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Basically, I've been playing the trumpet for YEARS but only recently took any innitiative to it, realizing my love for the instrument. But now I would like some tips for improving the quality of sound, but more especially my range. Right now I can play from the lowest G-flat (and even the bass note below that of C). However the highest note I can play on a regular basis is the G two octives above the lowest G (the one sitting on the staff) and on a good day the A right above that. Twice I've even gotton up to the next C, but I'm desperate for tips to improve my range so I can hit those notes on a regular basis (I'm gonna need it when it comes to Basketball season. Our pep band is big at that stuff, and I need to be able to hit those notes!!!

Any help will be appreciated.

I'm a baritone player, but I think the principles for brass playing are similiar all around.

For your tone quality: The most frequent issues for trumpet players tend to be having a pinched, sometimes nasally sound. Sometimes that's due to a bad teacher because good teachers can work the kinks out. I'm not sure. I've always gone to a big school so I'm not sure how small band environments work. What you do to clear that up is practice long tones and low ranges. As you go down, make sure to lower your jaw and push it OUTWARD. The goal is practicing getting your lips as far apart as you can to get an open tone. It'll sound gross at first, but soon you'll have a nice open, characteristic tone.

What else you can do is to stretch out the part of your lip under your nose. What that does it guarantee that your mouth will be open, and... just... it works. I've seen it work for people with terrible sound so if you've got an okay tone it'll work wonders.

Range:

For learning high range, I recommend practicing low range. Once you have a good low range, your lips will be flexible. Another good thing to practice that made my range really improve is... make your embouchure the way it'd be for high notes even while playing not so high notes. That means, have firm corners. It'll give you the strength you need.

Once that's good, I recommend going up chromatically like this: Start the note really softly then crescendo as loud as you can then back into nothing. It'll give you strength in higher ranges.

Now that I've written a small novel, I hope that helps.

i'm also working on my range

what my lesson teacher is telling me to do is do a lot of very slow slurs starting witha middle G and ascending cromatically to a high G. At first you might be able to make it and your lips will hurt, but it will build your strength a lot.

once you start getting some stregth, try to stick to some excercises that go high so that you can also build up more strength there

and to help your embouchure deal with this new stress, make sure you play warm, long, low tones and pedal stones to loosen your lips before and after you practice. that way your embouchure stays flexible and that will help you reach some high notes.

hope that helps! mrgreen

Eeeeeeeeek. I know how that feels... the high notes on brass can be a damn pain in the a**.

I don't practice at all, but if you sit up straight, hold the trumpet high so your throat is open and free of closing together, always breathe and fill the bottom of your lungs, you should be fine. I've noticed that for me it's easier when the mouthpiece is more towards the lower lip as you go higher. Hm... try that. For someone who never practices trumpet.... it should work for you. sweatdrop

I've been playing trumpet for 3 years and i can hit the b flat above the G you're hitting regularly. My method which obviously working goes like this:

For range do lip slurs in all 7 positions starting on middle c going down to g then c agian back down to g then b to f sharp and b to f sharp and so on. Never relax your embouchure while your doing this even when breathing. Do this about 5 times and if your chops arent sore the go up a partial (E to c back to e then c then e flat and so on....) Just do this every day for like 10 minutes it helps.

For tone quality do long tones start on low g (the one you need 1 and 3 for)
and go up the chramatic scale playing each note as long as possible using all of your air.

Another thing you should do is practice in front of a mirror make sure you dont puff, have a weird embouchure sometimes and so on.

even thogh i'm in my middle school band, i sugest tightining your lips