Great brass playing advice! The “time off” concept is so important and students (and band directors) often just think that more is better and they forget that athletes specialize in a certain task or muscle group one day and then change next. Typical band musician: play my exact same 45 minute warm up and technique stuff every day or die….and get frustrated at lack of improvement so must add more!!! Mentally and physically rest builds resilience!
Facts. Most guys gonna practice like how an athlete would do a full body workout. Although ye it’s good, you don’t get to really focus on specific parts of your training. It’s why we split muscle groups into chest, biceps, quads, triceps, etc. while the good trumpet players split up practicing into high notes, tone, low notes, finger dexterity, etc
For me it’s the opposite.. I’m in drum corp and on upper lead. My range has improved a ton, I’m playing by up there everyday and barely ever have days off.. the days after a free day are usually my worst playing days. My volume on the upper register has increased by an insane amount but if I take “time off” then i struggle from chop fatigue for a day or so or just lack power then feel fine the next day..
What I've learned to do when playing high notes is to think of them as how far away it is in front of you rather than how high it is. Say you want to hit a higher note rather than thinking how high you have to reach think of how far your air has to go in front of you. I heard this when I was in a clinic and it has helped me reach much higher notes.
Why must they be further away? That still will require more effort. Why can't they just be at the same location as a lower tone but a greater frequency? (Which is exactly what they are) Higher means of greater frequency. Not physically a different elevation.
I was originally not going to watch this video because “i can play higher than that” but as a seasoned senior in hs, this video was really insightful. Your channel is really clean, you deserve way more subs!!
I’m a sophomore Trumpet player and I’m 1st in the wind ensemble, my upper register has always been “easy” to play but this video really helped me improve, thanks man Edit: I also just upgraded to a professional level instrument so it has become even easier for me, still, this technique genuinely helped so much
As a comeback player, I have actually applied resting far more than I did when I was younger. I'll distinguish between my theoretical range (what I can hit when working on range exercises) and practical range (what I can actually use reliably). My theoretical range never changed during my 5 year hiatus. My practical range did. A few months in, I decided that rather than work on range, I would be better off establishing a solid foundation for endurance and accuracy and have started working through the Arban 1st studies. Now that I've been working through those, I wish I would have put a lot more effort and practice into them the first time I went through them. Rather than just trying to get through them as quickly as possible (play through, go onto the next one), I'm spending a minimum of a week on each one. I'll find where I'm not getting an interval cleanly and work those two notes over and over. Then I put it back into the context of the phrase. I also noticed that I get more benefit from perfecting the etudes at the lowest listed tempo than the highest listed tempo (I have no issues with fingerings). I'll speed it up for when I'm repeating phrases or intervals as it is less taxing that way. This has done wonders for my endurance and accuracy. Pretty soon, I'll add one syncopation etude per week (not because I have issues with syncopation, but rather, because I want to take the time to actually learn each etude). Rather than being something to rush through, I now view the first studies and syncopation section as a volume 1 that should take a minimum of a year to complete. My plan after that is to work through the Slurring, Scales, and Ornaments etudes, working on one etude from each section at a time (if I determine it isn't too burdensome, I will work on multiple subsections at a time, but try to limit myself to only subsection from each of those sections per day). Upon completing those, I will move onto the "More Advanced Studies" and "Tonguing." Now, where does this leave "The Art of Phrasing" and "68 Duets?" In my opinion, start working on these once you have the endurance to do so. These can be rather tiring if you're a new or comback player. You have to have a solid foundation in order to play them. You will need to understand the ornaments that show up. Finally, you have the 14 Characteristic Studies and the Fantaisies and 12 Aires Varies. These are making use of all of the techniques and skills developed in the book. IMO, this will keep you busy for years. Don't rush through it.
Great question! Teeth alignment can definitely play a factor in creating intra-oral compression, which helps us to play in the upper register. So there is a grain of truth to the idea that some people are "built to play high." Everyone is made different. If you're "built to play high," you might have to spend more time developing tone in the lower register, but again it all depends on the player
@@thelakesbrassquintet I am not built to play high unfortunately:( I have receding jaw and struggle to play high actually. I wasn't sure whether I should align my jaw or play in natural position, because everyone is suggesting different things!
@williamchan1414 check out charlie porter's video on forming an embouchure. He indirectly deals with this. I have a large over bite and this really helped me with my tone. My range dropped for about 2 weeks but came back with an additional 2 notes with practice.
@@mooper1313For less than a year of playing, it is good. Consider that there are plenty of students who go through years of middle school band and high school band and never reach top space E.
I would say that is pretty good. I couldn't comfortably play the high g until 8th grade. ( I started playing in 5th grade) Granted, I did not take playing very seriously until I got to eight grade. If I would have, I probably would have gotten to the G a lot sooner. Now I am a freshman in college and am working on expanding my extreme upper register: Ds, Es and Fs above the staff. One of the most important things is making sure you are playing with good tone and technique. Its not enough to produce a high sound, it has to sound good too.
@@mckenzieharris1941 id say to work on long tones, scales, lip slurs, and airflows thats what i always practice on and just try to push yourself to work on things that you struggle on
Thank you brother i use to feel the way that i am playing in was the most comfort i get but after viewing some of the videos it is much more better after now i think that earler i was strugling but not any more
Thank you for your video. I'm a beginner trumpet player. I just started playing. I tried playing Taps but couldn't get past the E and hit the G note. Bummer. I'm getting better, though. When I first bought my trumpet, I could not even play the first 5 notes. I like the trumpet because I love horns.
Thanks for making this! I’m a beginner from sixth going into seventh and I just got into symphonic in my school and I’m really bad at playing above the staff I’d need like 10 minutes warming up just to get to G and 20 for a A but for the A I tend to get dizzy cause of how hard it is for me
I’ve always been told (not really Roel, the teacher more just like said it loud enough for the class) by the teacher “don’t give notes adjectives. You aren’t scared of them, they’re just notes.”
I needed this video. I have 1 month +1week playlist the trumpet for a very first time in my life. I already achieved an E5. But struggling to know about having patience 😢
Merri Fraquin used the phrase, "place the note," His student, Gorges Mager taught 2 of my teachers, and they stressed that there's a correct way to start a note. Any note. If you can place a second line g, you can place a high f# above high c (at the time, the highest note in classical repertoire, BB2 notwithstanding). If not, you're not placing the g correctly. It all boils down to this: Correct playing leads to more correct playing.
I rested one time for 20 years. Because of a woman. It's always about a woman. She's gone. Now I have 6 trumpets. A Bb trumpet, a C trumpet, a flugel horn, a Dizzy Gillespie trumpet, a piccolo trumpet, and well, one I removed the lacquer from as an experiment. I started out playing solo soprano in a drum and bugle corp, so I could play highest, loudest, and longest... in all weather. I was always used as the Maynard Ferguson guy in all the bands I played in. Then I had to learn everything else... dynamics, fingering speed, tone, technique, style, slotting... so I think its best to learn those 6 first. There will be plenty of time to play higher/stronger/longer.
I don't think air "speed" is anything to be concerned about. The lip posture controls the pitch and the air pressure controls dynamics. I have found that most players use too much effort to play low and mid register. The best thing I did for range was to learn to play with much less effort in the low range first.
wait im in first year beginning band and we dont really go higher than a C but i know a uhh C above the scale... I did not know i wasnt supposed to do that
Ok. Here we go . Another trumpet player lecturing about the "science" who has no real knowledge of science. Its air PRESSURE that bears on the boundary where the lip aperture exists. Not "wind speed." The lip embouchure posture controls the frequency of tone. It has nothing to do with wind speed or air speed. Firm lips produce higher frequency pulsations and looser, less firm lips produce lower tones. It is that simple. We then vary the air pressure as required to control the dynamics. But I do agree that some strength around the lip muscles is required. But strength alone is not all. Proper tone production skill is required. It requires the right approach for a musical and pleasing tonal result.
Everyday wisdom fully in step with anatomy, training teories and pedagogy. Everybody should stay miles away from the charlatans promising trple C in five minutes or a day. TTT. Things Take Time.
Great brass playing advice! The “time off” concept is so important and students (and band directors) often just think that more is better and they forget that athletes specialize in a certain task or muscle group one day and then change next. Typical band musician: play my exact same 45 minute warm up and technique stuff every day or die….and get frustrated at lack of improvement so must add more!!! Mentally and physically rest builds resilience!
Facts. Most guys gonna practice like how an athlete would do a full body workout. Although ye it’s good, you don’t get to really focus on specific parts of your training. It’s why we split muscle groups into chest, biceps, quads, triceps, etc. while the good trumpet players split up practicing into high notes, tone, low notes, finger dexterity, etc
Typically my only practice would be the band rehearsals, which was almost enough except for having to start over after the 4 month summer break
For me it’s the opposite.. I’m in drum corp and on upper lead. My range has improved a ton, I’m playing by up there everyday and barely ever have days off.. the days after a free day are usually my worst playing days. My volume on the upper register has increased by an insane amount but if I take “time off” then i struggle from chop fatigue for a day or so or just lack power then feel fine the next day..
What I've learned to do when playing high notes is to think of them as how far away it is in front of you rather than how high it is. Say you want to hit a higher note rather than thinking how high you have to reach think of how far your air has to go in front of you. I heard this when I was in a clinic and it has helped me reach much higher notes.
Yo this is the best advice I've ever seen
Why must they be further away? That still will require more effort. Why can't they just be at the same location as a lower tone but a greater frequency?
(Which is exactly what they are)
Higher means of greater frequency. Not physically a different elevation.
I was originally not going to watch this video because “i can play higher than that” but as a seasoned senior in hs, this video was really insightful. Your channel is really clean, you deserve way more subs!!
do you have any tips on keeping good tone quality when playing in a softer dynamic?
Omg, can someone please tell me the song played here: 0:49
Ive been looking all over the internet but cant find it
I think it’s the Royal American Medley
I’m a sophomore Trumpet player and I’m 1st in the wind ensemble, my upper register has always been “easy” to play but this video really helped me improve, thanks man
Edit: I also just upgraded to a professional level instrument so it has become even easier for me, still, this technique genuinely helped so much
As a comeback player, I have actually applied resting far more than I did when I was younger. I'll distinguish between my theoretical range (what I can hit when working on range exercises) and practical range (what I can actually use reliably). My theoretical range never changed during my 5 year hiatus. My practical range did. A few months in, I decided that rather than work on range, I would be better off establishing a solid foundation for endurance and accuracy and have started working through the Arban 1st studies.
Now that I've been working through those, I wish I would have put a lot more effort and practice into them the first time I went through them. Rather than just trying to get through them as quickly as possible (play through, go onto the next one), I'm spending a minimum of a week on each one. I'll find where I'm not getting an interval cleanly and work those two notes over and over. Then I put it back into the context of the phrase. I also noticed that I get more benefit from perfecting the etudes at the lowest listed tempo than the highest listed tempo (I have no issues with fingerings). I'll speed it up for when I'm repeating phrases or intervals as it is less taxing that way. This has done wonders for my endurance and accuracy. Pretty soon, I'll add one syncopation etude per week (not because I have issues with syncopation, but rather, because I want to take the time to actually learn each etude). Rather than being something to rush through, I now view the first studies and syncopation section as a volume 1 that should take a minimum of a year to complete.
My plan after that is to work through the Slurring, Scales, and Ornaments etudes, working on one etude from each section at a time (if I determine it isn't too burdensome, I will work on multiple subsections at a time, but try to limit myself to only subsection from each of those sections per day). Upon completing those, I will move onto the "More Advanced Studies" and "Tonguing."
Now, where does this leave "The Art of Phrasing" and "68 Duets?" In my opinion, start working on these once you have the endurance to do so. These can be rather tiring if you're a new or comback player. You have to have a solid foundation in order to play them. You will need to understand the ornaments that show up.
Finally, you have the 14 Characteristic Studies and the Fantaisies and 12 Aires Varies. These are making use of all of the techniques and skills developed in the book. IMO, this will keep you busy for years. Don't rush through it.
In your experience, do you think teeth alignment is necessary to play high notes, or even trumpet in general?
Great question! Teeth alignment can definitely play a factor in creating intra-oral compression, which helps us to play in the upper register. So there is a grain of truth to the idea that some people are "built to play high." Everyone is made different. If you're "built to play high," you might have to spend more time developing tone in the lower register, but again it all depends on the player
@@thelakesbrassquintet I am not built to play high unfortunately:( I have receding jaw and struggle to play high actually. I wasn't sure whether I should align my jaw or play in natural position, because everyone is suggesting different things!
@williamchan1414 check out charlie porter's video on forming an embouchure. He indirectly deals with this. I have a large over bite and this really helped me with my tone. My range dropped for about 2 weeks but came back with an additional 2 notes with practice.
I barely started playing around the beginning of summer and i can comfortably play up to a G above the staff is that good?
No, that is average. That's cool though! How is your tone?
@@mooper1313For less than a year of playing, it is good. Consider that there are plenty of students who go through years of middle school band and high school band and never reach top space E.
I would say that is pretty good. I couldn't comfortably play the high g until 8th grade. ( I started playing in 5th grade) Granted, I did not take playing very seriously until I got to eight grade. If I would have, I probably would have gotten to the G a lot sooner. Now I am a freshman in college and am working on expanding my extreme upper register: Ds, Es and Fs above the staff. One of the most important things is making sure you are playing with good tone and technique. Its not enough to produce a high sound, it has to sound good too.
I just started playing a month ago. I can reach the a b and higher C but I’m struggling. Do you think you could help me?
@@mckenzieharris1941 id say to work on long tones, scales, lip slurs, and airflows thats what i always practice on and just try to push yourself to work on things that you struggle on
Thank you brother i use to feel the way that i am playing in was the most comfort i get but after viewing some of the videos it is much more better after now i think that earler i was strugling but not any more
As a sax player whose never touched a trumpet this video was funny asf 😭
Thank you for your video. I'm a beginner trumpet player. I just started playing. I tried playing Taps but couldn't get past the E and hit the G note. Bummer. I'm getting better, though. When I first bought my trumpet, I could not even play the first 5 notes. I like the trumpet because I love horns.
Thanks for making this! I’m a beginner from sixth going into seventh and I just got into symphonic in my school and I’m really bad at playing above the staff I’d need like 10 minutes warming up just to get to G and 20 for a A but for the A I tend to get dizzy cause of how hard it is for me
The fact that u can even play an A is way better than me when I was a 6th grader😔
I’ve always been told (not really Roel, the teacher more just like said it loud enough for the class) by the teacher “don’t give notes adjectives. You aren’t scared of them, they’re just notes.”
And do you think mouthpiece size might have something to do with it? Maybe worth a mention?
were you referring to freshmen in hs? i'm currently a junior and i've been able to get a dub b before. Wasn't great, but it was something.
I needed this video. I have 1 month +1week playlist the trumpet for a very first time in my life. I already achieved an E5. But struggling to know about having patience 😢
Good stuff, we forget how high upper C is in the search for "scream notes" 😢
Great advice. Thank you.
watching this as a mello/horn player
lmao me too
Merri Fraquin used the phrase, "place the note," His student, Gorges Mager taught 2 of my teachers, and they stressed that there's a correct way to start a note. Any note. If you can place a second line g, you can place a high f# above high c (at the time, the highest note in classical repertoire, BB2 notwithstanding). If not, you're not placing the g correctly. It all boils down to this: Correct playing leads to more correct playing.
Do you give online lessons?
I love this guy
i kinda just kept playing in the extreme register till i got blisters and over time it just got easier
i know you shouldn't do this
You have to be bloody kidding me. Where did this guy come from?
I rested one time for 20 years. Because of a woman. It's always about a woman. She's gone. Now I have 6 trumpets. A Bb trumpet, a C trumpet, a flugel horn, a Dizzy Gillespie trumpet, a piccolo trumpet, and well, one I removed the lacquer from as an experiment. I started out playing solo soprano in a drum and bugle corp, so I could play highest, loudest, and longest... in all weather. I was always used as the Maynard Ferguson guy in all the bands I played in. Then I had to learn everything else... dynamics, fingering speed, tone, technique, style, slotting... so I think its best to learn those 6 first. There will be plenty of time to play higher/stronger/longer.
I don't think air "speed" is anything to be concerned about. The lip posture controls the pitch and the air pressure controls dynamics.
I have found that most players use too much effort to play low and mid register. The best thing I did for range was to learn to play with much less effort in the low range first.
Cat Anderson agrees: "Most cats just play too darned loud and that's a shame." (paraphrased from his method book.)
10:54 "Four Meaasures of Rest Latar" 🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣
wait im in first year beginning band and we dont really go higher than a C but i know a uhh C above the scale... I did not know i wasnt supposed to do that
*GASP* FREDDY
Altius, Fortius, Diutius!
wheres the tutoorial to play fffffffffffffffffffffff in 2 minutes for 2 minutes on a triple c
Disappointed by the lack of high-speed rail content for trumpet players 😔
Well i can't play higher than that, bet you didn't expect that
Ok. Here we go . Another trumpet player lecturing about the "science" who has no real knowledge of science.
Its air PRESSURE that bears on the boundary where the lip aperture exists. Not "wind speed."
The lip embouchure posture controls the frequency of tone. It has nothing to do with wind speed or air speed.
Firm lips produce higher frequency pulsations and looser, less firm lips produce lower tones. It is that simple.
We then vary the air pressure as required to control the dynamics.
But I do agree that some strength around the lip muscles is required. But strength alone is not all. Proper tone production skill is required. It requires the right approach for a musical and pleasing tonal result.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Very good joke...
Don’t worry, I cannot play higher than that :)
Everyday wisdom fully in step with anatomy, training teories and pedagogy.
Everybody should stay miles away from the charlatans promising trple C in five minutes or a day.
TTT. Things Take Time.
Can't ypu hear how flat (and thin) your high C is? "High speed wind" is LOWER pressure. That;s physics! Look up Bernoulli. So... wrong, wrong wrong!
wrong wrong wrong
I know, right?
Typical American jargon, could be explained better in a shorter time.