playing the trumpet

Playing the trumpet is a personal choice. Your instrument may not be such a personal chioce. Starting out, you will probably use an instrument recommended by a teacher or band conductor. Later, you start to make your own choices about what type of instrument you want. You will see certain players on a certain type of trumpet, like their sound, and want to get that type of trumpet. Or, you will start to look at the differences that a small bore, a large bore, a small bell, a large bell, a silver, red-brass, or yellow-brass instrument can do for your playing.

You will also want to think about the mouthpiece that you use. Certain types work better with certain lip thicknesses, and embouchure strengths. Certain mouthpieces work better with different types of trumpets.

If you play 1st trumpet in a jazz band, you would want a different trumpet that if you were playing first desk in a major symphony orchestra, lead trumpet in a marching band, or piccolo trumpet in a baroque group.

A rule for changing instruments: make sure that you have gained the knowledge that you can from the instrument that you have, before you get a new one. If you are a beginner, you may get a good instrument, but you may not be able to realize its potential. Get your playing to the stage that you find an appreciable difference when using a different trumpet.

Good players sometimes find a trumpet, or several, that make them very happy. If you are one of these lucky people, count your blessings. Others spend all their life hunting for that special instrument that will give them just the sound that they want.

This store offers 28 different trumpets,from many well-known makers, varying in price from the low hundreds of dollars to several thousand. The prices for these instruments are the best prices that I have been able to find on the web, and they offer good guarantees, great shipping rates, and excellent return policies. They will only ship to the US. Trumpets and tote bags- the lowest prices on the web. email me at dlmusicstudio@shaw.ca for a code to get a further 5% off these already lowest prices.

This company has a huge selection of instruments, some 200 trumpets from 27 companies, ranging in price from under $200 to almost $5000(retail is usually at least 20% higher, and often more). They have a list of about 300 other items, including mouthpieces and mutes, bags and cases, books and music, care packages, stands, mikes, accessories and parts. They offer a 45 day complete satisfaction and lowest price guarantes. They have a very good reputation, and are in the US, offering free shipping to most US addresses for many goods. They also run frequent sales and give extra discounts at different times. Click on the link, and type "trumpet" in the box at the top left where it says "keyword or item number". 45-Day Best Price + Satisfaction Guarantee at MusiciansFriend.com


This company ships to Canada, and presents about 150 instruments from 21 companies. Their prices are very reasonable, even including shipping costs, and they back up their customers with 45 day satisfaction and lowest price guarantees. Click on the link, and type "trumpet" in the box at the top left where it says "keyword or item number". Canada's best direct source for trumpets and trumpet gear - MusiciansFriend.com


I would like to list a different store for Great Britain, and Australia, because there are problems with shipping instruments internationally, as well as customs duties.
The links should be inserted shortly.
These links should help you playing the trumpet.

I first met Chris Robertson when I formed the Delta Youth Orchestra's Intermediate Division in 1974. Chris was the Brass Sectional Instructor. He did a marvelous job, and improved the playing of many players during the 14 years that I conducted there.

Since that time, I have played under Chris, when he conducted the Richmond Orchestra, played with him on several occasions, and listened to him play on his own or in groups.

I have formed several opinions of Chris. He is a great and gifted teacher, a very musical player, and a wonderful person. When I found out that he had written a book, I couldn't help but want to read it. After I read it, I told Chris that I would take it to the internet, because more people should hear about it. It is excellent.

The Book has 29 chapters, and 149 pages plus table of contents and forward. These include chapters on
1) Introduction-2 pages
2) Equipment-instrument, mouthpiece, conical or
cylindrical bore, the trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn
family, mutes, valveless trumpets, valves, care
and hygiene-16 pages
3) Using the 3rd valve slide-2 pages
4) A basic working knowledge-2 pages
5) Respiration- air intake and release-2 pages
6) Embouchure- including how to practice and adjust
the embouchure-3 pages
7) Tonguing, double tonguing, triple tonguing,
articulation practice, and finishing the notes-9 pages
8) Rhythm, rhythm exercises-2 pages
9) Ear, mind, reflex-3 pages
10) The Practice Process -support, "correct
repetition", tone production, harmonics and valve
pattens, fingering pattens, support sound, reduce
tension, develop strength, create a tone, lovely
sound, make beautiful music-2 pages
11) Practice is "correct" repetition, process of
positive reinforcement-2 pages
12) Warmups and Practice-practical warmup, tonic-
dominant scale pattern, being in a key, upper
register, lower register, major-minor scales,
modes, chromatic scales, low register chromatic,
chromatic, etudes, including 42 pages of music
and exercises-46 pages
13) Selected list of study materials-1 page
14) Solos- finding a reperitoire for yourself-5 pages
15) Levels of thinking-5 pages
16) Objective/ subjective-2 pages
17) Intonation-3 pages
18) Singing and vibrato-3 pages
19) Intervals-4 pages
20) Transposing-4 pages
21) Process and Discovery-3 pages
22) Stress-5 pages
23) Overlearning-1 page
24) The Stage as Theatre-2 pages
25) A poem-3 pages
26) The Joy of Music- Mystery and Magic-3 pages
27) Good Reference Books-1 page
28) Recordings-11 pages
29) Biography-1 page.

This book is available from:
David Larson,
Box 60228,
Fraser ST PO
Vancouver, BC,
Canada V5W 4B5.


The cost is C$47.00 to Canadian Addresses,
C$51.00 to US Addresses,
and C$57.00 to International addresses.

You may send a Money order/Bank draft made out to David Larson, or if you would like to pay with a credit card, you may pay through the paypal account of dlmusicstudio@shaw.ca
To get this to work,you would have to have a Paypal account. You would send me an email that you would like to order the book. I would send you a reply with a statement, including a paypal button. You would then be connected to the paypal secure site, where you would give the card information and mailing address. I would find the payment in my account, and send out the book.

I would give a guarantee for this book- If you do not like the book for any reason, and you return it to me in the condition that I sent it out to you, within 30 days, I will refund your payment.
I am very sure that you will like it.

Finding sheet music for the trumpet can be easy or difficult, depending on where you live. If you are lucky, you will live close to a music store that has an excellent selection of music for the trumpet, and excellent staff. If you are partly lucky, you will find one or the other. Many of us have access to smaller shops, who may not have excellent staff. We have to live with it, and look for other sources of music.

One way around this problem is ordering music by mail, either through the music store, or direct to your home or studio. This works, but it can be slow. My all-time record is 7 years from when a part was ordered to when it arrived. I never received a decent explanation, except that the company it was ordered from was in the UK, and I am in Canada, and that the music store had to place a certain minimum order before it would be shipped from England.

The other possibility, which I didn't know about until I started researching this lens, is downloading music which you then print from your computer. I have discovered several of these places now. They will charge you a fee to download the part you want, or will charge you a membership fee, which is usually less than I spend on music in a month, and that gives you unlimited downloads for the year.

These sites offer legal downloads- music that is not under copyright, that can be long out of print (but still excellent pieces for playing). Some of them offer their own arrangements of pieces, which can be transposed for different instruments- B Flat trumpet, C trumpet, D trumpet, E flat trumpet, F trumpet, for example; or arranged for groups of different instruments- trumpet and clarinet, trumpet and horn, trumpet and flute, trumpet and sax, multiple trumpet groupings, chamber groups including brass quintets, even full orchestra selections.

One such group is Virtual Sheet Music. They operate a site which charges an annual membership, which allows unlimited downloads. Download over 5,500 classical sheet music titles for only $37.75.
Also, you can download individual pieces and pay for them. They list well over 100 different trumpet pieces, in some very interesting arrangements and combinations of instruments. Find Trumpet and Trumpet Ensemble sheet music available from Virtual Sheet Music

Playing high notes on the trumpet is very hard for beginners, but, once you start to play higher, your success builds, and you start to be able to play into the stratospere.

My first word of advice is that 8-letter word that many people don't like- the "P" word- PRACTICE. Being able to play into the upper register is very much a result of how and what you practice.

You will need to practice long tones, for breath control, strengthening of the diaphram, and embouchure control. Hold each long note for a minimum of 5-10 seconds, control the sound, and work your way higher, a half step or step higher at a time.

Approach the highest notes you can play, hold the tone steady, and work your way higher.

Practice scales, starting at G, going up a half step at a time. Go up as high as you can, keeping the tone under control, and try to go up to the next note.

Work your way up the next scale, going half a step higher each time.
G - Ab - A - Bb - B - C - Db - D - Eb - E - F - Gb.

Don't worry if you can't get the highest notes each time you play. As you practice them, you will be able to play higher and higher. Your muscles WILL strengthen, and allow progress. Stay in the area that you can play the notes, strengthen the sound, and soon you will be able to play higher than you could imagine.

Try to practice 2 or 3 times a day, for 20- 30 minutes each time. It is better for both your muscles and your concentration.

If you are more advanced, and have to play frequently in the highest register, then it is time to look at your equipment. Using a wider and deeper mouthpiece gives a fuller sound, but you will have to work to strengthen your embouchure. Using a mouthpiece that is more shallow will help you to play higher notes, but it will take away from the fullness and strength of the sound of the notes played with the first mouthpiece.

You can investigate other trumpets- using a smaller bore instrument, or going to a piccolo trumpet, will give you a brighter, clear tone.

Work on yourself first of all. When you really need a new instrument, you will be ready to play it, and enjoy the new sounds that you can produce.

Trumpet music is available in many forms- for solo trumpet, groups of trumpets, chamber music including trumpets, and other variations. Music that is in print can be ordered from many Music Stores, but some specialize in supplying printed music, and these are worthwhile to know about.

Music in Print includes most modern issues, and any older music that the publishers think will sell enough copies that it pays them to continue printing it. Music in this group can suddenly disappear, vanishing to the never-never-land of out of print.
However, there always seems to be a lot of new editions coming out. Sometimes this is new editions of classics, and sometimes it is completely new editions. This includes music from shows. Most modern arrangements can be found in this group, and music from current stars of rock videos, shows, and productions.

This company has an incredible 23,456 trumpet pieces listed in its catalog. This includes solos, accompanied solos, duets, small and large combinations of instruments all the way up to orchestra parts with trumpet. Click on the link, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on the bottom link. Be prepared to spend some time enjoying the selection, or type your title/composer/style of music into the box to narrow your search (even though that takes away some of the fun). Trumpet Sheet Music at Sheet Music Plus. Music for beginners and experts. Solo and ensemble music. Play alongs and methods. Shop now.

Downloadable music works much the same way as downloadable Print Music- you buy a membership or pay a small sum to download a piece.

I have listed sites that have trumpet music available for downloading. I have also listed sites that sell CD's, DVD's, records, or tapes of trumpet music.

I would like you to rate your experiences with these sites, to help other people know which sites are good to use.

Links and question forms will be added shortly.