Intonation #2

[@jambajoby32]

Can you show us how to settle down that c above staff into pitch? I only have better control when I’m in great physical shape/practice aka not being a lazy ass & getting cardio in

[@MrPrincetrumpet]

Great question because it gets to the heart of a problem most trumpeters face. The tightness with which many wind players play affects more than our sounds. I would say that a casual observation of the greatest singers in history and the way they hold their heads "back" with the chin down is a place to start. Then, look at pictures of Bud Herseth, Wynton Marsalis, and Doc Severinsen and notice how much they look like those great singers. The point is that this "position" with the eyes up, chin down, and head over spine helps the body to be relaxed and efficient. Watch a great basketball player shoot a foul shot and you'll see strength and relaxation balanced to execute the shot. They never think of themselves as "tense", physically. When you balance the relaxation of your body with the strength of the embouchure, you can lower the middle C, F# and G natural that people complain of. The same goes for the High C you asked about. If your tongue is overactive and you are hissing the sound, yes, you're going to play sharp. Relax the body, relax the pitch.

[@MrPrincetrumpet]

I will figure out how to demonstrate this for a future video.

[@jambajoby32]

@@MrPrincetrumpet thank you! I know what you’re saying but I cannot yet apply that I do get a hissing & only when I’m practicing physical health, I can press/blow that note down It feels like im trying to hold a ball underwater but it wants to surface so it takes more energy to hold it under

[@jambajoby32]

@@MrPrincetrumpet one trick my teacher showed me (he got this from a great trumpeter 😉) is to take in an extremely slow but active breath & the last 20% or so, a VERY ACTIVE breath & allow it to FLOW outward in a positive forward direction as we play the horn

[@MrPrincetrumpet]

@@jambajoby32 That's basically how I breathe. I start breathing gently and then take the last bit in the tempo, connecting the end of the breath to the start of the note.