I`m having trouble reaching the high notes. . . notes like the f (top of scale) . . .if i can play that note i can get through this song and i wont mess up marching band..lol . . . is it me or my mouthpeicer. . . . well my mouthpeice says its a yamaha 11c4-7c . . .does that mean my mouthpecie is just to hard or i cant play that high . . .if there is a better mouthpeice for high notes let me know what kind....and also if someone could tell me good exersizes to go that high. . .thanks

do low middle high exercises. for example

Bring the pitch up as high as you can and come back down.


start with open, then 1 finger then 1 and 2, 1 and 3, 1,3, and 3.

Mouthpieces are mouthpieces, sure some will help you with an upper register, but there`s a give and take. Generally speaking for a marching band you definately don`t want a "lead" type mouthpiece such as a Bobby Shew #1 or even a Schilke 14a4a, what you`re playing on shouldn`t be that big of a deal.

Beyond that it flat out comes down to breath control and your embouchure. Think of squeezing the corners in and tight instead of just back and tight. You also need a faster airstream. Notice I didn`t say you need "more air" since that`s a misconception. Sure you`ll need more air for a faster airstream, but more air will just generally make you play loudly and sometimes just kill your tone.

As stated above, you need to practice in the low and mid register to really build up your embouchure for playing higher. Do you own an Arban`s book? If not, you should. If you have one play the arpegio section with a metered beat, stay at that tempo. Play the excersizes as slowly as you need to so to play the last (faster) bars at the correct tempo. These excersizes will HURT, but do not, I repeat, do not let your embouchure change out of the proper position. Once you do that you are doing yourself no good except to annoy your neighbors and parents.

Read some of the stuff that Scott Englebright has written, it goes into more depth on air and embouchure technique for high register playing.

Good luck and keep practicing, it takes time but you`ll get it eventually.

you can`t by range with a piece of metal. you need to do lip slurs, long tones, and arpeggios

Word on what derek said. I`ve said this on this site before range cames with what is behind the horn not on it. Mpc are to change how the note sounds and mabey make it easyer to hit note but if u can`t hit a high C on your normal mpc you cant do it on any other. Ok i would start of with buliding ur air power that means a lote in the upper and lower ranges sure ur empuchere(i think i spelled that wrong)is important but not as important as your air. to build air power i would start off with turning around ur mpc and filling ut lungs completly and blow it out really quick to build up ur empuchere i would do longs tones but breath through our nose to keep ur lips in place to make them stronger
well i hope this helps

Smile
-Fillip

ok thanks so much for the help.....i will see aboout getting the Arban`s book

I should just make a website or something for people who keep asking. How many times has a thread about playing high been on here? Sometimes multiple ones!