How to Play Professional Trumpet

Trumpets were an essential instrument for big bands.

Mastering the trumpet takes quite some time. If you don't have any musical background, it can take as long as eight to 10 years to work up to professional caliber. If you've played other brass instruments, you may be able to pick up the trumpet more quickly, but there are no shortcuts. One needs a certain amount of raw talent to ever become a good trumpet player and some luck and know-how in order to play professionally.

Instructions

How to Play Professional Trumpet

1. Find the best teacher. No matter where you live or what kind of musical community exists there, you must find a good and affordable instructor to teach you the fundamentals. Ask as many local musicians as possible for a recommendation. Weekly lessons are the norm, but if you can only afford them every other week with a higher-quality teacher, that is probably better than weekly sessions with a lesser instructor. As you progress, always look for new opportunities to study with the best players, even for just one lesson.

2. Develop your ear. If you can't "hear" a high note before playing it, you can press the correct valves all day long but never actually hit the right note. Your teacher can help you train your ear to correctly hear pitches and the intervals between notes. Also, you must constantly listen for style, especially articulation (long vs. short notes) and phrasing (the shape you give to a melody). Listen to recordings of every type of music, not just trumpet playing, so that you begin to hear in your mind the sound you want to produce. Daily, smart practice and constant listening are the only way to achieve a great tone.

3. Find the "right " instrument. As with teachers, there is an appropriate quality trumpet for every stage in your development. (Luckily, the cost of a good student trumpet doesn't come anywhere close to that of a violin, cello or piano.) You will start on a B flat trumpet, but as you gain experience, your teacher can introduce you to other trumpets pitched in C, D, E flat, high B flat (piccolo trumpet) and so forth. Sometimes a vintage trumpet bought cheaply at an auction or garage sale can be restored to be an excellent instrument.

4. Play, play, play. Build up the strength, flexibility and endurance of your lips ("chops"). While most opportunities for teens are centered around the marching and concert bands in schools, the youthful player should always look for other opportunities. Trumpet players of all ages should consult with teachers about auditioning for the local amateur or youth symphony, forming a brass quintet with some friends or getting a jazz combo going.

5. Learn to play in various genres. There's no reason you can't play in every style of music, but early on, most players will be attracted to a specific musical "genre." You may want to be the greatest jazz trumpet improviser since Miles Davis or be a "screech" lead player who works in commercial music or film soundtracks. Classical soloists need to develop a distinctive style within the traditional discipline, while orchestra players must learn a huge variety of skills, including transposing from many different keys.

6. Further your education. Most players who are serious about professional careers attend some sort of music school. Your private coach can help you decide where to apply and direct you to the best college trumpet teachers. Because of the difficult economy and fewer available "gigs," if you enter a music degree program, it is highly recommended to pursue a double major so that you have a better chance at a day job or other steady work while you look for professional playing opportunities.

7. Get experience. Take every playing opportunity you can get, even if it pays poorly or is not your favorite kind of music. A young player seeking freelance musical opportunities, even in the biggest cities, unfortunately has fewer options today than even 20 years ago. Understand that live music is on the decline, the public's tastes have changed somewhat, and guitarists or drummers are more in demand than brass players. If you can master a second instrument, you can maximize your employability.

8. Seek out full-time professional employment. Understand that permanent trumpet-playing jobs are rare, solo careers are few, and they both require considerable marketing ability. Symphony orchestras, many of which are experiencing serious economic difficulties, have only two to four trumpet positions each. One player may hold a job for 30 years before that chair opens up for audition (with maybe 100 players competing). Know that salaries are low except in the largest orchestras, and that jazz or commercial players cannot expect full-time employment. Freelance work depends on whom you meet and play with, and established players may be rather territorial and try to keep new players from breaking into the local scene. You may have to earn extra income by teaching trumpet lessons or working full-time in another field.

Tips & Warnings

• Always try to hear great trumpet players visiting your area, whether in symphony orchestras, solo recitals, brass concerts or in master classes (performance critique sessions), which are usually conducted at universities or colleges.

• Expect to work for years before becoming a professional.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• International Trumpet Guild Homepage