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Tone Centering for Trumpet

Now that we have discussed reacting with these walls and slots. orange area represents overtones
overtones in the sound and some of Centering involves adjusting the buzz emanating from the fundamental
the basics of a properly functioning frequency to match the length of pitch. A centered buzz allows room
embouchure, let’s put all of this to tubing so that optimum sound quality for the full overtone series to resonate
work. is produced—the resonant “bright/ in the circle or note-slot.
dark” sound described earlier. When In the photos below, we see
Centering and Tuning the buzz frequency is properly aligned representations of two common errors.

What does “Tone Centering” mean, there is room in the available space The bottom left shows what happens
and how do you do it? Recapping for the full complement of overtones. when the space is compromised by
from above, a “centered” sound is If the buzz frequency is misaligned or a constricted aperture or “pinching”.
a balanced tone containing the full if the space itself is compromised, the The area that was previously available
complement of overtones available tone will be affected. above and below the buzz frequency
in an instrument—a “bright/dark” has been squeezed and the overtone
sound with both highs and lows. vibrations are dampened. The
Producing this sound requires the constricted aperture is also largely
correct frequency, a properly trained responsible for the “ewe” sound
embouchure and an active air column. frequently heard in beginning trumpet
Every note we play has a specific classrooms.
“space”—a range of frequencies— The bottom-right shows a common
available for the buzz to resonate trumpet malady among developing
in the instrument. This is the space players—playing above center. Here
between the harmonic “walls,” the the buzz is pushed against the upper
“slots” where a note is produced. The The drawings above are wall thus dampening vibrations in that
pitch may be sharp or flat, but it is representations of proper and improper area of the note space. While playing
still considered to be a specific note. sound centering. The large circle in in this manner may provide a sense of
Above and below this space there the top diagram shows the space security in “feeling” where the note is
exists a wall that divides the note from available for a given pitch. The small (the wall), significant problems arise
the next harmonic slot. Our practice of white circle in the center represents with intonation, endurance, accuracy
“lip slurs” is an exercise in effectively a properly centered buzz. The outer and response.

Bandmasters Review • June 2019 26 Texas Bandmasters Association