Help please.

    
Help please.    23:12 on Tuesday, November 9, 2004          
(James)
Posted by Archived posts

Hi, i`ve been playing my trumpet for a few years anow and am going into high school. The first thing my band teacher did was take me off my 7C mouthpiece and give me a 5C, i`m not sure if this has an significance because i heard they were both nearly the same. Although, a year ago i was reaching G(the first above the staff) not as hard as i am now. Also, the strange thing is, during the night when i practice and in the morning when i have concert band, i dont play as well as i do in the afternoon. I don`t even seem to be getting a D(in the staff) easily anymore where as last year i could easily reach it. All i get is this sound which sounds like air moving through the horn, but no sound comes out. Do you have any suggestions for me?


Re: Help please.    08:04 on Saturday, November 13, 2004          
(s7)
Posted by Archived posts

just make sure your lips are tight at the sides, the middle of your lips loose and buzzing, and lots of air from your diaphragm!!
look at air support....you may not be supporting notes with enough air and therefore getting the airy sound (look into the bobby shew breathing method). look at tension.....if you`re tense when you play your muscles stiffen up, so your lips don`t buzz efficiently and also you`ll find you push onto the mouthpiece which will cut the vibration off.
mail back


Re: Help please.    23:14 on Saturday, November 20, 2004          
(Jordan)
Posted by Archived posts

Don`t worry, your band director knows what he`s doing. This is a very traditional switch. I`ve been playing for about 6 years now, and I play on a three C. (also started out on a 7) The difference is the size in the boar of the mouth piece. It is bigger. In this, you will get a fuller, richer sound. As you continue to play and improve, you will want to downsize your mouth pieces. What you`re experiencing is completely normal. You will lose range when switching mouth pieces. Just keep practicing extra hard with it. (scale repitition will help) You`ll get your quality back, and you`ll be even better.


   




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