I am currently a senior at Carroll High School, Ozark AL. Ever since I got into high school I`ve had a hard issue with frustration. I`ve been an allstate player since my 10th grade year, sat 1st Chair at the South Eastern United States Band Festival 11th Grade year, yet i HATE to play my trumpet. Well, actually it`s like theres never an in between. If I`m playing well one day, I like to play, but when I`m playing bad, I HATE to play. Why? Frustration. Frustration is the primal cause of me hating to play. I don`t see it in other players in my band. I don`t get it. The main cause of my frustration is lack of endurance. I`ve tried and tried all the techniques, from lip slurs to long tones. I`m in the marching band, and my goal is to play the range written, but play it PRETTY and CONSISTANT. Inconsistancy is the second cause of the frustration. The range isnt all that high, it goes up to an Ab above the staff as opposed to C`s above the staff like it was last year, which also gave me fits. So my questions are, a). How do I overcome the frustration issues. b). If you are sitting with young players that sometimes play with a flat, unsupported tone; can it give you the false impression that you sound bad as well?
c). If the band is out of tune, could that lead to overcompensating for lack of tone? I think i mistake out of tune for out of tune AND out of tone. Because when I`m not in tune with the band, no matter how much i try to make my tone nice, it doesnt work bc it`s still out of tune.

Hi Rhett,

Learn to channel your frustration for positive results. It sounds like you need some positive reinforcement.

1. Concentrate on where you make an error. Tell yourself you will never make that error again, and practice the bars either side 6 times after you have corrected it. 2 times slow, 2 times about tempo, and 2 times faster. If you do this and get it right your brain will accept the corrections.

2. If you play with an out of tune band, it will destroy your ear. Tune as best you can with the Section, and offer/accept advice to/from the others as you tune up. Also Play with a CD, and play along with the recorded music. This will help to keep your ear, and help compensate for the times you have to endure the out of tune band. Tune your horn with the CD, and be prepared to re-tune as you go along, as it may change tune each song.

3. Pratice intervals, and check with a tuned piano, or keyboard. It will also help your ear.

I suggest on the days you don`t want to play, then listen to music, and try to finger along as though you are playing. Concentrate on the sound (in tune).

Record yourself and play back..sometimes you can play notes off..as you lose concentration. Concentrate on tone, and holding longer notes in tune. Channel the frustration, and enjoy playing.

Hey,
Dont worry about the bad and good days. Practiacally every trumpet player has them. I have them myself and i just hope that the bad day is not on auditions, other than that, the first comment is good. Practice with a tuner so as not to become accustomed to the bad tone or tuning habits. Maybe you should warm-up if it is possible away from everyone else or before everyone to get center pitch in you head.
keep playin though and sooner or later you will be playin with the big dawgs in college or something.
I just got away from the same problems you were talking about. Im going to college next week.

anyone can e-mail with questions or just want to talk trumpet. principal_trpt@hotmail.com

Hey Rhett,
When you don`t want to play drop your horn listen to music and relax, I listen to a lot of DCI bands. After I`m a music major I`m considering marching Madison or BlueDevils. One thing I know having worked w/ marching bands is volume ruins balence and blend.

1.During sectionals, or before band bring a tuner, make sure that when you tune, they don`t give a little air, then try to blow there face through there horn going flat.

"Yes" Playing w/ out of tune players can impair your ear which then effects your jugdement, can`t fix the band directors job, but work with your section, so you have something to listen to.

2.If your getting fits w/ notes, don`t pinch and prey, start the lower Aflat then go to the second octave, single tongue the note while up there and work on your attack, dark air don`t splat. "Dah" common attack "du" tenuto "dit" staccato "dot"/"dat" roughtop accents. Phrazing is important if you want to play `pretty`ha.

take care, goodluck

hi, im sara and im gonna b a freshman in hs this yr. i have the same problems with frustration. When i get frustrated wit my playing i:
1. go 2 a different thing and when i calm down go back 2 what made me mad. it helps me concentrate more which usually fixes the problem. or
2. just take a break and come back 2 it later or some other day
to answer ur second question i just want 2 say i go through the same problem again. i was the best trumpet player in my elementary and middle school bands and my band teacher said im most likely going to b the best in hs but because of that ive come across people who play with flat unsupported tones. even when im playing with a good tone it drives me NUTS to hear that. my advice 2 u is 2 try and help the younger people to tune and teach them how to project with air so their tone wont drop
lastly, when u play in a band situation and u feel like u or the band is out of tune try putting ur hand over ur ear during an elongated note and tune ur instrument 2 try and match up wit the band
Hope this helps!