Posted by GC on March 31, 2001 at 02:15:17:
In Reply to: Need help with range. posted by Carla Garcia on March 30, 2001 at 23:25:37:
Try this exercise (I'm assuming you're playing a BBb horn). Start with Bb in the staff, pick a moderate tempo and play a whole note, then rest 4 counts. Play C above it 4counts, rest 4 counts, then the same for D, Eb, and on up the Bb scale as high as you can go. Above high Bb, try open for C and 1/2 or 3 for D. Rest for a minute, then play the same exercise but go eight counts with each note and rest. Do this twice a day every day, and you'll begin to pick up high range.
Important: play strongly and with the best possible tone, and don't overblow. Don't let your sound get pinched and don't make radical shifts in your embouchure just to force high notes. After playing high for a while, always play some low exercises to relax the lip.
After doing these and resting a little, try 2 octave arpeggios of all your scales, going up the scales chromatically from low to high. Play each arpeggio scaccato, legato, and slurred. Keep your note transitions in the slurs as seamless, quick, and smooth as possible. As little motion of the lip and change in set as possible will assist in keeping it smooth.