Trumpets are among some of the most noticeable instruments in any musical group. The deep, brassy, beautiful sounds that these horns produce have been known and valued throughout the centuries. In fact, these instruments in one form or another have been used to make battle calls, and to herald the arrival of important people. They are just as important in jazz riffs as they are in comprehensive and perfectly balanced symphonies. For all those aspiring musicians who hope to play trumpets expertly one day, following are five important things to know.
The Embouchure Is Essential
One of the most important parts of playing trumpets is developing a strong and flexible embouchure. This is the amount of muscle control and skill that you maintain in the lip area. Every instrument type requires the development of a special kind of embouchure. For instance, you will need to hold and move your lips quite differently when playing trumpets, than you would if playing the flute, or a reed instrument like the oboe or clarinet.
In addition to being a general requirement for all woodwinds and horns, however, the development and maintenance of a strong embouchure is absolutely essential for horns. That’s because instruments like the trumpet and tuba have just three keys. Although you’ll need to make a variation of notes or specific sounds, you won’t get a lot of help from the instrument’s keys. Changes in tone will often be produced solely by the movement of your lips.
Not All Instruments Pair Well With The Trumpet
If you already play an instrument and want to add the trumpet to your professional repertoire, then you should make sure that the embouchure for your current instrument does not conflict with the one you must develop. For instance, some people struggle in transitioning from the flute to the trumpet or vice versa. The good news is that it is indeed possible to become proficient on both instruments at once. You simply need to devote an equal amount of practice time to both, so that neither embouchure nor any of the required muscles are being neglected in your regular conditioning.
Take Advantage Of Online Resources
All beginning trumpet players need good instructional books. These should have information on building embouchure strength, learning the right fingering for different notes, and building basic music-reading skills. In addition to a good book, however, it’s also important to take advantage of the vast range of online learning resources that are currently available. These are especially helpful for those who do not get much of an opportunity to play in groups, or a regular chance to hear different, skilled trumpet sounds.
