Subscribe RSSWhat is the best way to rebuild my range/endurance for trumpet?
Q: Recently I took a 4 day vacation (with no trumpet practice) and came back to discover that my range/endurance was worse than ever. What should I do to gain it back? Im practicing like crazy but are there any exercises speceifically you reccomend.
A: There is an old trumpet player saying:
If you take a day off, you are going to know it.
If you take two days off, your friends are going to know it.
If you take three days off, the WHOLE WORLD will know it.
Don't do that. Take your mouthpiece along and do ten minutes of buzzing per day...fit it into your schedule. You would be amazed how much that ten minutes per day will maintain your endurance compared to four days off with nothing. Also, if you are stuck without a mouthpiece, do lip buzzing exercises. Big, sloppy horse sounds to as high as you can buzz - do a whole range of things. It is certainly better than nothing.
3 Comments
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Do simple long tones in various low range patterns lengthening the pattern each time. When you reach your breath limit, try to push yourself each day. This increases your breath capacity and endurance. I don't know about range. It should follow suit. Just keep practicing. It's the only way.
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The long tone exercise the other person mentioned is correct. To this I would add going up chromatically. Go as high as you can while still getting a good sound. The next day, go one half step higher. Keep doing this, and your range will get bigger.
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I used to push myself, play until I couldn't, long tones, lip slurs etc. trying to build intonation and endurance but then I realized that it is pointless to abuse the lip muscle constantly. If one plays, plays and plays some more it would do more harm then good. When playing long tones and doing lips slurs it is imperative that you rest an amount of time that equal to what you play, this is the ONLY way that you will improve. Play long tones, start at middle g and go down to low f# take your time. Also, lips slurs help. I hate it but it is really good, pg 42 in Arbans: 19, Play each line and then rest equal to what you play, They are designed to help not bust your chops or tire you out. Rebuilding is all about time, don't push. Also, once you get back, don't stop the lip slurs, I recommend Earls D. Irons Flexibility Studies. It starts out like Arbans but does more partials, I think its a really great book and Groups 7 or 8, depending on my mood are included in my full warm-up.
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