4 Main Study Areas for Trumpet
This post outlines the main areas of potential study for all Trumpet players regardless of the style of music you might be playing or your skill level. If you are considering having a Trumpet specific teacher it is likely that you will be working on many of the 21 points listed. I have broken this into
4 Main Areas of Study
Sound Production (S)
Theory (T)
Analysis (A)
Performance (P)
Aspects of the following areas can be introduced and taught to Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced students. Each section can be adapted to individual students current performance requirements.
1. Warm-up (S)
2. Long tones (S)
3. Scales (S/T)
4. Flexibility (S)
5. Articulation (S)
6. Range building and Endurance (S)
7. Chord Patterns (S/T)
8. Phrasing (S/A)
9. Making Music (T/A/P)
10. Theory and Fundamental Harmonic Structure (T)
11. Memorization (P)
12. Song Analysis (A/P)
13. Playing Styles (A/P)
14. How Your Part Fits In (A/P)
15. Ear Training (S/T/A)
16. Practice Difficult Passages (S/A)
17. Mutes (S/A)
18. Listening (A)
19. Interval Study (S/T/A)
20. Warm down (S)
21. Mindfulness (A/P)
Description of each aspect of trumpet teaching
1.Warm Up (S)
· keep this brief
· just enough to get the air moving and the lips vibrating
2.Long Tones (S)
· six magic tones
· keep embouchure stable
· feel corners being taxed
· do every day but don't overdue this
3.Scales (S/T)
· single octave/double octave
· major/minor/mixolydian
· pick different key centres to work from
· write these out on manuscript paper
· Learn and practice all key centres
4.Flexibility (S)
· slurring intervals mostly with the same valve combinations
· excellent work for sound production and keeping embouchure relaxed
· helpful with increasing range
· air support is important
5.Articulation (S)
· tonguing styles - single, double, triple
· combining tonguing and slurring
· will define stylistic playing
6.Range Building and Endurance (S)
· built on regular balanced practice
· a measured indicator of progress
· important for performing in bands
7.Chord Patterns (S/T)
· Combines scale work with interval study
· initial stage of understanding theory and basic harmony
8.Phrasing (S/A)
· understanding of larger melodic fragments
· breath support for entire length of phrase
· awareness of dynamics
9.Making Music (T/A/P)
· Songs, Etudes, musical exercises
· improvising on melodies
10.Theory and Fundamental Harmonic Structure (T)
· analyze and understand how melodic notes fit into the harmonic structure
· identify scale patterns
· study solo transcriptions and scores
11.Memorization (P)
· why, when and how to memorize music
· comes partially through repetition
· result of serious song study and practice
12.Song Analysis (A/P)
· understanding of shape and contour of piece
· understanding of historical significance of piece
· understanding of harmonics and melodic structure
13.Playing styles (A/P)
· basic sound production, articulation and overall phrasing will change according to the style and period of the piece
14.How does your part fit in? (A/P)
· hear how your part relates to others
· are you playing a lead or supporting role
· solo vs section playing
15.Ear Training (S/T/A)
· practice singing what you are practicing in short phrases
· learn to match pitches with your voice
· start to hear when you are not singing pitches in tune
16.Practice difficult passages (S/A)
· grouping
· change articulation patterns
17.Mutes (S/A)
· changes sound production
· individual mutes have their own colour and timbre
· alters tuning
18.Listening (A)
· recordings of all forms of music
· live performances
· imagine you are part of the performance
19.Interval study (S/T/A)
· pattern recognition
· important for initial learning of pieces
· helps to develop ear
20.Warm Down (S)
· At the end of a strenuous practice session or performance it is important to warm down by doing a pedal tone exercise
21.Mindfullness (A/P)
· meditation practice to help with:
· focus
· concentration
· nerves
· fatigue
· body and breath connections
I welcome comments and suggestions about what you think might be placed on this list. I’m sure that there are some other aspects that I haven’t thought of as I wrote this post.