Nate,

don`t do anything on the trumpet that feels unnatural. Crunching the stomach is not a good way of thinking when you breath. Practice breathing in with a tube about an inch in diameter, like Mr. Lube says, to get that feeling of an open throat. This also helps to fill the lungs down to the bottom. A teacher once told me to fill the lungs like a cup. So a relaxed breath is also what you`re going for, especially for the high register. When playing higher, the tendancy is to tense up and squeeze. However, in order to play high notes rather than just reaching them, one`s breath and body must be relaxed. good luck and catch ya later.

The throat, The throat, The throat. If you`re restricting the throat, going high will be impossible. With adjusting corners and increasing high air pressure you should start getting the aha feeling. Don`t think of it as hitting notes think of it as playing notes. Use a systematic approach as you ascend, carefully pointing every note. By pointing I mean slightly adjusting to produce every note comfortably. And please get outside of yourself, use a mirror.

All good ideas so far...here are my thoughts...

Hitting /Playing...

IMHO there are 8 range types..

Number:

1. has`nt really got much range at all .... can HIT up to high c with varying degrees of consistency etc...etc...

2. has really got ``good control`` etc.. can PLAY brilliantly to high c [and squeeze a few more]

3. can HIT up to high g [4 leger lines] with varying degrees of consistency etc...etc...

4. can PLAY brilliantly to high g [and squeeze a few more]

5. can HIT up to DHC with varying degrees of consistency etc...

6. can PLAY brilliantly to DHC [Most Pro lead players of today ] [and squeeze a few more]

7. can HIT beyond DHC with varying degrees of consistency

8. can PLAY brilliantly beyond DHC....and NEVER SQUEEZE

Lots of players [ # 1 thru 4 ]..... mistake ``hitting`` for ``playing``.

Lots of players...... find getting to # 4..... a real struggle.

Some guys spend ALL their time ``hitting`` never with a thought to ``playing``.

How do you become a # 8 ? ...start at # 2 then / 4 / 6 / 8...Bingo!!!---simple! : )

Here`s the biggie....

Most players [ # 1 thru 4 ] who mistake ``hitting`` for ``playing`` are the guys who go around saying....`` how high can you really play?`` ...what they really mean is..
"how high can you hit?

Basically - to turn squeels into notes, play tunes at mezzoforte at a register which is just below the squeely stuff [decent sounding highest register] and keep transposing up a half step ONLY when the squeel has become a note. Use plenty of air support / keep the mouthpiece pressure at a minimum and go into the lower register from the high one and back up on occasion to check your not becoming specialised. This is the way to turn squeels into a proper workable / usable note.

You can think of the whole picture in the same way as Bill Watrous mentions in his book: "Trombonisms" [my added thoughts in brackets]

Consistently playable high notes [within a melody] used to increase endurance

Sometimes playable high notes [within a phrase] used to become "Consistently" playable.

Occassionally "squeakable" even-higher notes [singularly played or arppeggio like.] to be practiced into "Sometimes" playable high notes.

Play melodies at mezzoforte at about a fifth lower than your top most range.

AND GAIN ENDURANCE WITH RANGE AS A BY-PRODUCT!

More in my 2 books...

Roddy o-iii<O
"E M B O U C H U R E___E N H A N C E M E N T"
B O O K 1
B O O K 2 + demo play-along CD
[Self Analysis / Diagnostic Methods for Trumpet Advancement]
buy online.....

http://www.R-o-d-d-y-T-r-u-m-p-e-t.cC

HI
WAS UP OK I HAVE HADE HIGH NOTE PROBLEMS FOR A YEAR BUT I INPROVED!!! WANA KNOW HOW IT IS ALL IN THE LIPS MAN

HI
WAS UP OK I HAVE HADE HIGH NOTE PROBLEMS FOR A YEAR BUT I INPROVED!!! WANA KNOW HOW IT IS ALL IN THE LIPS MAN
===========================

Hi!

It is NOT all in the lips...the WHOLE trumpet playing equation needs to be co-ordinated to be able to make the fastest progress.

Right from the correct amount of air intake for individual phrases. plus open glottis. plus lip set point close enough so as to avoid lip mashing.and air stream delivery -shoot the airr like a laser.and keeping a pure tone at all volumes.

It is not JUST in the lips..

merry christmas!!! : )

hey my problem isn`t air escaping i get horrible head aches from playing high notes. B4 i got braces i never had this happen but i changed my playing style to adapt to the braces. My private teacher said if u get headaches its becuase u rn`t breathing properly but how do i fix that? What do i have to change??? pleas help!!!