what god like power has got into kids who play the trumpet these days that high notes are the most important thing to be playing and that the higher you play, the better you are? I`m 16 and it bugs me how people find high notes so important. Why is this? Anyone else share any thoughts on this?

I understand how you feel, I personally love scream playing and occasionally do it myself, but I feel that too many people are trying to do it now. I don`t think those 2 second chords on high Gs are screams. And unfortunately thats what kids are doing now. I worked until I could play doubles and now i can touch triples. It really upsets me that peple think you can play high just by switching a mouthpiece or something, it took me 2 years of work.

Yeah, I have nothing against screaming. I`d love to have that range but I know its going to take lots of work to get there. Thats the best one!! "Which mouthpiece will make me scream?!!" HAHAHA! No mouthpiece will allow you to scream....its all work! And if it does allow you toscream how can you be fulfilled knowing that your mouthpiece is doing the work, not you?!
I love screamers, especially Wayne Bergeron....but to get there is going to take some chop building!!

Well if you can`t play the high what good are you as a trumpet player. A trumpet is meant to play high, so if you can`t you have no business playing it.

hello???!!!! did miles davis play high all the time?!! hardly!! They`re not just made to play high, I take it thats ALL you can do? You have so so much to learn!! go away grow up then come back with a reasonable argument!!

well said, its about tone, articulation, etc...

yeah, Zman, you heard any of Claudio Roditi`s music? How about bobby shew....I know he`s mainly a lead player but his jazzer stuff is pretty top stuff as well. What do you like playing?

Hey Andy, Trumpet playing is not always about playing high. A trumpet is ment for playing bright tones (not always high). Personally sometimes i listen to jazz that always doesn`t have screaming trumpets because it gets annoying after a while, but thats my opinion. Some of the most succesfull trumpet players barely play high. Tell me why do you think that there is no point in playing trumpet if you can`t play high?

I would love to learn how to play high and i am 17 still on a bach 7c hitting hitting the high A#`s. but we have this *th grade guy in or marching band and he gets over me with a full bright tone how he does it. i dont know but he plays on 3c and in show style bands if you can scream you are look at like a god in the band. but does he play better than me no not by along shot

look like a god? how about pulling a solo off real well? or improvising perfectly over chord changes at 240 beats? this requies great skill. sounds more impressive. screaming can be impressive but it gets so annoying. I like it if someone nails a top note, someone like wayne bergeron......but people these days try to hit notes, they get the thinnest sound, hold it for a second and say "I hit a G!"....no no no....you didn`t hit a G! Hitting a G is Wayne Bergeron hitting a G!

Yeah. I`m a freshman in varsity band, and before I got chosen to be in varsity, I could only maybe hit an A. Now, I can hit some High High E`s and F`s while I`m taking some regular songs up an octave. It`s fun to try and play those high notes, but that`s not what playing trumpet is all about

good....people who understand....its not all about the high notes! sure its good to have a good range.....need a good range but its not all about the top half of that range!!

u just suffer from paranoya

I like classy semi modern jazz, like Rick Braun, his new cd esperant (I think) is awsome. Check it out.

I am only 13, and alot of my fellow trumpet players brag, because they can play high. Who the hell cares if you can play an E, and I can only go up to a D! I am always in first chair, and I can`t play the highest, but I play with no mess-ups.