Top Tier Trumpeting Web VF
Top Tier Trumpeting Web VF
Jesse-G
10 Top Tone Exercises Toot Your Own Horn LLC
#1 The Quiet Killer
3
3 3 3 3
3 3
3
3
g
3 3 3 3
gliss. gliss.gliss.
6
3 3 3 3
Make sure to take a full 1-2 minute rest. Set a timer to ensure you've
rested. Do not proceded higher if the last exercise you played was not
reasonably easy, comfortable, and beautiful. The sound should come
freely and with good response. As you go higher the tongue must
elevate, the embouchure must be coordinated, strong, and steadfast.
Abdominal engagement is a must for good breath support and
compression. Remember to do this exercise QUIETLY. The whole
point here is to re-enforce good form. Power will come later. Have a
patience and prudence, trust the process.
3
3 3 3 3
3 3
3
Repeat 2-5x
3 3 3 3
gliss. gliss.gliss.
6
3 3 3 3
2
3
3 3 3 3
3 3
3
3
g
3 3 3 3
gliss. gliss.gliss.
6
3 3 3 3
1-2 minutes of rest, I see you trying to ignore the text! Get your
stop watch out. The goal is not endurance here, so we want to make
sure that each attempt is on fresh chops! You'll be tempted to play
these exercises loudly, again, resist that temptation. That is the
little trumpet devil speaking over your shoulder. Don't listen to
him, he wants to set you back. We want to FIND our range with
these exercises so that we can build upon them in the subsequent
exercises of this book! Keep the air stream steady as you do these,
don't let the soft volume throw you off, a little persistence on this will
soon fix any response issues you have.
3
3
3 3 3
3 3
3
g . g
Repeat 2-5x
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
Alright you know the drill. 1-2 minutes rest. Did you manage to
throw that dastardly devil off your shoulder yet and play these
exercises at a proper piano dynamic? Good. As we continue to
ascend I want you to pay closer attention to your abdominal
muscles. What are they doing? Are your bracing them properly
throughout the entire exercise? If, not pay close attention. Your
abs are they key to compressing your air. This gives the air speed and
energy. If you forget to brace the abs your chops will take a beating
and your endurance will plummet.
3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
4
3
3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
5
3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3
1-2 minutes of rest or until fresh. Remember the rules, if you have
to force do not move on. Better to strengthen the range you have,
than to force your way higher with bad form. The range will come
with consistent practice and proper recovery. Your breath should
always be appropriate for the phrase. Do not take in too much or too
little air. Find the "Goldilocks Zone". As you continue to ascend into
the realm of trumpet gods remember to set your embouchure for the
top note of the exercise from the beginning! This will stop you from
having to make adjustments as you ascend making the acsent feel
much more secure.
3 3
3
3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
6
3 3
3
3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
1-3 minutes rest. Boy oh boy, you're getting up there now! Good
job. Now, let's stay focused. We really need to keep excess
pressure at bay here. This is where most trumpet players try
using the pinky ring as an octave key by smashing the horn into
the face. Don't do it! Try making the sound of a sizzling pan or the
hiss of a cat to continue elevating the tongue. Coordinate the
embouchure so that you find security and response in this register.
As you get closer to your max range remember that we are
trying to build good muscle memory so we can remember how
these notes feel ALL the time.
3
3
3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
7
3
3
3 3 3 3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
1-3 minutes rest. Nice work getting up here! If you can get F# and G
to feel comfortable, respond easily, and sound good at piano you'll be
ahead of 95% trumpet players. At this point you know the drill. Solid
and responsive embouchure. Rest until fresh. Fast air through
strong abs and a raised tongue position. If you can go higher, keep
going! But remember the rules. It must FEEL good and also SOUND
good! Let this be your trumpet north star. If you stray from the path
just look at the North Star. FEELS good, SOUNDS good.
3
3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
8
#2 The Scale Builder
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Although this exercise may seem simple at first glance, the true
challenge becomes apparent when you concentrate on maintaining
equal tone, timbre, articulation, intonation, and accuracy across all
notes. Notice the dynamic marking of MP (Don't worry we will get to
the power later).
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Be mindful of your sound during each exercise. Listen closely - does each note
resonate? Are you hearing rich overtones in your sound? Is your tone open,
clean, and clear? Are you satisfied with the sound you're producing? Does it feel
effortless or strenuous?
Why does your sound resonate or not? Why are you hearing or not hearing
abundant overtones in your sound? And so on.
Asking "Why?" is one of the most powerful tools you can utilize on your journey
toward trumpet mastery. By asking the right questions, you can begin to
discover the answers that will lead to your improvement and success.
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As you practice each exercise, concentrate on your intonation. Are you consistently playing in tune,
or are there fluctuations in pitch? Can you easily adjust your pitch? Are certain registers more challenging for
you when it comes to intonation?
What factors contribute to your intonation accuracy or discrepancies? Are there specific techniques or habits
that affect your pitch stability? What strategies can you apply to improve intonation in challenging intervals
or registers?
Continuously questioning and evaluating your intonation is an essential part of developing as a trumpet
player. By understanding the causes and exploring solutions, you'll be able to refine your playing and achieve
better intonation in every aspect of your performance.
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Focus on your accuracy. Are you consistently hitting the intended notes, or
are there occasional slips and missed pitches? Take note of any patterns in
the errors – are they happening in specific registers?
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As you approach the highest note in each exercise, remember to stay relaxed
and avoid panicking. That "Uh-Oh Spaghetti-O's" moment we all get
when we start pushing to the edges of our abilities is normal, so don't let it
consume you! Keeping a calm mindset is crucial for maintaining
control and achieving those higher pitches.
Ensure that your embouchure and abdominal muscles remain firm and steady,
providing the support needed for the high notes. Avoid overblowing or forcing
the air through the instrument, as this can lead to tension, fatigue, and a
strained sound.
Maintain your focus on proper technique and breath support, trusting in your
abilities as a trumpet player. With consistent practice and a calm,
confident mindset, you'll be able to reach those high notes with ease and
precision.
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Tracking your progress meticulously is essential for optimizing your growth
as a trumpet player. By keeping a detailed record of your practice sessions
and achievements, you'll be able to identify patterns, celebrate milestones,
and pinpoint areas that require more attention.
A consistent practice log can help you set realistic goals and monitor your
improvement over time. It allows you to stay accountable and motivated,
ensuring that your efforts are purposeful and directed towards your desired
outcomes.
Use the link below to access my Trumpet Log and Planner for FREE
https://www.toot-your-own-horn.com/trumpet-practice-planner
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In this range, maintaining proper form becomes even more crucial, as it can be very tempting to
apply too much pressure. Many players might feel like they can get away with this, forcing the high C by
adding more pressure and blowing harder. While this may seem to work in the short term, it actually
reinforces a bad habit.
It's important to understand that relying on this strategy for your range is a mistake, as it doesn't
scale with increased strength and endurance. The key to unlocking your true potential lies in mastering
the correct technique and mechanics.
Think about it this way: if someone were to perform squats with poor
form – tilting heavily to one side, contorting their spine, and only doing quarter reps – would they
genuinely gain strength and endurance? The answer is no. The same principle applies to trumpet playing.
To make real progress, you must focus on maintaining good form at all times. If your form starts to
break down, take it as a sign that you've pushed too far, and refocus on the fundamentals.
Emphasizing proper technique will pave the way for consistent, long-term growth in your
trumpet playing.
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The primary goal of this book is to help trumpet players expand their range
without compromising other essential aspects of their playing. It is crucial
to emphasize that gaining a bit of extra range should not come at the expense
of tone, technique, or flexibility. Resist the temptation to make this
shortsighted trade-off due to impatience.
Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your upper register
chops. The good news is that your progress can be much quicker than building
Rome, provided you stay patient, prudent, and humble. Don't let impatience
derail your long-term growth as a trumpet player. Stay focused
on developing a well-rounded skillset, and the range will follow in due time.
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It's easy to forget these rules, but they are in place for a reason.
Adhering to these principles will help keep your chops healthy
and ensure that these exercises are as productive as possible.
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Ah yes, the dreaded Eb. This note can be rather tricky on many trumpets.
If it's really challenging for you, consider using the alternate fingering of 2+3!
It comes in handy!
As we continue to ascend, I'll gently remind you once more not to go overboard
on the breathing. Your breath should be appropriate. "More air" is not always
the right answer, and most of the time, it's not. I find it much more helpful to
consider the total context when thinking about my breath size. How loud am
I playing? How high am I going? How long do I need to play for? How much can
I effectively use? Ask yourself these types of questions and move past the
oversimplified mindset of "more air".
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It's around this range that many trumpet players start worrying about
the top note so much that they begin to lose their accuracy. So consider
this, if you will: If your notes are chipped, out of tune, if your attacks are
off and your response out of sync, what hope do you have of hitting the
top note? Don't put the cart before the horse! Focus on the fundamentals,
and the top note will come naturally.
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If you're doing this right and not skipping past what your abilities can handle,
the high F here should feel glorious, powerful, and secure. It should be as though
you're comfortably ascending a set of stairs with thick, beefy legs that are built
like a majestic stallion.
If it feels like you're holding on for dear life and that F is
only hanging on by a silk thread, you're doing this very wrong! Take a step back
and focus on building your foundation before attempting to reach higher notes.
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You might be thinking, "This guy is cautious." Perhaps, but if I am cautious, it's because
there's a real danger in working on your range the wrong way. At best, you'll simply
maintain your current abilities. At worst, you can suffer from TMJ, focal dystonia,
hernias, or other playing injuries.
I want nothing more than for you to have powerful and bulletproof chops, and I know you
can do it. I offer these warnings out of genuine care and because I've seen countless
trumpet players, including myself, go down the wrong path. I don't want that for you.
Just because I've written exercises up to F# and G doesn't mean you have to take it there.
Just because you've been working on your range for a few days, months, or years doesn't
mean you should skip ahead. Just because your friend can play in this range doesn't mean
you have to go there before you're ready. And just because a chart you have to play uses
one of these notes doesn't mean you have to play it before you have the ability to do so
properly.
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It's best to focus on the Quiet Killer and the Scale Builder exercises
for at least 2-4 weeks. Give your muscle memory time to adapt and
allow your chops to truly master these exercises within the range
you can manage. It's okay if, during those 2-4 weeks, you never reach
the top note that I've written. This book will still be here for you
later. You can always come back after working through the other
exercises and start the cycle anew. When you do that, I think you'll
be delighted to see how far you've come.