sometimes when i play very high notes, i have to attach my mouth and mouthpiece together very tight, and that makes my teeth hurt when i shot my teeth together.
what should i do?

Hi trumpeto..
You`re applying too much pressure from your arms. It`s the wrong way to blow. we have all done it, as we start to get the notes, but you will not get a good sound above high C. It will also limit your chops..you will quickly lose indurance. So Keep the Arm pressure out of it.

Top players can dangle the trumpet from a string, and still blow way high. triple Gs etc.

Your dental bills will be a killer in a few years, and you need your teeth. So I suggest to play the middle range, and the pressure you use should not be any more than that which stops air-leak; and air-leaks aren`t too bad (as long as they`re not farts).

You need to develop the air velocity to blow up high. If you keep the hole the same size, and blow with a higher velocity you have to go up...Try this, and most of all concentrate on Breathing and good tone. The range will come..

thx, it is really helpful, and now my teeth only hurt a little

hey
i think thats my problem as wel..
lol i hav lotsa probs
but din no bout the arm pressure..hows tha work peter?
do ur arms like push to ur mouth so u apply mouthpiece presure...? lol i duno
iv always used the mouthpiece to whatever i considered high..even middle c on the third space in my first week of learning i remember i pushed to get to it..and the d. lol
thanks for the adv.

oh yeh
and can u guys tel me bout this......
when ur top lip goes over ur bottom and then u press really hard on the mouthpiece it blocks the air going through n makes reli funny noises..not exacli farts but kinda like dono........
wel whatr they called?

By use of arm pressure, you are pushing the mouthpiece into your lips. This constricts the aperture and tightens the lips against your teeth. It does give you a range, but usually you die up top, as this technique will not allow you to fly high. The pressure in fact causes you to block off the air-flow, and it starts squeeking out of the horn. Another silly method is to slightly twist the horn on the chops, after the arm pressure has run it`s course (around high C) so a D or E may come out. Really stupid thing to do, causing cuts to the inside of the lips etc. The pressure against mouthpiece to lips should be as little as you can make it, obviously there is more, but try to minimise it..

Best of luck ... try free blowing and see how you go. Might give you a surprize, but really get the middle register tone spot on, and nail each note.

when i dont use arm pressure, i cant even make a clear sound. is it because im not used to the air-leaks? im not really sure.........

i have another problem when my teeth hurt, i cant play high notes any more, and i have tried not to put too much arm pressure, but i just cant control myself!

thx, the poor trumpeto~

How does it feel in the middle register after 10 minutes playing?

For the moment go for clear tone, and solid notes as far as volume goes. Do not go above middle C in the stave. So only 3 open notes C,G,and C. Just play in the bottom octave.

Please tell me if this still hurts, and how are your lips after 10 minutes??

in the middle register after 10 minutes playing in the middle register doesnt really make my teeth hurt, but i really want to scream...........(sob)

*cross out the first "in the middle register "*

is it because i have an underbite or something? age?..............

Hi,
Don`t get upset and frustrated.
Stick with playing down the bottom, and don`t try to play any higher than a middle C for the moment.

Are you using a normal mouthpiece, 7C or 3C? I keep asking this question, but it doesn`t mean you need to worry about the mouthpiece. Usually a 7C or 3C is normal.

If you are young, say 12-13years, then you may be putting too much pressure on your teeth, and they may not be fully formed yet?? (you will know if you have an Underbite or overbite & there are special mouthpieces designed for that type of teeth).

From your first note, I think you are just trying to push too hard. Buzz on the mouthpiece, without putting it into the horn. Just play quietly with as little pressure from the mouthpiece on the lips, and long notes. Then after 5 minutes, place the mouthpiece into the horn, and again as quietly as possible.

Start at G, down to bottom C, then chromatic to Mid C. See if this still hurts.

Work on getting the bottom to Mid C really nice sounding, long breathing, steady flow and good tone. Don`t scream, it takes a while...persevere.

Do you have a music teacher, or a friend who plays brass, and can see you play? Their opinion should help if there is something else wrong. ut breath control is important for endurance, and minimal pressure as well for endurance.

Don`t over do it

im using the 7c mp right now, im 12.5 years old, i do hav friends who play trumpets, but they`re worse than me, and can u tell me about the mp for an overbite/underbite, i hav a underbite...........THANKZ

Hi
Well at 12.5 years old, to me it sounds like you are doing OK. Your teeth may still be settling in, which is why some dentists don`t put braces on kids until they are a little older. By pressing back into the lips to go up, you will be pushing against
your teeth, and this may be the source of the pain.
Use the pencil exercises to help build your muscles. This is placing the rubber end of the pencil onto the lips, and holding it; you will almost immediately begin to feel the strain on the corners of the mouth, as you embouchure begins to work the muscles. You can move the pencil up and down a little by moving your lips. Don`t overdo it. You can hurt a lot, and that`s not the intent. Probably 30 seconds will be OK to start. But you have to begin to work the muscles in the embouchure... let me know how this goes, and with the quiet mouthpiece buzzing as well.

Here`s a link to mouthpieces.
http://www.selmer.com/products/accessories/mouthpiece/mouth2.html,

The 8 size cups are good for protruding teeth. An underbite - your front top teeth sit behind the front bottom teeth; so if it is not a lot, then I would persevere with a 7C. But you gotta lay off pushing against the lips too hard. It will give you a range, but you are much better learning to blow with minimal pressure, you will leave all your friend for dead in a couple of years. If you get a chance to try an 8C it may help, but in truth, if you fix your teeth later, then a 7C is where you will probabaly be again.


A 7C sounds good. It`s what most players start with at school, and I`m still using a 7C today. The brain (sound you want inside your head) and trumpet playing technique have more to do with the sound than getting too worried early on.

Practice and build your muscles, then rely on your embouchure and stamina to get going. I know you will improve. Keep in touch.