Would you rather kiss a shark or a jellyfish?
A jellyfish. That’s a no-brainer.

Here you go

Hello everyone

Nice to meet you all - I am a new trumpet player and wanted to say hi and ask a question

My music background is non-existant - but on the 12th March this year (just before the lockdown in my country) I ordered a plastic Trumpet from Thomann.de - half for me and half for the kids ---- now its just me and I love playing it most evenings and remakably (for me) i am slowly improving - I really have never been into music so it come as a surprise to me, while locked down, that I have done this and that I am now listening to far more music than before.

But I am now at the stage where I want to get a metal trumpet and this is where my question comes from.

My budget is not massive c.400 to c.500 eur, but what I am afraid of is buying the 'wrong' trumpet for me or one that's beyond my poor breath control!

for example on the thoman site there is a copper/gold trumpet that they recommended would have a warmer sound - versus a gold brass which is sharper - the trouble is I really am not sure what that really means.....

So instead of trying to understand what each type of trumpet does here is my question

I have set myself the goal of playing this song by Christmas (fistfull of dollars theme playalong)

Given my budget - what type of Trumpet/Finish & Mouth Piece should i be looking for and should i go new or 2nd hand?

Hi

I am new to playing any music and chose the trumpet at the ripe old age of 45 to learn while locked down in March this year, I am married with 3 kids & a very patient wife who became a flutist on the same day

Been working away on the trumpet with youtub, Tonesto and the very nice folks here.

I took the plunge today and have got myself a Thomann T800 - its a big chunk of change for me, so fingers crossed it arrives safely!!

Current songs I am working this week are Fields of Athenry and the tune to the Godfather - some mid D's and lots of slurring - none of which I can do at all well (As my neighbours know all too well) but its a work in progress.

Hi All

I thought i would come back to this post, to given an update and day thanks.

I keep practicing with my plastic trumpet up to the end of July and then was able to get a new trumpet from Thomann.de (As advised by some)

And now i have had it for a a couple of weeks it is a revelation - the SOUND is amazing (I have a small base for comparison) - I did indulge in a Denis Wick mute which make a difference as well.

I think i am actually starting to sound like its a trumpet.

Still working towards trying to get the late Mr Morricones song (minus an octave lower),

I have also started learning Fields of Athenry as well - mainly so its an antidote to Jerusalem at the next Ireland/England cricket match.. - i guess with the way of things that will be late 2021 if we are lucky.

moved away a bit from the online apps now - just using sheet music, which i find easier for some reason as well.

https://www.thomann.de/ie/thomann_tr_800_l_mkii_bb_trumpet.htm

@Dr-GO definitely my wife, I cant really hear her flute while I am banging out scales !!

Given the topic of the thread

The ONLY version of that book that's worthwhile

https://g.co/kgs/u7ksPG

That was really great - very well done indeed

Hi All,

I am not usually a poster on Forums - i think my default setting is lurking with the like button out!

Anyway still in lockdown here in Ireland and i reached a little milestone on my Trumpeting.

When i started playing in March I watched a quite a lot of different how to play videos and settled on the series of play along from Learntoplaymusic.com who have a 30 video series on the Trumpet for beginners. I worked my way through these to when the slurs started and started struggling quite a bit

I The also saw that Tonestro had improved the Trumpet part of their app and took out the subscription to follow their learning series. Their app is very different from the videos and has quite a lot of things lacking (To be fair its a new app and most of what is missing is in their development list).

The thing i miss the most is in the learning series the background is only a metronome, so I have no clue what I am playing. Its a mix of songs i know and stuff they made up themselves - its unreal how much easier it is to complete a lesson well after picking out what the song is!!

So i have been bashing away every day on Tonestro and got to the slurs which suddenly are much more doable which is great.

The current struggle is with 3/4 timing (I think its cause the tunes are written by them, so tricky to get into) Have also started on the 2/4 which is fun.

Notes wise I am C to C on the scales and in a few tunes - slowly making my way up!

Anyway yesterday was not a great day for practice and getting frustrated I went back to my videos - i couldn't believe it - i was able to complete each of the remaining ones first time out and pretty well (For a given amount of Well)

I really enjoy reading the advice on this forum - (I am trying to keep my high notes with less power to let my lips close naturally. ) - so please keep up the advice

I went to my bank this morning and asked the cashier if I could make a withdrawal

He said yes

So I walked out

@Dr-GO HAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

@Shifty & @OldSchoolEuph Thanks very much - that book looks great - I will look out for in it in the spring !

@OldSchoolEuph I am avatar blind, do tell us more

Hi - with Christmas coming up I am being asked if I would books about trumpets - and I was wondering if anyone would have a suggestion for a history of Trumpets book?

I went to my bank this morning and asked the cashier if I could make a withdrawal

He said yes

So I walked out

Having been inspired and tempted to start a mouthpiece safari, I did check around and there really is no shops/schools open for the foreseeable in Ireland

Rather than the full safari, I decided on something more like a day trip to Longleat ... and am now the proud owner of a 1 1/2C, 5C, 7C and 10C mouthpieces - and there is a lot of variation.

Its still a starnge feeling the 10C feels lose, but the sounds are richer. The 1 1/2 is harder to push the air through, but it is kindof quieter - but D5 is tricky at the moment with it.

Still all in all great fun.

And for fun I followed Mr Walton on a cheap and cheerful Wah-Wah - i have nailed the growl once or twice - now have it in my warm up.

That was really great - very well done indeed

@barliman2001 10 out of 10 for mouthpiece safari

I only paid 11 eur for it when i was buying some other bits and bobs for the kids

More interested in the theory or thoughts on mouthpiece sizes

Thanks @GeorgeB & @grune

I have two quick questions - i bought a really cheap 7c mouth piece , and when it arrived I started using it and I immediately noticed that I can hit and hold C5 (mid C) and the D above much more consistently

Q1 - Why??

Q2 - Would a 9c be even better?

Thanks

@Gendreauj - Thanks!!! Its brilliant to be here

Valves I do every time I play using Thomans own light valve oil (Recommended by Thomann)
Bought a load of cloths, so wipe downs on my stand and good clean about every couple of weeks - brushing out of water using baby shampoo, so its as gentle as possible on the lacquer and a very gentle dry rub after

In my distant student days I work in a shop that predominately sold brass fixings - that was the advice to delicate stuff

No live online lessons (Just Tonestro) ... yet - i have been really lucky to have a local friend who has what looks like a studio in his house, great to be able to play with someone on the drums etc.

I do find getting the music on papaer helps so i have been typing it into MuseScore 3 - which allows you to hear the tune as well - so thats helping a lot with learning how to read and understand it