Trumpet - One of the more challenging instruments to play if the trumpeter doesn't have guidance early on in their developmental years. There are a lot of myths, confusion, and misinformation surrounding playing trumpet high notes. I've heard (and have been told) stay away from the high notes because it will wreck your sound, wreck your lip, give you a jazz tone (what ever that is), or will make you lose flexibility and control.

There is nothing further from the truth if the trumpet player approaches trumpet high notes with logic and not impatience. What gets most trumpeters into trouble is either when they venture into this territory alone, or start taking advice from those that really don't understand what makes the trumpet upper register happen in the first place.

I for one, was a player who was left to their own devices in the beginning, and then getting advice from all the wrong voices! I was 25 years in before I finally started receiving information that was a bit clearer and helped me on my path to success. By doing it "wrong" for so many years, I had to force myself to learn what was causing me to miss... some of the things that I've learned were as follows...

Smiling thins the lips - causing ANY amount of mouthpiece pressure to stop the vibration

Most players pinch or roll their lips in vs. using the airstream to speed up the air

It is FAST air that creates a high note - there is no reason to strain

Playing too loudly (or attempting to play higher notes too loud too soon) will nearly guarantee failure!

Keeping the lips in a small aperture setting (see above) like playing softly will greatly aid in high notes!

If you are a trumpet player who is really frustrated with attempting upper register notes, please visit BRASS PLAYER SOLUTION for more information that can help resolve these issues!

Keith Fiala / Anna Romano

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Trumpet Lessons – Quick Ways to Improve is a post from: TrumpetOutlet

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Related posts:

1. Your Trumpet Or Trombone Mouthpiece May Be Too Large!
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In the world of brass playing, mouthpieces becomes a touchy subject amongst players. It's the one piece of equipment that everyone seems to be very opinionated and closed minded about.

For years, I was guided toward mouthpieces that were on the larger side of the scale. Being told that if I went to a smaller diameter cup (diameter being measured from inside edge to inside edge) that it would severely hurt my tone, tonguing ability, range, endurance, and the list went on! I've played trumpet for over 32 years and only recently was I brave enough (smart enough?) to venture away from the common myth and try something for myself!

About 2 years ago I was at my wits end with mouthpieces, myths, endurance, inconsistency with range, and sometimes just downright tired chops! So, I moved down about 5 sizes. A SIGNIFICANT drop... In trumpet mouthpiece terms, I went from a 5C to the equivalent of a 11C Bach (trombone from a 61/2AL to a 12C). Pretty drastic!

At first, it felt very strange and almost uncomfortable... but as I gave it a fair chance and warmed up PROPERLY, did my exercises (Clarke Studies) and worked with it, I noticed that EVERYTHING was improving. My peak range did not improve as I had bad habits that I had to break, but the my tone, consistency, endurance, and over all comfort greatly improved.

Now after being on a smaller diameter for over 2 years, I have noticed that a lot of the "bad habits" that I had developed were largely from over compensating with an extremely large diameter cup.

If you would like to learn more about this concept, you can learn more at http://www.brassplayersolution.com

Keith Fiala / Anna Romano

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Your Trumpet Or Trombone Mouthpiece May Be Too Large! is a post from: TrumpetOutlet

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Related posts:

1. Trumpet Lessons – Quick Ways to Improve
2. History of the Trumpet

During ancient times trumpets were used by soldiers to signal information to their comrades. Trumpets were also used for religious purposes, as opposed to the music that we know today. This tradition continues today in the form of a bugle which we all have heard playing taps at the end of the day.

Improvements to the trumpet came about during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Metal making abilities improved and helped produce the more familiar trumpet. This then led to the increased use of the trumpet as a musical instrument. The trumpets that were made during this time were a single coiled tube, without valves.

The modern trumpet is constructed of brass tubing and is bent into an oblong shape. Just as with other Brass instruments, the trumpet produce a sound by a day are being blown through close to lips, which causes a buzzing sound and the mouthpiece and starts a wave vibration in the air inside the trumpet. A trumpet player changes pitch by changing the tightness of his lips and by using a combination of the three piston valves.

photo credit: James Jordan

History of the Trumpet is a post from: TrumpetOutlet

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Related posts:

1. Trumpet Lessons – Quick Ways to Improve
2. Your Trumpet Or Trombone Mouthpiece May Be Too Large!