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What are good techniques to use when trying to get a clean fuller sound of the B-flat Trumpet? Also, what are some good techniques to use when trying to play anything above forte?

The first you need is the Arbans Complete trumpet method. To control volume try playing long tones as soft as you can, try to maintain a smooth constant sound. Another very important thing is to be patient and not try to strain to get louder or higher notes you will only hurt yourself and your embouchure. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

Right now, I can play up to top-line F on the Trumpet, is that a good place to be able to play? I also play F-horn, and I can consistently hit a D, is that also reasonable?

i am usually happy if my freshmen can play a solid G above the staff. then DR. CHOPS prescribes a series of lip slurs and long tones to get their range increased. any student that takes their slurs and longtones seriously can increase their range by an octave in 2 years.

Right now, I can play up to top-line F on the Trumpet, is that a good place to be able to play? I also play F-horn, and I can consistently hit a D, is that also reasonable?

i am usually happy if my freshmen can play a solid G above the staff. then DR. CHOPS prescribes a series of lip slurs and long tones to get their range increased. any student that takes their slurs and longtones seriously can increase their range by an octave in 2 years.

Ive been playing Trumpet for by school for 4yrs,and I’m trying to get my friend to play too. any tips?

"you won’t regret it in 4 years."

I know this has been asked many times before, but I hear both sides – water and no water. I bought a used Trumpet and the inside looks terrible. Her teacher thought something was stuck in it and was able to get a bunch of gunk out of it (not sure how, my daughter was there – not me!) He aslo told her to take it home and run some water through it. this didn’t sound right, but I’ve seen all the sites that tell you to "give it a bath". I’m afraid to do that. Should I have it ultrasonically cleaned at a shop instead?

i use "spitballs." they are these little sponges with cleaning solution in them that you put in the mouthpiece reciever then blow through the horn. this only works if it’s only a little bit of scum you need to get off. if it’s like clogged with crap then yes, you can give it a bath and use a cleaning snake also. although ultrasonic cleaning may be a better option if it is really terrible. but shops usually take a while to return your instrument. my friend bathes hers all the time and it looks really good. doesn’t harm it at all.

My mom bought me a Trumpet a couple of years ago for christmas. It’s purple and, she had bought it cheaply through a JC Penny catalog. It play sokay but, the paint has very chipped and I have looked around my area to have it repainted but, they won’t take the brand of the instrument. It’s a Harmony and I tried looking them up online to see if I could send it back to them to have it repainted. Does anybody else have any other ideas?

This is not a reputable brand, and music companies know that it will not SURVIVE being disassembled and repainted. Invest in a GOOD brand instead. Sell this one to a beginner – or make it into a lamp.

Hi, every one! I’m getting married in september. As part of the flower arangments we want some Angels Trumpet flowers. Dont know where we can get them. they can be found in europe but are classed as a troppical flower.

some species can be raised from seed, (try Chiltern seeds or Ebay as sources) but if you are marrying in September then that’s not enough time, so you need to buy plants ready grown. Most big garden centres stock Datura and Brugmansia (looks a lot like Datura); try Dobbies if there’s one near you, or just B&Q or Homebase. Ebay might also be worth trying.

Bear in mind that Datura is one of the most toxic plants on the planet: i’m sure nobody is going to eat them but getting the sap on your skin (as when holding a bouquet) can allow the toxins to enter your system. Also, if you get the sap on your fingers then rub your eyes you may end up with pupils that are dilated for 3-5 DAYS! (this is due to the large amounts of hyoscine and atropine in datura).

suddenly I cannot tune very well at all and my pitch is always changing on my Trumpet. I don’t know why I would suddenly lose control of my embouchure, so I wonder if there is any outside influence. It is very dirty and I plan to clean it soon, could that be a cause for lose of pitch accuracy?

Check your tuner. Once my brother took my tuner off 440 (concert pitch) to 400 and I spent almost ten minutes trying to figure out why my valve was pushed all the way in but I was still flat.

i have minimal Piano background and am starting to work on the Trumpet.

it is a hard instrument to learn by yourself, i recommend that you get lessons at least just for beginning, otherwise you might develop bad habits that can be hard to break later or that can affect your playing.

I got my wisdom teeth removed today and was wondering when I could play the Trumpet. Also, I’d like to know the best way to get back to playing condition. Since it’s the beginning of winter vacation, playing my trumpet is not something urgent. I’d like to practice, but I don’t want to take any risks that would be detrimental in the future.

2-3 weeks. try some low notes at first after about 2, but if you dont feel good doing it WAIT! good luck!