How to Play the Trumpet Better

Become a better trumpet player with practice.

The trumpet is a mellow instrument that is a member of the brass family. Although many students desire to play the instrument, it is easy to become frustrated with the trumpet if you are not getting the sound you expect. It takes a lot of wind power and pitch accuracy to play the trumpet. These skills only come by practicing. With consistent practice, you will find yourself becoming a better trumpet player.

Instructions

1. Do breathing exercises on a daily basis for 15 to 30 minutes. By doing the breathing exercises, you strengthen your lungs so you can play the trumpet with more power. A sample breathing exercise you can do is to breathe in deeply for 4 counts. Hold your breath for 4 counts. Fully exhale for 4 counts. Over time, you can increase the counts from 4 to 8 to 16.

2. Practice playing notes and full scales with only your mouthpiece. Do not insert the mouthpiece into the trumpet. By practicing with only the mouthpiece, you can learn how to perfect your pitch. The mouthpiece is only an amplifier for what is truly being played. Therefore, if you can perfect your pitch with only the mouthpiece, the sound will be awesome when you play that perfect pitch through the trumpet.

3. Experiment with different mouthpieces to find the one that is right for you. You can experiment with mouthpieces by visiting your local music store. You may discover that you sound better playing a mouthpiece that has a smaller rim. Or perhaps you may sound better playing a larger rim.

4. Perfect your embouchure by doing buzzing exercises everyday. Practice in front of a mirror. When doing the buzzing exercises, air should only be coming from the center of your lips. If air is leaking from the sides of your mouth, continue practicing until the air only comes from the center.

5. Don't play your trumpet with clenched teeth. Your teeth should be apart, so the air can freely flow into the mouthpiece. If you play with clenched teeth, your sound will be "tight" instead of open and bright.

6. Practice great posture when you are playing to ensure that you are maximizing your lung potential.

7. Listen to audio recordings of professional trumpet players, such as Adolph Herseth, Maynard Ferguson, Wynton Marsalis and Dizzie Gillespie. Play along with them. You might not be able to play all of the high pitches and runs, but you can at least try to imitate their sound quality.

References

• Pops Trumpet College: Embouchures
• Artists House Music: Choosing a Trumpet Mouthpiece to Suit Your Embouchure
• Rich Szabo, Trumpet Player: Complete Breathing
• The Texas School Music Project: Trumpet (Cornet) Embouchure Tips for Beginners