We have spent a large amount of time explaining some of the ideas in the Claude Gordon “Systematic Approach To Daily Practice” and now it is time to start our weekly assignments. Please note that I am still making reference to “OUR” lessons for I am on this journey as well. My goal is to break the range barrier I am faced with. As you heard on the last recording, my range is passable up to an F# but the G is still not my friend.
Some of you are working to gain access to the “G” below and others I’m sure are able to play an octave and more above me. That is a fact of life. But what we are going to accomplish is an added third above where each of us are today. This is not a great amount of improvement but it is the first step.
Open your text now to Lesson Two.
Part I
1. Good advice.
2. Good advice.
3. Use common sense.
4. Good advice.
5. Good advice.
6. Good advice.
Part II
1. Good advice.
2. Good advice.
3. Good advice but if you are able to slur to your top note, do it for this will train you to move your valves faster. Any hesitation when changing fingerings will make the slur more difficult. As many great trumpet players have said, BANG THE VALVES DOWN.
4. Good advice.
5. Good advice but more and more players are questioning this practice. There is no argument about “blow stronger as you go up”. *See more information below.
6. Good advice but use good judgment on this one also. ** See more information below.
7. Good advice but use good judgment on this one also.
Part III
1. Good advice but for now I would like you to slur everything.
2. Good advice.
3. Good advice.
* Instead of thinking of your notes being higher, “think of your notes being farther”.
I learned this from the great trumpet player Don Jacoby. Thinking of the notes in a vertical frame of mind can be negative. When you place your notes in a horizontal frame of mind, you tend to use less negative force. As you progress upward, think of blowing your notes farther out in front of you. If low C is played as if it were to your music stand, then think of the C above as being projected to the wall in front of you. This simple exercise will negate unwanted stress and tension in your body. Each note should use only the amount of energy that is required to accomplish your goal. Another way of looking at this is to visualize throwing a baseball. If you want to throw it from center field to second base, you use X amount of energy. If, on the other hand, you want to throw it to home plate from center field, you will use the needed energy to do that. Place your notes on a horizontal plain and you will have a better time in the upper register.
** This is very important! As you increase your range, there can be a situation which you need to understand. Playing trumpet and more importantly, playing trumpet in the upper register is not a normal activity for the body. Some people can react in different ways. Some find it easy and fun. Some may find it uncomfortable. In any case, use common sense when practicing at the top of your range. IF YOU FEEL ANY DISCOMFORT- “ANY” DISCOMFORT, stop and think about it. There will be a tendency to increase mouthpiece pressure but it should be gradual and not uncomfortable. There are some people who may experience light headedness. If you feel this coming on, SIT DOWN AND PLACE YOUR HORN ON THE FLOOR OR CHAIR NEXT TO YOU. I was working with a student many years ago who did not take my advice and dropped his new Bach trumpet on the floor. That was not a good picture. This light headed feeling will go away after you get used to the altitude of the notes range you are playing.
This is also very important! If you feel a sharp pain in the back of your head after releasing your high note, quickly tuck your chin into your chest so that you stretch the muscles in the back of your neck to the fullest. Sounds fun doesn’t it? This was an experience I was having at one point in my life. It usually had something to do with an amateur band leader who wanted to stretch out the applause just a little longer while I was holding the last high note of the evening. My symptoms were this; after releasing the high not, I felt as if something was moving up the back of my neck and when it finally reached my head, I has a strong jab of pain in my head. At times it was so bad that I closed my eyes and broke into a cold sweat. I have visited with a few players who had the same problem and after I told them about the “chin in, head down, stretch the back of the neck, they all said that it helped. The chances that you will ever have this situation are very unlikely but if you do, take my advice and know that it eventually goes away. I will be 71 years old in December and am living proof that you can live through it.
Your instruction in Part III is to “practice many times” and “repeat hundreds of times” which I find very boring and vague. For that reason, I have included some written material which has the same benefit and is much more interesting. It also will teach you how to move your valves faster.
Our next class will be held September 16. Be sure to practice your material and as questions come up, and they will, leave a comment and if I have some ideas, I will post them on the site. Comments are continuing to come in and I will answer them in the order I receive them.
HINT OF THE DAY- GIVE YOUR HORN AND MOUTHPIECE A GOOD CLEANING-TODAY!
Check this out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVJNv_tPWdY&feature=youtu.be
and this……..http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/brush-after-every-practice/
Download supplement here- Lesson II supplement
