Pat recommends that her young horn students solve their high note problems by
Sitting on a note above their range and looking down at the note they want. Instead of getting the expected, "Lady, what in the world are you talking about," usually they have an "aha" moment and relax quite a bit....
I learned this technique when I studied horn with Julia Child. Some students have difficulties if their kitchen is set up so that there is inadequate room above the range. What you do is put a frying pan on the range, put the note you want in the pan, and turn the heat up to medium. (I always add a few crumbled corks and a dab of slide grease to improve the tone quality.) Then you climb a stool so that you can sit on a note above the range.
Once the note in the pan is ready, it will float right up to you. The ability to float high notes like this is the mark of a good horn player. Of course, if you are doing the Long Call, you will want to turn the range from medium to high. The notes will leap from the pan with just the sizzle this solo requires. Yum, yum!
Although Cindy suggests that a flat chin is handy, I prefer a spatula, especially when notes stick to the pan.
I am uneasy about encouraging students to relax too much as they try this. The word "aha" does not adequately convey the reaction of a hornplayer who slips and falls into a hot frying pan while practicing high notes!
If you don't have a range in your kitchen, you can try the stove, if you don't mind being a little cramped for space. A hot plate is also okay. But never, never try this in a microwave oven, unless you play a plastic horn.
Bon apetit!
Gotta go,
Cabbage
Gotta go,
Cabbage