Two questions about trumpet range and increasing volume?

Question

I just started playing the trumpet a few months ago and right now I can't play very loudly. My fortissimo sounds like a mezzo piano and my forte fortissimo sounds like a mezzo Forte. Are there any excercises that can help me increase my volume? I desperately need to increase it because half of the trumpets in the school band are graduating at the end of this school year. As for the second question it's just a simple yes or no question I just need reassurance on this one point. As you develop the umbeture(spelling?) your range increases, right?

Answer 1

For volume, you need to push the air from your diaphram, just like you would if you were singing. Practicing will help with this a lot. Your range will increase as you develop the muscles needed. Just keep practicing and it will come.

You should probably practice over the summer to make sure that you don't lose the muscle tone and to improve on these things.

Our school only has about 6 trumpets and only 4 of us actually play. Two will be graduating this year, but I think that we're going to get about 3 good players from the middle school. Either way, the band teacher won't let me do flags next year, but I'll be getting all the solos!

Answer 2

The best way to increase both volume and range is to be sure that you are playing with enough breath support. Always check your posture and position and make sure that both the angle of your body and the angle of the instrument on your face are appropriate. If you just started and you can't play very loudly, hang in there. After only a few months of playing, nobody can expect you to have tons of volume or range. The best thing to do is take it slowly, and continue to work on your lip slurs, both on only your mouthpiece, and working down the valve progression on the trumpet. And yes, after your develop embouchure (it's a french word) your range should increase. You're trying to train very small muscles in your face and mouth, and you need to remember that playing a brass instrument is not too far off from playing a sport. Body parts only get stronger with proper training. If you have any doubts about your embouchure being correct, you should consult your teacher in school. They may recommend you to work with a private teacher, which seems like it would be a good idea for you anyway, if it was a possibility. The best thing is that you are motivated, and that you care! Good for you, keep up the practicing!

Answer 3

Based on what you've told me you sound like your a high school student that recently started trumpet. That is a lot different than a 5th grader that starts out. Also it seems that you already realize that the more air you blow the louder the trumpet plays. So I can only assume that you are blowing a lot of air but are not getting the results. If this is wrong than blow! If my assumtion is right than you have a different problem. If your experiencing back pressure than something is blocking the air from fully getting into your horn.

There are three possibilities. Let's start with the easiet. When was the last time your horn was cleaned out? You should have a mouthpiece brush, valve brush, snake brush, slide grease (vasaline will do), and valve oil. Have a friend from the trumpet section help you clean it out. There is an outside chance that there is enough build up of junk that it is restricting the flow of air.

The second thing is your mouthpiece. What size is it? Unfortunately the industry doesn't work on much of a standard. Different manufactors have different labeling systems. If you purchased the horn new, and if its more of a student line horn it's likely equivalent to a bach 7C. You don't want anything smaller. If you have a bach mouthpiece the lower the number the bigger the mouthpiece. If it's not a bach show it to your band director and or trumpet player friends and have them compare it to a bach 7C.

Lastly you could be pinching off your airflow with you embrochure. If your pushing your lips together to create a buzz your likely creating far to much resistance. The opening between your lips as you blow is called your aperature. It needs to be open enough to allow air to flow through easily. Careful though, if you open up to far you lose focus to your sound and overall control. Without working with you directly I can't tell you which is the best answer. It likely could be a combination as well.

As far as range, many trumpet players take the approach of more air equals higher notes. Thus obtaining the upper range through brute force. This works, but it takes a lot longer to develop control. The key is to speed up your air. Learn the difference between faster air and more air. You speed up your air two ways. Elevate your tongue, this makes the mouth cavity smaller and makes the air your blowing naturally speed up. The other way, and the key to range, is by making your aperature smaller. Don't make the mistake of pulling your corners back, like smiling, as you go up. Sure it works, but it thins your lip out resulting in a pinched sound. You also lose your lip cusion so your endurance goes down. Actually tighten your corners towards the center of your aperature. You'll notice your lip firms up and the cusion remains. Pracitce slur exercises that take you from the low range and slur up to higher notes. Don't let your corners pull back, pull them in.

Sorry, I got carried away with my answer. Hope you found it helpful.

20 yrs.as band director/trumpet player and private teacher

Answer 4

Volume will come with practice. What you should work on is your breathing. Fill up the horn with all the air that you can and keep it consistent. Don't be afraid to blow it and don't put just enough air in to get a sound. When I taught trumpet, that was one of the two biggest problems I found in young students. They get a sound out and think they've done something. If you are using a stand to put your music on, which is what I hope you are doing when you practice, try to blow the music off the stand through your trumpet.

As for range, it comes with practice, too. One big warning. Don't use your "octave elbow"! I can't tell you how many trumpet players work on range and press the horn so tight to their chops that they cut off the buzz and get nowhere. Build up your chops and range will come. Slur exercises are a good way to develop range. Don't push. If anything, try to blow the horn off your face. I watched Doc Severinson put a trumpet on a stool, not touch it with anything but his lips and play super "C". No pressure was needed. Air speed will give you the range.

Answer 5

You should develop a practice routine and STICK TO IT! Start with a deep breathing exercise (4 times each-> in 8,out 8, in4, out 4, in 3, out 3, so on until in 1, out 1 and do that for a minute to start).
Then long tones from a comfortable note (C) down chromaticaly thru petal tones, back to the starting note and up chrom. to your highest.
Find an exercise book you like (Rubank Intermediate/Advanced Method) and pick a few technical passages to run through everyday. Sight-read a few everyday too.
Scales-Chromatic, Major
School stuff
Warm-Down- long tones, buzzing, or breathing exercise in reverse

You're right about the ombrechure. Just try do make it the same everytime you play so you get a muscle memory thing going.

Answer 6

For increasing your volume, try any sort of breathing excersize you can think of. for example, put a piece of paper on a wall and try to keep it there by blowing on it. My band directer has the symphonic band do breathing excersizes before band all the time. Also, breathing in, holding it, then exhaling...you know, that sort of thing. Practicing using as much air as possible will also help. You should feel like you're over blowing. As for the second question, your range should increase with your sound,because you'll be taking in more air, therefore it will be easier to play into the high octives. Your embouchure should also be strenghtening with the air support and volume. Which will give you more confidence of which will make you play better. It all really comes down to practice, and lots of it.

Answer 7

If you just started playing a few months ago, then you won't be able to play very loudly, anyway. Just remember that volume is relative. You are correct about your second question, though.

Answer 8

Try buzzing louding and force more air into the instrument. Also for range, try not to do it all at once, go gradually.

Answer 9

to get louder you need to open your throat like you are yawning...