Building Endurance
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lagggff
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2024 2:07 pm
Building Endurance
How can I practice building endurance in the high register? Ive been playing for years but I still feel so lack-luster when I have to play high, I feel like my playing dies out so quickly.
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Doug Elliott
- Posts: 3631
- Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:12 pm
- Location: Maryand
Re: Building Endurance
To have endurance you first need to be playng it correctly for your particular embouchure. It's possible to have a lot of range but still be doing it wrong, and you'll just hurt yourself that way.
Otherwise, do more of it, with enough rest and alternating with low stuff (also important to be playing correctly).
But without seeing you play I'd just be guessing.
Otherwise, do more of it, with enough rest and alternating with low stuff (also important to be playing correctly).
But without seeing you play I'd just be guessing.
"I know a thing or two because I've seen a thing or two."
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tbdana
- Posts: 1238
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2023 5:47 pm
Re: Building Endurance
As Doug said, you could be doing something wrong and there's no way to know about that.
But assuming you're doing it correctly, it still takes a tremendous amount of muscle endurance to sustain playing in the upper register. To play up there you have to move air quickly through a small hole. Forcing air through the aperture at high speed puts air pressure on your embouchure's infrastructure, and you need to be able to hold and maintain your set. With insufficient endurance and strength, you start to tire quickly.
So we can build endurance in the upper range the same way we build endurance lifting weights or running races. You simply have to practice doing it longer than you'll actually have to do it in real life. There are two approaches that should be used together. First is low intensity exercise for long stretches. Second is high intensity exercise for short stretches. They should both come with rest between efforts, and you shouldn't do them both on the same day. And you can't just do them a couple times; this requires consistency over time. Gotta work on it every day. Using that strategy will build endurance in the upper register over time.
Again, assuming you don't have any mechanical issues. If you think you might, give Dougie a Skype call.
But assuming you're doing it correctly, it still takes a tremendous amount of muscle endurance to sustain playing in the upper register. To play up there you have to move air quickly through a small hole. Forcing air through the aperture at high speed puts air pressure on your embouchure's infrastructure, and you need to be able to hold and maintain your set. With insufficient endurance and strength, you start to tire quickly.
So we can build endurance in the upper range the same way we build endurance lifting weights or running races. You simply have to practice doing it longer than you'll actually have to do it in real life. There are two approaches that should be used together. First is low intensity exercise for long stretches. Second is high intensity exercise for short stretches. They should both come with rest between efforts, and you shouldn't do them both on the same day. And you can't just do them a couple times; this requires consistency over time. Gotta work on it every day. Using that strategy will build endurance in the upper register over time.
Again, assuming you don't have any mechanical issues. If you think you might, give Dougie a Skype call.
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Savio
- Posts: 607
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:23 pm
Re: Building Endurance
I think what they all say above is very true. If there is some trouble with mechanisms, the problems might be even bigger the more you practice. If you don't have problems it will help to practice every day. Don't have to be much but every day will help. And I'm sure a skype lesson with Doug will help no matter what.
I have to practice more in the high register because I got a little schock trying the Buddy Rich solo "Wave". Have to play it in march so I just tried it. It's not that high but I got problems forming the notes the way I want. And I missed some notes. So now I have more high register in all my practice, even warm up. It helps. Also endurance.
Leif
I have to practice more in the high register because I got a little schock trying the Buddy Rich solo "Wave". Have to play it in march so I just tried it. It's not that high but I got problems forming the notes the way I want. And I missed some notes. So now I have more high register in all my practice, even warm up. It helps. Also endurance.
Leif