The following is designed to help you establish a regular, daily pattern of practicing, to both optimize your development and maintain your existing skills....
Please be aware that a daily routine should not be considered to be *practice* as such(since practice may be seen as something that is done when the time is available), but as a necessary part of your daily life, much the same as brushing your teeth, washing your face, and the like....
No approach to playing will ever work for you until and unless you are willing to commit yourself to a certain amount of time every day....I'd suggest that you plan your routine for rather early in the day, if possible. That way, should distractions occur, you will have already accomplished a major goal for yourself(every day)....
Accomplishing a major goal(completing your routine) on a daily basis will do more than improve your trumpet playing: it will enhance your overall self-image and self-esteem, as well as awakening your mind's abilities to function better in communication across the separate hemispheres of the brain, increase the oxygenation of your bloodstream, and help you to attain confidence and balanced relaxation throughout the rest of your day...
TOOLS NEEDED
STEP ONE
WARMUP
Using the warmups I've provided you, let's wake up your face<!>
1. Gently buzz your lips on two separate pitches, slurring up & down, from low to higher and back again...repeat this 2 or 3 times, just enough to get the feeling of vibration in your lips.
2. Repeat the first step, but this time buzz on your mouthpiece...Be sure to hold the mpc gently(usually between the thumb and first two fingers), and try to stay as close as possible to your natural playing position(for clarification, see my *anchor spot* reference).
3. Place your mpc into your trumpet's receiver, and tap <very> gently to establish the pitch of C(or Bb concert--we're assuming you're using a Bb trumpet for the routine)...Now, play gentle, double pedals, beginning 2 octaves below the low C on the trumpet, and proceeding down by half-steps(using the valves to move down chromatically)....
NOTE: if you have trouble getting the pedals to speak, tilt your trumpet's bell toward the ceiling, place the outside rim of the mpc just under the base of your nose, roll your bottom lip way out(but keep your top lip gently touching the bottom lip), and gently roll the trumpet down, just until the mpc is in contact with both lips--The bottom lip should be rolled far enough that it is actually outside the bottom rim of the mpc...You may need to tilt the trumpet up or down slightly to get the pedals to speak...REMEMBER:this is not a regular embouchure setting--it is for very low pedals ONLY!
4. Once you've played the pedals long enough to feel that your
face is tingling(but not stinging--If your lips sting at any
point, you are blowing TOO HARD...Be gentle during this phase of your
warmups and you'll be more powerful than you ever thought you could be
later on) SET your chops by playing a second line G for about 2 or 3 seconds
and then, in the same breath, slurring up to third space C, which you should
hold for 5 to 10 seconds.
You should feel a clear *click* as you change from
the G to the C--be sure to use more air intensity to play higher, and allow
your bottom lip to roll up towards the top lip to change harmonics....
Repeat these patterns, using the time frame above,
through the different fingerings suggested, and move to the higher
harmonics as you are ready...
5. TONGUING. Be sure to set the tip of your tongue against the bottom edge of your top teeth(NOT on the *roof of your mouth*, unless you're striving for legato tonguing), and after the attack to rest the tip of the tongue along the top edge of the bottom teeth to keep the lower lip from collapsing into the mouth(which makes the tone go flat)....
Strive for clean, clear marcato attacks, but not long notes...It is the initial burst of air that taxes the lips the most, and will, in the long run provide you with the fastest development...
Listen carefully to your attack, and avoid any type of *chirping* sound(which indicates that the tongue is not sufficiently pointed, or has slipped onto the back of the top teeth, or even to the roof of the mouth)....Follow the sheet for tonguing/and tessitura....
When you feel you have reached your limit, try three times to complete the exercise...If after 3 tries you haven't reached the note, leave it for today, it will be there next time or the time after that...Don't allow yourself to become obsessed by exercises<!>
6. Lip flexes/ripples....At this stage, you'll see fastest results by doing the *ripples* exercise, that is, the fast/lazy octave slurs, played by hitting every harmonic in the octave in rapid succession...This is the very best way to train your bottom lip to do its job....
Again, when trying for higher notes, make three attempts(but do go down the chromatic fingerings...sometimes a C won't come out, but a Bb or A WILL), and then move on....
STEP TWO
Go to page 297 in the Arban's book(or whatever page Characteristic Studies, # 13 is located upon)....
The focus on this exercise is with playing gently/softly and moving your airstream...Be sure to finger the valves decisively and concentrate on *riding the airstream* THROUGH the phrases....
Long term goal: play the entire page
Short term goal: play to first breath mark
Do make a point of using the alternate fingerings in the measures where marked....
TECHNICAL STUDIES APPROACH: (part 2)