My grandpa from Germany sent me a 100 year old trumpet book and for his birthday I'm going to play him a song from the book he sent me. This was a really big help because I couldn't hit the high d's in the BOOK. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I love reading the comments by the young trumpet players. I was where you are. long ago, and your struggle is the same one I went through. I played in high school marching band, symphonic band, jazz band, and pep band. I played in drum & bugle corps, madrigal pageants, and small choral ensembles, and every imaginable setting. I struggled with range, like most trumpet players. Or at least I wanted to play higher than I could. Let's face it - there's nothing else in the musical world that compares to the sound of a strong lead trumpet player cranking out a scorching double-high C. In my senior year in high school, even a high F was a risky proposition. It was really frustrating. I had developed some bad habits and they were holding me back. The problem is that at that time there weren't many good teachers to pick from, so there was nobody to call me on my bad habits. We were on our own, for the most part. You might get lucky and have a band director that was a brass player, but that's about the most you could hope for. I moved on to other things, and didn't touch a trumpet for almost 30 years. But all the while, quietly the trumpet doodled away in the back of my mind. A couple years ago for whatever reason I found myself watching lots of trumpet technique KZfaq videos, and my curiosity started to get stoked. A year and a half ago, I hit the "Fuck It" button and bought a trumpet on eBay just like the one I played in high school. I had the muscle memory from all those years ago, plus the wisdom of guys like Barry - and Greg Spence of MysteryToMastery, and Larry Meregillano. I gave my embouchure and technique a drastic makover. It's been quite a ride, to say the least. Thus far I've mostly worked on tone production, keeping all the registers connected...and of course, range. I'm playing easy double-high C's routinely now, for 15-20 seconds one-handed and with lots of "sizzle." For once I feel that there's no limit on my range or endurance - something which in high school I considered to be "magic" or only attainable by a few "freaks." It's not magic. It's solid technique and hard work. If you want to improve, then listen, learn, play, and repeat. Be a sponge - learn everything you can from everyone you talk or listen to. Keep an open mind - some players' advice will resonate with you and be useful, and other advice won't make much sense. That's okay; every player is truly an instrument unto him/herself. Play nice...;-)

Lot's of "I'm 'X' years old and have been playing for 'Y' years/months and I can hit a 'Z', is that good?" comments here... Seriously guys, learning to play an instrument takes time. Don't expect to be a professional in a year. Also, what notes you can hit/can't hit doesn't make you good/bad. Being a good musician is not all about hitting high notes. I think it's good not to compare yourself to others all the time. Just be yourself. It doesn't matter how long you have been playing. Some people learn faster, some learn slower. There's always somebody better than you. It's not a competition. For some it takes a couple of years, for others it takes decades to get on the same level. It's a lot about how you practice. Some people "get it" on the first time, and for others it takes a lot longer - they may build bad habits and it takes even more time. So just be yourself. Don't compare yourself to others too much. You are what you are and there's nothing you can do about it. The only thing you can do is practice, and you will get better.

Over a million views now, yeah, Barry!! You rock! Miss you, friend! Stay well. I’m about to dig in to these exercises, much needed now.

Well said Barry. It's not just about hitting the high note, it's about the phrasing and interpretation that makes a lead player exactly that, a leader in the band. I remember watching you play at Berklee back in '80-'81. The best player in the school aside from Makoto Ozone. Glad to see you still playing and teaching others.

Thank you for posting this. I ,too, had the privilege of studying with Carmine (RIP) back in the early 80's. I remember his tiny office, in Manhattan, with all the file cabinets. He was a master. Kind of like "Yoda" for Trumpet players.

Unless I'm mistaken, you played with Luis "Perico" Ortiz Latin Orchestra in the mid 1980s. You were outstanding!!!

It cannot be said too often .... you have a fantastic sound Barry!

I like the simple approach with the weight lifter analogy. I also like the Louis Maggio idea of using the low note to re-anchor your chops.

Great advice. I am a classical player and this is exactly how I prepare to play the piccolo pieces like the Michael Haydn Concerto...with the trippple high C. Thanks, Elliott Oppenheim, Trilllium Brass Trio

I was stuck at a high F for about a year and a half and I was beginning to get very very frustrated..... I've been doing this for about a week and a half and now I can play a very solid high G! Thank you soooo much :) maybe I'll be screaming by football season ;)

That just happens sometimes, we have days when high notes are really easy then the next day they're impossible. It's annoying but natural (unless you're seriously good ;) )

Thank you for this, Barry. The low G check-in has become a staple of my practice routine. If at the end of an exercise I can't get a low C and a low G to speak clearly and without any raspy-ness, then I know I've used too much pressure or I need to take a break.

Ive been playing for 2 months and I really want to work myself up to play higher! I know it takes so much time but ahhh I just wanna do it!

Barry is an amazing musician. We played jazz together in high school and he was always a few steps ahead of me with his knowledge and experience in music. I am happy that he has fame and fortune now. John Wright

Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience Barry!

I am currently working on getting up to high C consistently. I have been taking lessons since last February, and got high G in about 4 lessons, however, only 3 whole notes higher is giving me fits. The real frustrating thing is, I was blowing up a storm last week, high C down to B to B flat to G then back up again, and it sounded great! When my instructor came the next Wednesday, I was excited to show him what I did, and couldn't get high C to save my life! I was so embarrassed! It's real hard!!

I am a 3 month old fetus and I have been playing for 10 years and I can hit a thousand note long fortississimo high triple c, is that good?

Comeback player..I,ve been coming back to the trumpet for 52 years...now playing lead with one reading big band and second with another. I have a lead trumpet New Years gig with heavy charts, 4 sets...I've been using this approach playing this exercise and then resting, done, no more playing on the in between days that I setup a swing drummer track and play the complete 4 sets, counting rests and all every other day until the gig..resting the day before Here's the best thing I heard you say...I am absolutely in agreement about the musicality, comes from lots of listening to AND being able to recall the tone, sound, phrasing and swing of the best most musical players..then try to recreate whatever style the arrangement calls for from one's musical memory...then... to "play it back" through the trumpet..makes the music live again.. thanks for the encouragement. I'm up to the double Gs.. on Moten Swing..

Its all in the chops alignment. Faddis is amazing. A true Artist in every sense of the word.

9 years in and I finally figured it out. thanks for the wisdom and phat Double C.

the 303 people who disliked can’t play above the staff

So precious advices

Thanks for breaking it down and explaining it so simply! God bless!

This is amazing. I've always wanted to play a double C, and with this method, it may be possible. I'm a sophomore in highschool now, and the highest note that I've been able to hit is a double A, and that was once on a good day. I think by my senior year, I'll be able to hit a high C. Thank you for this!

I've been playing for a little over a year now. I can get high c and now we're learning the f major scale and the high notes are so so difficult. I also have braces.

You rock, Barry!

I WILL TRY THAT,THANK YOU BARRY.

I have a big problem with my range. I've been playing for almost 8 years, and I still cannot play the high C. I don't know if it is because my lips are too big, if my embouchure not right, or if I'm not practicing enough. Everybody else in my high school band plays a hell of a lot better than me in terms of range, and I practice a lot (or at least I think so). All I want is to just play in the high register easily, but I still struggle to reach the top line F. The funny thing is, I actually don't have many problems when playing pedal tones. I can even play pedal G (octave below G below the staff) quite easily.

Sure fire way to to play high notes; Stand on a step ladder.

Excellent Barry. Thanks!

Great class Barry. Thanks a lot.

Hey guys I am 4 years old and can play a quadruple high c with quadruple tonguing. Is that good?

the highest I can play up to right now is the double F lmao. I'm in Opelika marching band and there's a few parts throughout the show to where me and my friend have to play the double F. Once you hit it and know how to get there it's so fun to play tho lmao.

Right on Barry - thank you!

Thank You So Much! This is the exact thing i was looking for to help me learn to play those freakishly high, high notes.

What people don't realise is this:- If you can hit anything higher than a G on top of the stave, you can also hit a high C. It is all the same harmonic with you mouth. You just use the valves to flatten it the appropriate amount. All valves make the trumpet longer and therefore produce a lower sound. So if you're hitting a high A or B you can hit a C just as easily. Your only restriction is your you thinking that "oh a C is too high for me"

I'm a fan of musicality, but in a specific range building exercise i don't think vibrato should be there as it can take away from the control and tone involved in sustaining these high notes, especially when reaching the maximum of your range. I feel like vibrato should be added after the note is comfortable

Thank you for all your help.

Great exercise.... Thanks Barry (& Jon)

This video was made 8 years ago!! Who else 2018?

I searched up Imagine Dragons Demons then I some how got here. This may help me with my trumpet

Great advice! Especially about learning to control your aperture.

I'm 18 and have been playing for 8 years. I have been working on my range all this time, and while it isn't perfect, it has improved drastically once I started viewing playing trumpet as a very physical activity. Great tips.

Scales scales scales scales scales scales scales scales

My first year on trumpet, and the highest I can get is the G right above the staff.

Great Video,Barry!! Im a 50 yr. old comeback player who was gone for 25 years, and Im going to try your tips!!! Unfortunately, I dont have anywhere to play but home(I work so much) so maybe I can just get better for me!! I play lead guitar in my weekend band, and we were doing "Sweet Home Chicago",but I dont think our crowd liked the trumpet solo I did........you know-bar crowds arent usually into horns....its been about 6 months since I quit taking my horn to the gig....gotta get back-PRACTICE!

This summer, practicing high notes is going to be all I do. I'm gonna be first chair next year.

8th grade been playin for a week and can barely hit an A (the one within the Staff) only played for a week or 2 hopefully I get better .. Going from sax to trumpet is us hard

i can play high G and High F comfortably sometimes and i usually was able to hit high E easily but i can't anymore so I'll try this out

HAHA! My trumpet teacher a while back told me the SAME EXACT THING YOU SAID IN THIS VIDEO! The reason I'm looking it up is because I forgot what he said, and no i have it on recording! Thank you so much, great video!

... wise words. Thanks Barry!

Hey, y'all. I've been playing for 17 years and can hit only play a D under the staff. Is this any good? It is the only note I know how to play.

The comment section of this video XD Like kids do you even know what actual trumpet playing is. It's not about being that guy who screams douba g's it's about being a musician

Great playing and good advices!

Good instruction from a very experienced individual! You have great buzz in your tone, I started playing 3rd &4th trumpet mainly harmony and I love the rich fat tone of any trumpet and love playing on the lower end but always wanted to learn how to advance to the upper register. It was like I hit a brick wall but your method has unlocked a door for me thanks!

I have to play the lead for the national anthem next month. This is going to end badly. I can play high notes but they're super quiet...

Lol I'm screwed, have a audition on Tuesday and I can barely hit the second highest not of the song.

Finally someone with some simply philosophy and common sense - so many snooty grad students telling to do 1000 things. Thanks for not over complicating . X

Great teaching, thanks for sharing :)

*looks at comments until video loads* "Whoa sweet unibrow bruh"

I have a trumpet test in 2 weeks... GMEA... im screwed

Great lesson!!! Thanks!

Very helpful! I really appreciate your posting this; a lot of good, sensible advice. The comparison with body building is right on. Thanks for putting this up.

I'm in 7th grade and in symphonic band, which is above average, but I can't get higher than a D any help.

Ok so im not the best screamer, im 16 playing in highschool marching band i can get to a double G but the tone is horrible, and it is really quiet, anyone know why and how to fix?

You are putting great information out their. Keep up the great work. I agree with what you are saying.

I play sax, but really enjoyed your explanations! You're right, if the trumpet section (especially the led) does not have good intonation and balance, nothing else anybody does matters. I admire you guys that play well up there in the stratosphere.

just blow air don't pinch

I play the trumpet and I know the C,Bb,Eb,and F scale

Thank you Mr. Dijkstra.

Great video, thanks. I am not a trumpet player but when I played in college I played in the concert band on trumpet for a year. I found that doing sirens from low as I could go to as high as I could go quickly helped me build up my chops. I was playing first part by the end of the year. Wow, what a brutal instrument this can be. It quickly became a favorite of mine to try and play well. I have respect for you, man. I will have my students try this and see where they get with it.

lol I'm 10 and can do a b c d e f g

Whats up with the vibes in the back?

This is what I learned to do even as you demonstrate. Got tired of the blowout at the apex or end especially when doing a run. Loved my trumpet and played french horn a while too. Used to listen to all the jazz greats and the big bands. Good video! Good advice!

Great advice! thank you

I'm a beginner and I need to play high A not c

Do you even lift?

Thank you!! This really helped me since I'm first trumpet in my band

Thank you for the great tip.. I'll incorporate this technique into my routine

I don't understand

Hi guys I'm a clarinet player, and I can play higher than all of you. Isn't talking trash fun?

I know what you mean when only air comes out if you dont loosen up after playing high notes for a while so thanks for the tip it really helped me out!

Besides, its a friendly competition and they all know who is the best out of the group and they give out awards selected BY THEIR PEERS at the end of the school year. They try their hardest, and when their friends beat them out, it helps them take the initiative to get better. I don't know about you and your bands, but this works best for their group. And since I've been in that band, they have gotten SO much better, especially with the band director who's now been there for 6 years.

geez I can't even hear what the heck the guy is saying and when he plays the trumpet its them way to loud !!!!!

Im 12 but i strugle to hit high C on the stave but ive been playing for 8 months is that bad

It's been helping me, thanks a lot! My range went up a lot since I started this!

love this video, nice tone quality. im a senior in high school after summer and i'd love to play like that some day.

Barry you are amazing. I saw you in Oslo Norway with TOP . I didn't even know they made notes that you play.

Best advice out there.

Gladiator trumpet - love the term! I call it stunt trumpet - high notes without musicality. Great stuff, Barry!

This is really great! Started playing this about 15-20 minutes ago to see how it helps. I can hit a B fine but stuggle on the C, after doing this my C is perfectly clear! Great advice

Right on Barry!

Useful exercise, thanks!

I like your spirit.

I don't even play trumpet. I play trombone, relearning it with braces now, and this helped so, so much. I'm always looking for better warmup routines, and I think I might start doing this every time I practice.

Awesome video!!

This video really helped with my high notes. Thx so much.

Great video!!!!!

As a relative new trumpet player at the age of 47! Just want to say, I find these things seriously affect my ability to climb comfortably above C ON the staff, 1. poor posture. 2. Allowing the lips to blow out. If I focus on pushing air from my diaphragm area, and keep my body from slouching, I can get a D through to G on top of stave, on a good day. I am beginning to take lessons, and I have been advised to pay much more attention to playing long low notes whilst warming up, which builds the support around the mouth, that in time will help with the high notes. I like many others, assumed that with a few months of practice I'd have the standard register to C above stave sorted within months!! My reason was not to show off, but just be able to tackle music I want to play, but you have to walk before you run, even when you're 47!