One of the most sought-after areas for trumpet playing is the secret to playing high notes with ease. The ability to perform in the altissimo register has been a challenge from the beginning of time. Screech trumpet players today are placed on a more elevated level than those with advanced technical abilities or even the most gifted player with the best tone.
If one would visit most trumpet bulletin boards today, the most popular question is “How can I play high notes easier”?
Small fortunes have been made by authors and publishing companies after flooding the market with many “easy way to play double high C in 30 seconds”. To my knowledge the only way to accomplish this masterful feat would be to follow the instruction in the following video…..
Double G in 3 minutes (youtube.com)
Obviously, I did this video as a lighthearted spoof but as you can see from the number of views; this title caught the eye of many aspiring trumpet enthusiasts.
So, the question remains, how are some players able to effortlessly negotiate in the stratosphere while at the same time we mortals strive to pinch out a decent high C? This question may have more than one answer and for that reason, I have decided to look further into this universal topic in the following series of posts.
If you, as I have struggled for the high notes, stay tuned as we explore the fascinating and sometimes elusive world of high note playing. We will try to explore such topics as
“Why can he/she do it and I can’t”?
“What method books have the secrets to high note playing”?
“Will I ever be able to play a double high C”?
“What equipment do I need to play high”?
“How important is high note playing”?
Be sure to check back as we explore these topics in our constant search for the Trumpet Utopia.
