Continuing with our review of reasons some of us are lacking a better high range…….
Reason #3- You need to work harder.
I can attest not only from my experience but the history of watching many students go through the pains and suffering of “working harder” with limited success. It is true that added practicing will increase your upper range just as the extra practicing on the Clarke Technical Studies will improve your finger control as well as your ability to play in more than one key. But the question still stands, why do some play with ease in the upper range while we mere mortals grovel in the dirt? In many cases, the extra work does not equal a corresponding amount of added high notes.
Reason #4- It’s all in the position of the teeth.
When Mr. Jon Faddis first became popular and his photos began to circulate throughout the trumpet world, many devout followers of the instrument realized that there was an unusually large gap between his upper front teeth and many were convinced that his ability in the upper register was caused by this dental spacing. Stories began circulating that trumpet players had been seen around the world with wedges forced between their upper front teeth in hopes that their high notes would soar through the large end of their horn. This commitment to the cause was very popular among dentists at that time.
Reason #5- It all has to do with the practice method.
Early attempts at solving the high range vacuum was filled with some great and some not so great method books. Some of the early examples were the Maggio System, Double High C in 37 Weeks and the Claude Gordon Systematic Approach to Daily Practice Method. Each had its own claim for success and each had and still has a strong following of practitioners. As with most methods, if you stick with it, you will improve and most of us stuck with it and did improve but as we inched along, our fellow trumpet players seemed to be streaking past us as the range of the trumpet was continually being challenged.
Reason #6- You have to be born with it.
A very good example of this reasoning can be illustrated by an experience I had while living and teaching in the Dallas, Texas area. One morning, while preparing to begin my full day of teaching private brass lessons, a very young boy walked into the band room and asked me politely, “What are you doing”. I explained and his next question was “What’s that? pointing to my trumpet. “That’s a trumpet I responded and he inquired on how it was played. In short order, I had the horn properly positioned in his tiny hands and the mouthpiece located somewhere on his face. The first note that came screaming out of my horn was an F ABOVE HIGH C. That was the best F above high C my horn had ever played. And it was produced by an eight year old with no idea what he had done, Being the commercial opportunist I was at the time, I had him signed up for trumpet lessons on the spot. He began studying with me and it took me three lessons to finally get him to play a note IN THE STAFF.
I have played with trumpet players with the same ease in the upper range and as I watch them sail around me with no apparent effort, I watch in envy at the effortlessness of their ability to perform as if they had an octave key added to their instrument.
In closing, I would like to say that those who are able to play the “BIG MONEY NOTES” are blessed. They may have been blessed with high range through their own efforts or they may have been blessed with good teeth. They may not even know that the high notes are difficult or they may have purchased the perfect trumpet and/or mouthpiece. Many things I do not know but one thing I do know is that I have been blessed with an above average ability to read well, improvise acceptably, produce a decent tone and perform with adequate technical ability. I would consider that even more important than the ability to squirt out a couple high notes.
I have included six reasons in this posting and have left out one very important possibility which will require more time and explanation.
In our next issue I will try to cover the things to watch in the case you are playing incorrectly.
You may not be able to be or do everything you want to do or be, but do strive to do the best at what you have been blessed with.
