i truly have an endurance problem. pedal notes are meant to help right..? but what the hell are they and how do i play them?

this problem is really getting on my nerves becasuse im lead and nobody other than me seems to have the problem. towards the end of band everybody can still go high except me. the only way i can after being tired is by using pressure.

the worst bit..my time islike 30 mins constant playing until i rip.

please help

I have the same problem... I get tired really qickly. but i know I do use too much pressure. I have tried playing without using pressure and then I cant hardly play so I go back to using pressure.But pedal notes do seem to help...

You could check out the stamp exercises. They are pretty known and i used them to master pedal tones. But if you want to work on pedals now i suggest finding out how well you can buzz on your mouthpiece. Try the best you can to find out how low you can go.
When you get on your horn, you could do octave jumps through the pedals. For example, play a middle c then a low c. Then work your way down chromatically. When you get to f, its going to be like buzzing on your mouthpiece in the lower register. With the help of the octave jump you can center the tone in your ear then try to match it down the octave. Go slow and get the tone to match as best as you can in your ear. If pedals are getting really hard try doing them with the spit valve open(this removes some of the resistance of the horn), this especially works to slot the pedal c. Another option to match the pedals is to sit with a piano and match the pitch. You gotta have a good ear and tune the notes as much as possible.
Now remember, use both lips dont cheat with one lip in or anything like that. You are going to use pretty much the same embouchure as you would for normal playing but naturally there will be differences.

BTW, the speed of the air will help get the pedals to speak. If the air is too fast your not going to get low enough. You want your air to be controlled and slow enough to get the pedals out. Then once you can center the pitches start adding volume, and get your pedals really loud, its fun.

Ok, I`ll talk about the physical side to endurance in trumpet playing. I often compare this to athletic activities such as marathon running. Now, when marathon runners run, they focus their energy on muscles that they need to run that length such as their legs and breathing. One thing they do is a droopy face to prevent their facial muscles from using up energy. They need to use energy where it is needed and run as EFFICIENTLY as in order to finish and do well.

The same thing goes with our trumpet playing. If we are not playing efficienlty then we don`t last very long. Too much strain in the face or any other body muscles can contribute to our endurance because we use our entire body to play this instrument. Unneccessary muscle tensions can lead us to do bad habits. So we need to play relaxed at all times.

That`s just the tip of the iceberg. I could probably write a book on this issue. However, I think the key to playing effiecianly to improve endurance starts with the breath. No breath - no life. The breath can be used to release these unneccessary tensions all around your body and, of course, gives support to our sound. Just don`t hold your breath... you`re either breathing in or out, that`s it, don`t hold it.

- hope this helps
- good luck
- Roy

PS - don`t puff your cheeks

I have endurance problems.. since i got braces, anyhow. I can`t really play pedal notes anymore either, it sucks

thank u all
ROy(i think) go ahead right ur book! Ill read every word..that was good advice..i tried improving my habits..i feel better..i duno if its helping my endurance
perhaps it will in the longterm

anyway b4 sorry i probably muddled it up but i was trying to say that i knew pedal tones were good but ive never gotten past the name. I have no clue what they are-or how to play them


oh btw guys..im playing in band and in an older friends band coz she cant play for the concer(its a jazz one)to help the tsunami
the jazz musics quite challenging i love it so much- i just hope il b able to make it through the concert without my lips cut in 3
lol

thanks guys
keep it postin