Complete Beginner
-
Hello,
I have decided to have a go at learning the trumpet. It took a while to finally choose an instrument, and it will apparently arrive within the next two weeks. I spoke to some teachers, trying to find one to teach me, but it seems that opinions and teaching styles vary quite a lot. It is also quite a difficult time to start learning, as lessons will only be conducted remotely.
So, I am going to try learning on my own, with the aid of YouTube videos, and other online resources. While I await the arrival of my instrument, I decided to buy an embouchure visualiser, and to start working on this area, as it must be the most basic and fundamental part to get right. This is the video I plan to use for this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLE_-ly8hrQ&t
I was wondering if anyone had a better idea of where to start, or perhaps recommendations for some books or other learning materials that are considered standard/compulsory learning.
Thanks for any advice!
Martin
1966 - King 1055T Silver Flair
2020 - Yamaha YTR-4335GSII
Trumpeter: Did you hear my last recital?
Friend: I hope so. -
Greetings, Martin.
I didn't watch the entire video, but it looks like a great start. There are many different things that go into learning the trumpet, but development of the embouchure is the least intuitive. This video looks like a good place to start.
Do you already play other other instruments? Knowledge of music basics from other instruments is helpful in some areas. But there are some things that are unique to trumpet and other brass.
-
Hi Newell,
Thanks for taking a look. I do play the piano, and I'm able to read music, so hopefully that will help a little bit. Mostly I am focussing on the mechanics of playing the instrument for now, rather than the musical side of things.
-
Piano and general music background is very helpful. The things that are different about trumpet are the embouchure (as you noted), tonguing, and breath control. There are different schools of thought about all of those things which you can read about on TrumpetBoards and other places. But we use the tongue and the breath for many things other than playing the trumpet. The embouchure, not so much. The embouchure is therefore both the least intuitive and the thing that requires the greatest muscle development and maintenance.
-
Start with the "Standards of Excellent" series and move to either Harold Mitchell's; "Mitchell on Trumpet", or the "Belwinn" trumpet series, I prefer the Mitchell.
Later, you'll want to take a look at "Arban for Cornet". I pesonally think you'll get better use of the "Arban" at the intermediate level.
Eric Bolvin has organized the "Arban" trumpet Bible into a reasonable organization of the "Arban", which skips around a lot. It's better to wait until you're an intermediate player before starting to work out in "Arban".
BTW, there are too many videos of conflicting information on YouTube, even from well-known players. I'd stay away from them until you're a more mature player and can best discriminate the conflicting info. Remember, YouTube does not have any discrimination on who posts a video and some top pedagogues may be irascible and have "rough" formats, while amateur posters with good media chops. can make their presentations very appealing.
Welcome to the Trumpet community.
-
@kehaulani Standard of Excellence is a good choice for starts. You can get it with an accompanying cd/dvd for a few extra bucks.
-
@trumpetlearner
There are lots of folks here will give you good advice, but not having a professional standing beside you to see what you are doing wrong can lead to developing a lot of bad habits. An you will do things wrong, believe me. Posture and proper breathing are good examples. -
@georgeb said in Complete Beginner:
@trumpetlearner
There are lots of folks here will give you good advice, but not having a professional standing beside you to see what you are doing wrong can lead to developing a lot of bad habits. An you will do things wrong, believe me. Posture and proper breathing are good examples.Indeed. Getting some lessons with a real player would be the best idea. Skype or Zoom maybe.
-
Thank you all for the suggestions and advice. I will definitely check out the Standards of Excellence.
I agree that it's difficult, or perhaps impossible, for a beginner to determine which YouTube posters are posting the best learning methods. A similar problem arises when trying to select a teacher for proper lessons. Everyone will have varying opinions, and therefore a different approach to teaching.
For example, from what I've seen on YouTube, there seem to be some who don't believe that the lips need to produce a buzzing, and that simply blowing air through the horn will work. Of course, I have never even touched a trumpet, so I have no idea what works best, but isn't buzzing the commonly accepted method?
None of my equipment has turned up yet - can't wait to get going!
1966 - King 1055T Silver Flair
2020 - Yamaha YTR-4335GSII
Trumpeter: Did you hear my last recital?
Friend: I hope so. -
@trumpetlearner
The lips just need to vibrate and this happens when you blow properly into the mouthpiece and through the trumpet. Say mmm, place lips on mouthpiece , and say T with the tongue as you blow .1960s King Super 20 Silversonic, 1940 Olds Recording, 1942 Buescher True Tone 400 ,1999 Conn Vintage One Bb trumpet, A 1952 Selmer Paris, A 2020 Getzen 400 and a Manchester Brass ACB custom pro Bb trumpet, a 1962 Conn Victor 5A Cornet.
-
@georgeb said in Complete Beginner:
@trumpetlearner
...and say T with the tongue as you blow .or Phhwwoooooooo is always a better option!
Allora Pocket Trumpet 2014
Harrelson Summit 2017
Kanstul 1526 2012
Getzen Power Bore 1961
Getzen Eterna 4-Valve Fulgelhorn 1974
Martin Committee 1946
Olds Super Recording 1940
Olds Recording (LA) 1953
Olds Recording (Fullerton) 1967
Olds Ambassador 1965 -
While the lips vibrate, producing a sound, it is my understanding that this is consequential to forming the lips to do so, rather then the result of a deliberate buzzing into the mouthpiece. You can buzz your lips and then add a mouthpiece, but when you do, you may or may not continue making a sound. You can create a sound on a mouthpiece and then remove the mouthpiece from your lips, and when you do, you may or may not continue making a sound. You can play a certain pitch on a mouthpiece, and chances are that that pitch will not translate into the same pitch when you insert the mouthpiece into the horn. Also, if you're making a nice sound on your horn and then remove the mouthpiece, chances are that there will be no sound, other than some air passing through your lips and the mouthpiece. If you change nothing and put the mouthpiece back into the horn, the same pitch and quality will return. It's all about the interaction between the player and the instrument.
There has been a lot of discussion about the production of sound in brass instruments, ranging from technical to ignorant. Curiosity must be satisfied, but the important thing is to produce good-sounding music with the least amount of effort. That is the goal for which we all strive and sometimes agonize over.
-
@dr-go
No argument there, Doc, since the Phwooooooo is the method I use. But I didn't want to confuse the OP since he hasn't even made a sound on the trumpet yet. Saying T would be easier for him. Later when he has some experience, he can look at the Phhwwoooo method.
