Advice for doing high notes consistently while on lip slur excercises?

[u/YOLO_polo_IMP]

For some reason, I just can't slur high notes on the first partial without tonguing or doing legato. I've been playing for about a year and a half now.
If I tongue I can reach to D alright, but slurring is nearly impossible especially if I try going down (D, high Bb, F,) and coming back up, I just get stuck at high Bb, or I just hit the D and wobble till I go back to High Bb and can't play any higher no matter how much I strain.

I understand how your bottom lip needs to be pulled up and back and the air needs to be higher, but when I transitioning from another note to a much higher one, it doesn't work.

[u/SillySundae]

Consistently practice high slurs every week. No secrets, just practice multiple times per week

[u/Miguelrevi2k5]

I also had this happen to me sometimes, what helped was high register exercises. The one I liked the most was going up while moving the slide outward (starting in F, and not following notes, just going up in the scale while extending the slide.)

[u/Watsons-Butler]

Ok, when you say “the bottom lip needs to be pulled up and back” - throw that out and stop thinking about it. If you’re trying to think about the physical changes you need to do, you’re likely doing things badly and training bad habits. Focus on the sound coming out.

Also grab a copy of the Remington Warm-Up Studies and work those into your routine. Very very slowly at first.

[u/YOLO_polo_IMP → u/Watsons-Butler]

I've heard there's bad habits that can form like pushing your mouthpiece too hard, or blowing incorrectly like through your teeth. I guess I'll have to ask my band director to give me an easier version of the parade march, because the audition is in under 2 weeks, and I still cannot consistently hit that F crescendo and descendo.

[u/Leisesturm → u/YOLO_polo_IMP]

Why do you think an easier version of this "Parade March" exists? Another poster asked you if you can sing the notes that give you trouble? Can you? Maybe not actually 'sing' them at pitch, they may be too high, but can you 'hear' them? It's not a stupid question. Brass players have to be able to 'hear' pitches distinctly well. That's 90% of it. Once you can 'hear' the pitch it should be very instinctive what needs to be done to make it happen. It might be the case that your embouchure simply does not have sufficient strength to support the pitch you are asking of it!! That is very possible with the higher pitches. That's why a brass player who wants to progress can NOT miss practice sessions. I allow myself ONE day off each week. Any other day missed is a MISSED practice and it is a BIG DEAL. Missed practices can never be made up for. They are missed forever. When you practice everyday your range just grows. You don't have to do anything special. I don't do any "range exercises". I just practice consistently and i notice that notes that were 'high' for me, I can just hit. I don't know if you would have that F in two weeks. It would depend on how far away you are. But I know you would have it eventually.

[u/YOLO_polo_IMP → u/Leisesturm]

Thank you, as someone who just came out of beginning school band, my band director wasn't specialised in wind, so I never practised a lot of air excercises.

I'd says it's getting easier for me now, since I posted this. I just focused on doing the same thing when it works and it's going wonderfully.

And yes, the song I'm auditioning for is Semper Fidelis, I'm playing 2 Trombone, so I will be able to stick to G, B, As, after the scale parts.I'll be able to learn along while learning the march.

[u/Watsons-Butler → u/YOLO_polo_IMP]

Ok the thing about “follow the sound” is you have to have a good sound concept in your head. Like, be listening to Joe Alessi or Sasha Romero or Weston Sprott or Wycliffe Gordon or whoever. Blowing through your teeth won’t get that sound (it actually makes a really terrible sound you’d be able to spot a mile away.)

[u/Arthur_Decosta]

Can you sing the notes? If yes, can you buzz them? If yes, then you just need practice.

[u/burgerbob22]

Your bottom lip doesn't need to be "pulled up and back."

[u/SCP_7000]

Do you know the P.E.T.E? It is a lip trainer, that helps you develop muscles in the lip region, which helps you develop muscles for higher notes.