Weird high note stuff

[PiccoloTrombonist1]

I should preface this by saying that my highest note (that makes a normal sound) is C5. However, I can kind of “play” up to a Bb5, heavy emphasis on the kind of. The problem is that it just sounds weird, and lots of the time, my air will get caught in my cheeks, causing them to puff out (I know that this is bad, and as soon as I feel it coming I stop playing the note. I also generally don’t play these notes unless I’m exploring my upper range). Why is this? (Recording shows me playing Ab5 then Bb5)


I will say that when I hold my cheeks shut with my hand, I do end up playing something that sounds more like a note, just with double buzz.

[Posaunus]

Perhaps that Skype lesson with Doug Elliott could address this issue (and others).

[Olofson]

Any trombone teacher will do.

[Nolankberk]

Your low range will improve your high range

[norbie2018]

Your low range will improve your high range

How? What precise exercises/approach can be offered that will help this person and others reading this thread?

[Nolankberk]

Your low range will improve your high range

How? What precise exercises/approach can be offered that will help this person and others reading this thread?

Sorry, phrased that wrong. He needs to work on the mid low register before he jumps to the high. He has previous posts here talking about struggles with making sound in the register below. Long tones in the mid register can never hurt.

[norbie2018]

[tbdana]

You might be closing down so hard you're cutting off the tonal vibrations.

[timothy42b]

You're pinching your lips together to get a small aperture but it's not working. (distorts the shape) I think that tension might be the same reason you have the tone problem.

You know, the one Doug can probably fix in 15 minutes. And that just might fix your high range problem too.