticore]

[mafields627]

Sometimes the high-note parts aren't the "lead", or first book, part.
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--Matt--

No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher!

[cjdjazztpt]

Being able to play a note when just warming up is one thing...playing that note at the end of the night is another. You own the note when you can hit it 8 or 9 times out of 10. (1 or 2 miss(es) for human error)

Sqeaking a double C doesnt mean you can hit the note. Hitting the Dubba C with power and control 9 times out of 10 means you own the note. There was a discussion about this in another forum and a guy posted that he can hit double C but at the end of a gig his range is right at high D. Thats 5 whole steps. So to me that guy owns a high D and nothing above because thats the note he can RELY on at the end of his gig. To me range should only decrease a step (or two) by the end of the night. Nice clip Gary. Short and SWEET.

[Dale Proctor]

Right, and this poll is not intended to insult those few who do OWN those notes in the stratosphere. You guys (and you know who you are) who have mastered this and can still produce a pleasing tone in the normal range have my utmost respect - I'm not worthy to carry your cup mute!

You other posers (and you know who YOU are, too) will eventually brag yourselves into an embarassing performance situation. I've had experience with far more mediocre players who talked a good talk than I have with good players who could back it up (come to think of it, most good players don't lie about their abilities - they're usually humble). Have fun.
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"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham