Trumpets

Trumpets

Tips for Beginners

The trumpet must be the oldest wind instrument of all times. Traditionally they were built out of different kind of materials, but with their long form they could only play certain notes. The valveless hunting horns that can be seen today function in the same way. At the beginning of the 19th century the valve trumpets were invented and it became possible to create chromatic tone sequences.

You can find trumpets with turning valves (concert trumpets) and with pumping valves (perinette trimpets). Concert trumpets with turning valves usually were played in classical orchestras, whilst pertinette trumpets were played in jazz music and for entertainment. Nowadays pertinette trumpets can also be seen in orchestras.

Beginners

The Bb-trumpet is played the most. The price for a trumpet depends on the material it is made of. A good learners instrument should have the following features:

• The valves should be made of monell or high-grade steel and should not make any grinding noises when they are pressed.
• The draughts should be made of nickel silver or steel and should be easy to push in and pull out.

If you follow this advice, you should be able to get an instrument for around € 200.

The Right Age

Kids can start playing the trumpet at the age of six. But it is important that they have full-grown incisors and a stable circulation, ´cause kids love to use the wrong technique when they start out which normally can be compensated if they have enough energy.


Care

The trumpet isn´t really very delicate. But it is still important to let out the water through the spit valve when you have finished playing and also to dry it from the inside and out. The valves should be oiled regularly - depending on how often you play. Please don´t use grease!

In comparison to the valves the draughts should be greased. If they´re not used regularly, they should be moved now and again or they´ll otherwise get stuck.

What else?

• valve oil
• draught grease
• trumpet stand - you´ll practice more if the instrument is at hand
• music stand - kids have to leran to play standing upright, so they do not hinder their breathing

Buffers

At the beginning it´s quite difficult to play the trumpet quietly. There are practice buffers, but these usually change your intonation. But because it is important to hear the correct tone right from the start, beginners shouldn´t really experiment with buffers. If you don´t want to upset your neighbours - stick to the legal rest periods!