Exercise 17

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Exercise 17 is an advanced trill exercise.

To play Exercise 17

• Take a deep full breath from Place #6
• Tongue the first note of each measure cleanly
• BLAST the air to change notes, both up and down
• Make sure the lower notes are as loud or louder than the upper notes
• Try to aim at the exact same place for all the notes. Move your mouth and face as little as possible
• Use the fingerings indicated

When this example can be played cleanly start transposing up by half steps. Notice that except for the thumb valve the fingering stays the same for the entire drill.

And just so we are really clear on this the purpose of this exercise is not just to be able to play the notes. It is to try to aim in the same place and to use the air as much as possible and the embouchure as little as possible.

If you have trouble with one of the intervals try aiming lower for the upper note and blowing harder at it.  Do it several times and aim lower and blow harder each time it doesn't work. Doing it this way teaches your mouth the right shape to be in and to lead with the air. Keep at it even if the notes don't work right away. Keep aiming lower (as low as where you aim for the lower note) and blowing more sudden air to make the change.

If you hear the lower notes going sharp or the upper notes going flat then you are moving your mouth and letting the air support sag. Try to keep the notes as brick shaped as possible and the changes between notes as fast as possible.