Disclaimer: There ain’t no such thing, but this is as close to one as you will find.
This is a product born by need and a very sleepless night. It is my intent to list the most common problems facing trumpet players today and I will offer a few suggestions as to how these problems may be solved or at least improved. For one person to profess to have the knowledge to solve every problem a trumpet player may face would be an example of simple stupidity. Even though I have run into many problems myself as well as observed common problems of my students. No one person could be so gifted and for that reason I will say that this material is offered only as a guide to the most common problems and their solutions.
It is my intent to create this source and as our readers base increases, so will the material offered. If you have any problem (trumpet related material only) which is not on this list, leave a comment as to your problem and we will add it to our list. Also, if you have an additional solution to any of the problems list, include your solution as a comment and we will add it to our post also.
Remember: This “Ultimate Problem Solving Check List” will only succeed through your contribution to this project.
Listed below are the most common problems trumpet players are dealing with today.
Correct Mouthpiece Placement
1
High Range
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Improve Musicality
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Intonation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Lip Trills
1
Low Range
1
Motivation To Practice
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Playing Loudly
1
Playing Softly
1
Shakes
1
Sight Reading
1
Stuck Slide
1
Tone
1
Valve Problems
1
Vibrato
1
Wet Or Dry Embouchure
1
Hello, I was wondering what you think about buzzing…buzzing without, with, and finally without the crook. From my own playing, all of these things seem to focus on efficiency and immediately identify discrepancies when the lips aren’t blowing the note your playing. I’d like to hear you thoughts. Thanks.
I’d like to hear/read about motivation to practice. I live a in rural area, that there is no place to play. Yeah, yeah start your own brass quintet – I did, but people are too busy. Play in church – not much of that happening there either. Community Band plays at a good Middle School level. The symphony is supposed to be local but, 99% are hired ringers. Play at the college- not cheap, set up for hopefully the few music students who do show up. Play duets – I think I’ve bought every book possible. Not all good duets are created equal.
Help?
Rural area’s can be a problem. Hopefully some of our readers will chime in with some suggestions.
In the mean time I will make you an offer…..
If you have a recording program on your computer.. (Audacity works well), record the first part on a couple of your duets so I can get an idea as to you ability, save it as an MP3 file and email it to me at brucechidester@hotmail.com. I’ll listen to it, record the second part for you and send it back. About once a week, continue sending your recordings and I will in turn record the second part and return it. Don’t forget to include the second part for me to read.
This should give you something to work towards.
Very good problem solving list you have made man! As a trumpets player these sort of tips will be very handy for me and I always try to follow this way that’s for sure. I will look forward to you all the times when will be need any sort of suggestions about trumpets and hope that you will stay with us all the times. Thanks mate!