We are creatures of habit and when it comes to playing trumpet, we all are guilty at least some of the mistakes listed below. I can say that I am guilty of most of them and through many years of teaching music, I have see all of them. Posting this list will not change the trumpet world for we are creatures of habit and bad habits will continue. The real reason I have listed these faults is to illustrate that even though you may have committed some of them, you are not unique, you’re just another trumpet player.
My list of the top ten mistakes most often made by trumpet players.
1. There is no mouthpiece that will do everything.
If you have played trumpet long enough, you will have collected a small fortune in trumpet mouthpieces and each that you have collected was to be the perfect mouthpiece. Most experienced players are still searching for the one that will play high, sound big and permit you to play forever. Save your money and frustration and do as Vincent Bach told us from the beginning, “Use the biggest mouthpiece you can handle”.
2. Unless you are one of the gifted, the only way to play trumpet well is to practice.
When I say practice, I mean to practice regularly and effectively. Too many times we let this area of our development slide. We have learned that to keep our teeth, we must brush our teeth the correct way and regularly. Practicing any instrument regularly is the only secret to success in the world of musical performance. What I mean when I said: practice regularly and effectively, I mean you must practice every day and do it in a manner which will result in improvement. Productive practicing does not mean that you will improve if you are working on the incorrect material in an ineffective manner.
3. Spend more time on what you can’t play and less on what you can play.
We all enjoy doing things we are good at and try to avoid what is difficult. When choosing a class to take, most often we select one that we know we can get through easily even though the harder class would be of more beneficial. Music is the same. If you are in a practice room and your greatest competitor is practicing in the room next to you, you will undoubtedly play things that you know best and avoid anything you might find difficult. This is only natural for none of us want to demonstrate our weaknesses but our weaknesses are the reason we are in the practice room in the first place.
4. The trumpet is not the only instrument of value in the world.
Trumpet players have the reputation (and in many cases justifiably so) of being self centered, arrogant, prideful and down right pompous. Stop it!
5. When you miss a note, live with it.
If you miss the high C at the end of your solo and your mother tries to comfort you by saying, “I’m sure no one could tell”, suck it up friend. Everyone could tell you missed the note and the only people smiling were the other trumpet players in the room. Life is not perfect and neither are you. If you worked as much as you should have on the piece and for some strange reason you missed it for the first time, that’s called a mistake and we all have it happen from time to time. But, if you didn’t practice enough and you were not sure you were going to play the note, then that my friend is called lack of preparation and you deserve to be embarrassed.
6. Listen to more musicians than just the ones you like.
The world of trumpet is expanding at an incredible rate. When I was first began to play my cornet, we had just a few players who were considered proficient on their instrument. Today, the world is filling up with young, gifted players. I would like to believe that the reason for this was a result of the work of teachers but that belief would place me in the #4 category. Improvements in instrument manufacturing as well as the increase in materials and even the popularity of YouTube may be the reason for this expansion. Whatever the reason, we all need to expand our thinking as to what and who is worth listening to. Do not limit your trumpet world to just jazz or only classical music. Embrace the musical world. Expression and emotion can be learned from opera as well as Wynton. Technical virtuosity can be appreciated by listening to Yo-Yo Ma as well as Vizzutti.
7. Not every horse is a race horse.
Some are destined to be lead players and some of us aren’t. What you would like to be may not be what you are to be. I would like to play lead as well as some of my friends but I realized many years ago, no matter how much I practiced, I would never reach their level of lead playing. I have accepted this and am very proud to say that I am a very good “second part” player. I have developed in many ways that most lead players have not. While visiting with Bobby Shew I said jokingly, “I’m a second part player. We are the guys that make you lead players sound good”. Even though it was said as a joke, there was some truth to the statement. Playing a second part has responsibilities which are as valuable as the expectations given to lead players and if you are good at what you are doing, regardless of the chair, be proud of what you do.
8. If you are a “comeback player”, don’t expect to jump in the pool and start swimming.
The best advice I have for the player returning to trumpet playing is, be patient. It will eventually return and in most cases you will be a better player because of the vacation from the instrument. You are older and have the desire to return to the mouthpiece but in most cases, a comeback player will want improvement to be at once. Be smart and be patient.
9. Will the price of the horn make me a better player?
No!
10. Most errors made by players are due to a lack of concentration.
The biggest cause of mistakes can be attributed to the lack of concentration on the music. Remember this very important guideline, “Concentrate on the music, and NEVER think about what your audience is thinking”.
Hi Bruce:
I enjoyed your list. I’ll comment on two of the points.
#4 “Trumpet players have the reputation of. . . ” Yes. However, that’s what led me to teach myself trombone. Some years back, I was playing in a community band where there was a lot of strife in the trumpet section. The trombone section seemed much more laid back, plus I really do like the sound of trombones (particularly when played in a trombone ensemble.) So, I escaped the trumpet section.
#8 “Comeback player” To your advice, I will ad my own. Enjoy the journey because there really is no destination (the road doesn’t end). When I jumped in as an adult, I noticed things that I had not as a younger person. If I’m able to play something simple, but play it really-really well, then there’s a lot of satisfaction in that. I don’t really care whether I impress someone else or not. I am now more willing to focus on the basics — tone, intonation, articulation, etc. than I previously was. I’m no longer trying to imitate Maynard Ferguson. (perhaps Alison Balcom)
You have a good site. I just discovered it. Best wishes.
Hi. I started play trumpet when i was 32,yet i haven’t improved as i supposed,
I am 51.i practice 4 times a week one to 2 hours.
My range is a high c no good endurance,no fingering speed.
I used to take private lessons and i improved some.one friend of mine told me
About my spread embochure issue that non of my teachers had spotted before
Or prentended not.,so i changed to 50/50 then went to A to high C.
My question is,it is possible study by myself and improve in all areas of playing?
You have any sugestions? I really like to play music.
Thanks
If you have been practicing for that amount of time and have not shown a reasonable amount of improvement, something is wrong. That much practicing should have been plenty unless you were not suited to the trumpet in the first place. I know that this is a tough pill to swallow after all the time you have spent on the horn but before you set fire to your computer, let me explain an experience I have had recently.
Living in Branson means that most of the musicians play string instruments (banjo, fiddle, guitar, etc.). After watching a great Dobro player perform one evening, I decided that that was the instrument I was born to play. I shopped around and found a great custom made Dobro and began practicing every day for an hour each day. I looked at lessons on YouTube and even bought a DVD showing me how to play. For months I practiced and eventually I got to the point that I could play a few tunes and comp. Then all the progress stopped and no matter how much I practiced, I could not develop enough technique to play at the level I expected. The Dobro is now for sale.
At that point I decided to try the new PBone trombone. Last Christmas my wife gave me a “blue” PBone and I began practicing every day for an hour. The progress was slow at first but soon I was playing well and even invited a couple trombone players from the shows over to play trios together. The improvement continued and now I am planning to take it along with my trumpet to play at the Bix Festival in Davenport, Iowa next month.
To be honest, I have not practiced my trumpet since Christmas. I have been playing a lot but not really practicing. All my real practicing has been on the PBone and I have found that my trumpet playing has improved from the playing on a trombone mouthpiece.
Read this post for more information…..
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/has-your-faithful-blogster-turned-to-the-dark-side/
Before you search for my address in order to come over a beat me up for giving you advice you might not want to hear, let me make a suggestion……
If you have been working this hard to play trumpet, I would like to work with you to see if I can help.
Send me a recording of your playing with some examples of your best material. It doesn’t have to be perfect but should show you at your best.
I will listen to it and return some suggestions.
I completely understand your frustrations and want to help.
Your possibly new trumpet instructor,
Bruce Chidester
” Most errors made by players are due to a lack of concentration.” One of my trumpet teachers from my youth, Harold “Pappy” Mitchell, had a couple of great expressions related to concentration that I never forgot:
“Know before you blow!” and “Think before you stink!”
I do know the name of your teacher and have used his books often. He was a fine teacher and I think his son was Ollie Mitchel, also a fine musician.
Thanks for your comments and the lack of concentration is one problem we all face. I studied Yoga concentration exercises at one time which was a big help. One exercise was called the candle exercise.
Hi Jim-
My name is David Primac.
I was wondering if you use to play at Cerritos College in Jack Wheaton’s bands in the 70’s.
I played in Bill Vitale’s band and started studying with Claude around the same time.
It is a fond memory and, if so, you were a tremendous inspiration.
I’ve been starting to play again and, again, if so, would love to hear what you are up to with your playing.
Regards, David
Thanks for stopping by but to answer your question, no I’m not that person.
Glad to hear you’re getting back on the horse again though.
Stay well and live long my friend.
Jim,
This is my correct email.