There are three words to remember when you first embark on your journey to learn how to play the trumpet. These words are patience, practice, and persistence. When beginning anything new it is important to remember that results come from how much effort is applied in the quest. Your first trumpet should be a high quality brand that will withstand beginning practices. Two good and sturdy brands of trumpet are Yamaha and Bach. Whether you are learning on your own or under the supervision of an instructor, it is important to make sure you take time to practice at home.

One book that is exceedingly popular among brass students is Arban’s Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet. This book is a trumpet player’s bible. It contains fingering charts, introductory how-to explanations for correct mouthpiece positions, long tone exercises, duets, etudes and advanced solo pieces. This book will stay in every trumpet player’s collection from picking up the horn for the first time through advanced studies on the instrument. This book is a fantastic investment for any aspiring trumpet player.

To begin you must learn how to “buzz” on your mouthpiece. The vibrations of buzzing your lips into the cup of the mouthpiece is what produces the tone of the trumpet and gives it it’s signature sound. The cup of the mouthpiece is the round conical end with the wide opening; the shank of the mouthpiece is the cylindrical shaft that protrudes from the cup. Place the mouthpiece on your lips with about two-thirds of your upper lip and one-third of your lower lip in the cup. Adjust the position until it feels comfortable for you. Tighten the corners of your lips so that they come closer to the center of your mouth as opposed to widening your lips and pulling your mouth into a smile. The tightening of the corners of your lips will build up the muscle strength you will need to produce tone on your trumpet. Keep the shank of the mouthpiece in between your thumb and first finger while buzzing and apply light pressure. The sound produced from this should remind you of a bumblebee or a duck. You can shift the tone you are producing by tightening or relaxing your lip muscles.

It is vastly important to make sure you are breathing correctly into the mouthpiece. Relax and open the back of your throat when inhaling, breathe deep without raising your shoulders. Your stomach should expand slightly as you inhale if you are breathing correctly. Exhale warm air through the mouthpiece while buzzing. It might help you to envision that you are fogging up a mirror with this breath.

Once you are comfortable with buzzing you can place the mouthpiece in the lead pipe of the horn and practice producing long tones. Remember to take a break if you feel lightheaded. Follow an instructional book or your band director’s advice for your first steps toward being a trumpet player. Patience will help you remember that results will not be immediate. Practice will ensure that you are building these muscles and enhancing your skills to become more used to being an instrumentalist. Persistence will urge you onward in your quest and guide you toward your musical goal-whether it is to learn how to play Taps, or how to perform in Carnegie Hall.