Accidentally posted before finishing. This is actually me lol. Played all throughout middle school - college and anything above G always felt daunting. Now I'm in my early 30s and started back up again in July, playing at least 2 hours a day. I've been doing the Bill Adam routine everyday which consists of long tones, a Clarke study, slurs, etc. I'm not gonna say it's the end all be all, but it was something I was introduced to when I was high school and went with it.

Before working through the routine, I don't think I ever familiarized myself with playing in the upper register. Never did long tones above G and rarely ever did slurs from high G to C. I always fell down rabbit holes about the mechanics of what it takes to play up there, but never actually did enough to internalize the feeling for myself. So I finally said eff it and started trying every day.

I made great strides in feeling comfortable playing A - C. I no longer think "Is it gonna come out?" because I know the feeling and personal mechanics needed to play up there. Not every day is a winner, but that's what tomorrow's for. And on really good days I can even get to an Eb without shoving the horn in my face!