TrumpetMonk

Hey everyone

I'm having some trouble with my sound. I can't figure out how to make my notes ring/get in the center of a pitch. I was taking lessons from a dr. but he has to leave for some time because of family matters. I would love some advice on how to make notes big and ring. I'm mainly talking about third space C to High C, notes after that don't matter to me much at the moment...

If this is a dumb question, I'm sorry, but at the moment I have no where else to turn, thanks so much

mike ansberry

I have a student teacher this year, and he brought with him an idea he got from Susan K. Smith. Play an easy long tone. Maybe a G. Hold the air steady at a fairly full dynamic. Open your jaw until you completely lose the note. Then slowly close the jaw until your teeth are clenched. Listen to the sound. There will be a point at which you get the most centered tone. Move the jaw open and closed to lesser and lesser degrees until you have the most focused point. Then re-attach the pitch with that jaw setting and hold it steady. Do this in a full range of long tones.

I had never heard this idea before, but it really works for me and all my students. You should hear the sound my beginner brass are getting!

Mike

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Pedal C

First...clean your horn. When I feel like I'm losing my center, I clean my mouthpiece and (at least) the leadpipe and tuning slide. I usually feel normal after that, especially if it's been awhile...

Tension will cause the pitch to go up. Effecient posture and breathing will help you get into the most resonant part of the note. Here are some picture and descriptions of good posture: David G. Monette Corporation

One of my teachers had a little excersize for finding the center. Play a second line G, four counts. Lip bend (no valves) down to F#, four counts. Return to G, four counts. The last G is usually lower (most people ride high), and is more resonant. You can do this in any register.

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Markie

Here's what i do.
play a long tone and bend it slowly. While doing this "listen" very closely. You should bend it up and down to the point where it almost cracks into the next partial.
Remember, while you're bending the note, you're listening.
What you want to listen for is that point where the trumpet seems to vibrate the most in your hands and the sound seems to come alive and ring or maybe better stated, its where the sound seems the "fattest" without playing louder. In addition, Pedal C suggested to clean the horn. You just can't beat that advice! You should always have a clean horn.
Good Luck

Sterling

Listen to Pedal C. Clean your horn just for fun. About three months ago, I was complaining about my sound and my 13 year old son told me to clean my horn! Out of the mouths of babes! I ran a snake through my horn and a large gob of stuff was lurking in the bell curve. Problem solved. Another suggestion: My trombone friends use a Denis Wick practice mute and work on making their sound "ring" through the mute.

rowuk

Inhale deeply, then exhale (without the horn). Do not hold the air in in between, just in out big and smooth. Once you get that down, replace exhale with play. Do not use any tonguing - just exhale through your embouchure. There you will find the fat resonant tone that you are looking for. Limit your range to notes below 3rd space c for about two weeks. Get this exercize down. Once you get used to FAT in the low and midrange, you have a model for the rest.

EXHALE, do not PUSH the air out forcefully. That causes tension and makes your tone worse.

There are advanced players that work with pushing the air. They have very developed technique. That is why it works for them. You have a long way until then.

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Markie

Rowuk says:
EXHALE, do not PUSH the air out forcefully. That causes tension and makes your tone worse.
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As with most things, playing trumpet has a heirarchy of what should be accomplished. What Rowuk is recommending is what you should know how to do first. You can bend notes till the cows come home and if you are using the air incorrectly (forcing it), its still gonna suck.

rowuk

My circle of breath is something that every student learns in their first lesson. If they pay attention, the sound gets big and full before they learn what buttons to push.

It is SO EASY. No embouchure change, no expensive method books, no risk of making a mistake. It is about as close to a body reflex as trumpet playing can have.

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.