How to Warm Up on the Trumpet

Warming up is the most important part of practicing any instrument. Properly done, it can help improve both endurance and range.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Trumpet

1. Buzzing on the mouthpiece!
   
   You want to use only your mouthpiece and try to produce a long tone on it. One you can do this you can try matching pitches and playing little songs such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
2. Long Tones!
   
   With the mouthpiece back on the trumpet you want to start on low C and hold out the note as long as you can WHILE STILL PRODUCING A GOOD SOUND! Continue this going down by half steps. (Open, 2, 1, 1+2, 2+3, 1+3, 1+2+3)
3. Lip Slurs!
   
   Lip slurs are moving between two notes without pushing down any valves. Start on low C and the go down to the G below and back up and back down and back up (C G C G C). Next go down a half step and do the same (B F# B F# B). Continue all the way down the valve combinations (Open, 2, 1, 1+2, 2+3, 1+3, 1+2+3).
   
   You can move on to different patterns that involve higher notes as you continue.

Tips & Warnings

• Try varying your warm up in small ways to keep yourself interested.
• When warming up always start low and then move on to higher pitches!