Why do my notes sound fuzzy? (trumpet)?

Question

I am learning sousaphone but I'd like to be able to keep my trumpet embouchure in good shape so I can play it in school. My sousa one is getting better while my trumpet one is getting worse....I've been continuing to play trumpet but now I have a crappy tone and mid-range notes are fuzzy-sounding and airy. Notes below a middle C and above the C in the staff are ok...it's those ones in between that are coming out weird. I don't know how to fix it...just tightening the lips doesn't help because then I can't play the note at all.

Answer 1

It has to do with your new air speed. The lower and higher notes would sound normal because you are used to using more air (high notes on trumpet as well as increased speed) and having a deep tone (low notes).

I learned from switching from trumpet to clarinet to some mello that the air speed made a huge difference.

The clarinet required far less air, but I tried playing it as if it was a trumpet.

So, keep your embouchure the same but for middle notes slow the air speed. Don't decrease the amount of air though!

Also, remember the trumpet "smile embouchure"

(Tight lips may end up making you sound strained and even more airy!)

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Can't play in normal range can mean lip trauma, which is understandable if you have to double your embouchure size for sousa!

I notice my higher ranged notes are fine when I am super tired. When I am just tired, bye bye high notes until I go even longer and that instability shifts.

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It could be your mouthpiece size as well!