5 Tips for Trumpet Players

Mastering the trumpet is a challenging but rewarding endeavour that requires dedication, practice and a mindful approach. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player looking to refine your skills, here are five essential tips to help you improve and enjoy your trumpet playing journey. 

Free buzzing is buzzing with your lips without using the mouth piece. A benefit of this is that you can practice anywhere at any time. 

Keeping a long neck, straight back with shoulders relaxed helps open up your chest for your lungs expand fully. Standing up while playing helps to enforce this habit. 

Before attaching your mouthpiece to your horn, using the mouthpiece, buzz through your entire range. Sirens are the best way to do this. To make a siren start on a low pitch and fluidly buzz to a higher note and come back down. Begin with a small range and then aim to cover your entire range. 

Don't be shy - play loudly. The trumpet is designed to project sound. Playing loudly will help expand your lungs and strengthen your embouchure. 

Hearing the pitch in your head before playing will teach your brain how to match the pitch in the future. This is especially useful when buzzing on your mouthpiece. Try buzzing your note on your mouthpiece, then attach it to your horn and try to play  same note. The goal is for the note to match. 

Listening to trumpet players is very inspiring and expands our musical ear. Analyze their playing by paying attention to how they handle phrasing, articulation, and dynamics. Try to incorporate their techniques and stylistic nuances into your own playing. Some recommended trumpet players to listen to include:

• Classical: Maurice André, and Alison Balsom.
• Jazz: Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, and Dizzy Gillespie.