Any Trumpet Players On The Forum?

[edger]

I'm trying to get back into playing after a mere 50 years. I recently bought an Allora plastic trumpet to see if I could get back into playing. I had an old Conn Director from my school days that I couldn't make a sound on so I reluctantly gave it to Goodwill. This plastic trumpet is easy to play and, as a result, I'm making some progress.
I'd love to here from other brass players for tips and encouragement.

 

[trudger]

Had to Googlie that, what do ya know, plastic trumpet. Good for you I hope it’s tons of fun to get at it again!

 

[Ahi Ka]

I was a bone player back in the day. I’ve often wondered about getting a plastic trombone sometime. Glad to hear you’re getting back into it

 

[Brendan]

If I could go back in time to my teens I'd have made myself learn trumpet or sax for sure, instead of hacking around on a bass in my bedroom pretending to be Flea.

I hope to in the future when the kids are older and I have more free time.

I have inherited my brothers old trombone though, it really needs a bath - maybe one day I'll set up the back shed to be soundproof and try and teach myself, perhaps even pretend to be Fred Wesley.


My musical tastes have shifted from a wall of distorted guitars to brass sections as I gradually get older.

 

[Winnipeger]

There are probably a lot of technique books available and information on forums, etc. I think the classic technique book for trumpet would be Arban's. I'm not a trumpet player now, but I played it for about a decade as a third or fourth instrument. Back when I was still playing trumpet (going on 20 years ago), one of the top professional players I knew loaned me his copy of "Super Power Embouchure". I still remember the title somehow. This book helped me a fair bit because it's about developing muscle strength in the face, away from the horn, using isometric exercises, so you can work the face while driving or grocery shopping or whatever. I looked up the book and it is available online here. There's a complete set of books for embouchure, breath control, and tonguing by the same author, available here. I'm only familiar with the embouchure book and I'm not guaranteeing these books are any good, but from what I remember, the method was pretty well conceived, and I was able to increase my range up to a usable high F before I quit trumpet for good. Good luck! Trumpet is a hard instrument IMHO. YMMV.

 

[bullet08]

Back in high school. Joined a band and played it for a bit. But soon got hooked and bagpipes and never looked back.

 

[edger]

There are probably a lot of technique books available and information on forums, etc. I think the classic technique book for trumpet would be Arban's. I'm not a trumpet player now, but I played it for about a decade as a third or fourth instrument. Back when I was still playing trumpet (going on 20 years ago), one of the top professional players I knew loaned me his copy of "Super Power Embouchure". I still remember the title somehow. This book helped me a fair bit because it's about developing muscle strength in the face, away from the horn, using isometric exercises, so you can work the face while driving or grocery shopping or whatever. I looked up the book and it is available online here. There's a complete set of books for embouchure, breath control, and tonguing by the same author, available here. I'm only familiar with the embouchure book and I'm not guaranteeing these books are any good, but from what I remember, the method was pretty well conceived, and I was able to increase my range up to a usable high F before I quit trumpet for good. Good luck! Trumpet is a hard instrument IMHO. YMMV.

Wow! Thanks for this. I do have the Arban and am using the first ten exercises to get in shape. I will order Super Power Embouchure for sure.

 

[edger]

Sounds like we could form a band!

 

[UB 40]

The Piping Brass

Sounds like we could form a band!

The Piping Brass Band!

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I used to play trombone. When I was in high school I half hoped to become a jazz musician, but once I got to college level I figured out pretty quickly I lacked the talent/ear. Now I’m content to go to what concerts I can catch and listen

 

[Lees65GTO]

I played a Cornet in Jr Hi and Hi school back in the late 50's and early 60's, does that count? I still have the Cornet I played.

 

[keith929]

I used to play trombone. When I was in high school I half hoped to become a jazz musician, but once I got to college level I figured out pretty quickly I lacked the talent/ear. Now I’m content to go to what concerts I can catch and listen

My experience is similar. I played b-flat trumpet about 55 years ago and I too realized I had neither the talent or conviction to become a jazz musician. Nowadays I play my collection of jazz recordings and dream about what could have been.

 

[Streeper541]

I played trumpet through the ninth grade. I put it down for football and baseball. There's a little more to the story, but I never picked it back up again. I donated it to the local HS marching band.

 

[edger]

I played a Cornet in Jr Hi and Hi school back in the late 50's and early 60's, does that count? I still have the Cornet I played.

Play that thang!

 

[monty55]

I played the coronet in junior high, and the tuba/sousaphone in high school.
I wished I had played the sax or piano though

Kudo's to you on this brother... I'm sure you'll be great.
What's that famous line... "just put your lips together and blow" lol

 

[Winnipeger]

Wow! Thanks for this. I do have the Arban and am using the first ten exercises to get in shape. I will order Super Power Embouchure for sure.

Hope it helps ya. It's kind of like weight-lifting for the face; which is like playing trumpet...which is why I quit playing trumpet.

 

[jttnk]

Back in high school. Joined a band and played it for a bit. But soon got hooked and bagpipes and never looked back.

I play drums, and have Zero lineage or connection to bag pipes, but I absolutely love them. I love Irish/ Celtic punk sound as well as Jose Angel Hevia. That guy is amazing.

Maybe someday I’ll try bagpipes! Good for you!

 

[jttnk]

No trumpet here, but I play drums in a rock,blues, funk band with a trumpet player. It adds so many cool angles to our cover tunes. Gre and Pink Floyd with a trumpet gets very cool.

Edger, if we come play up in Cottonwood or Prescott area, I’ll ping you.

 

[bullet08]

I play drums, and have Zero lineage or connection to bag pipes, but I absolutely love them. I love Irish/ Celtic punk sound as well as Jose Angel Hevia. That guy is amazing.

Maybe someday I’ll try bagpipes! Good for you!

Bagpipes are not really hard to play. Good fingers and good sense of coordination are good to have. Being around bagpipes since 15, I was lucky to get good sense of Scottish small musics. 8 is good age to start, but most people in US don't start till they are out of college, finding heritage and all that AND "Braveheart". It's funny "Highlander" movies and series didn't kick start the Celtic crazy earlier. It's only 8 notes! How hard can it be?!?! But if you get into competitions, standard goes up really quickly. Competed in both solo and band for good 22 years. I couldn't careless about solo competitions. But the band competitions! What glory! To be with better pipers and considered good enough to be in their company! Sound of drums working their magic. I miss being on the field. Too bad my fingers are shot. But still can play practice chanter.

 

[Zero]

Bagpipes are not really hard to play. Good fingers and good sense of coordination are good to have. Being around bagpipes since 15, I was lucky to get good sense of Scottish small musics. 8 is good age to start, but most people in US don't start till they are out of college, finding heritage and all that AND "Braveheart". It's funny "Highlander" movies and series didn't kick start the Celtic crazy earlier. It's only 8 notes! How hard can it be?!?! But if you get into competitions, standard goes up really quickly. Competed in both solo and band for good 22 years. I couldn't careless about solo competitions. But the band competitions! What glory! To be with better pipers and considered good enough to be in their company! Sound of drums working their magic. I miss being on the field. Too bad my fingers are shot. But still can play practice chanter.

I remember falling In love with the sound of the bagpipes since before kindergarten, the annual town parades would have them marching down the street. Back in '98 I bought my first chanter and started dabbling in it. In 2005 I bought a set of Fireside bagpipes by Gibson, made out of African blackwood w/sterling silver mounts. It is one of the easiest instruments for me that I've taken to. There's a whole lot of good video and written instruction out there. You've motivated me to get back into it, along with the Christmas season. But isn't there 9 notes, low G to High A? Glad to see a pipe smoking bagpiper on here