Click Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 I have been practicing on range about 2:30 - 3:00 a day all this week. But since Tuesday my range has slowly gotten worse. Could it be that I am wearing my chops out by practicing high notes too much? Should I take a day off before my corps camp this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mafields627 Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 You should only do serious range work every other day, no more than three days a week. Perhaps once every two days. Building range is just like lifting weights. You don't lift every day. When you lift, you're breaking your muscles down. You have to give them time to rebuild and get stronger. The same is true for working on the upper register. Take it easy and the range will come. Don't overdo it. When you're working on range, make sure you're working on your tone at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabsbaritone Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 I'm no longer a sop player But when I was the Best advice I got was that in order to Practice the High Notes... Ya better be willing to Practice Just as much if not more on the Low stuff... And REAL LOW stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralTsoChicken Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 Well, i'm not a t-pet or sop player, but i can tell you what Arnold Jacobs philosophy was on the subject. *i assume this carries over on other instruments* It is best to focus on the whole range of the instrument with scales multiple octaves. This takes the good habits of your middle and lower register and carries the tone and correct embouchure to the higer range, as well as building comoplectic lip strength and somewhat of a muscle memory for the higer range. (he said to be very careful with this statement, meaning that the sound was more important than the feel, but none the less). Scales, scales, scales... they are good for the mental aspect as well, and hey if you ever tryout for a military band or a big orchestra they are nice as well. Happy high notes, ~Rust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolf1 Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 pedal tones good.... ^0^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spcbrass Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 I have been practicing on range about 2:30 - 3:00 a day all this week. But since Tuesday my range has slowly gotten worse. Could it be that I am wearing my chops out by practicing high notes too much? Should I take a day off before my corps camp this weekend? Well depending on how much time you practice overall too can have something to do with it. Above all make sure you feel comfortable when practicing your range excercises and such. And as others have said I don't reccomend the high stuff every day. Work your range up high one day then down low the next. Also keep in mind that playing high is not what is impressive, anyone can play high, only a talented few can play high with ease and a with a great sound. Don't try to increase your range only, but rather your accuracy towards a particular range. As you increase your accuracy (in either direction) your chops will take less of a beating and you will be able to achieve the notes much easier which will then allow you to be able to increase your "range" further. Quality practice is the key, not quantity. 15 - 20 min a day working on your accuracy will go much farther then 25 - 30 just hammering away at the high stuff. That's all for now Shawn C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_Bonfig Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 I agree strongly with the Tastee Bros philosphy: Practice often, not long. Also, I will personally attest the Arnold Jacobs thing - the more I play in general, no matter what range I'm playing in, it tends to get my flexibility going, my air moving right and my chops back in shape. This allows me more high notes than if I specifically work on high notes. And yes, using the fast air and flexibiltiy that it takes to play low notes will do as much for high notes as actually trying to play high notes. I just agree with everyone today! :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hnate Posted February 15, 2003 Share Posted February 15, 2003 And make sure you warm down from your practicing too.. that will help put your chops away for another day. pedal tones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blaringbrass Posted February 16, 2003 Share Posted February 16, 2003 Lip slurs and arpegios in all registers, high and low, cromatically, etc will work wonders. Take baby steps, focus on air and tone, oh and a big thing for playing high... THINK FAR NOT HIGH. The Vizutti method books cover all kids of lip slurs and stuff, arbans is also a good book for that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjwbrass Posted February 25, 2003 Share Posted February 25, 2003 B) Hi. Are you there? i saw your posting on the message board about practicing your range and how much you practice, the best advice to give is to not play so much high range and merely work on peddle tones and chromatic scales from peddle to three octaves and back down and back up, then half octave work. this will improve your range as well as improving your tone quality and pitch in that range. many mistakes of kids, especially dci soloists is playing in the upper range but with poor quality and not actually finding the correct pitches. work on these chromatic exercises and you will be amazed how quickly your problem will diminish, i hope this helps. phil brass caption head for 7th regiment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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