Cultivating Good Habits For Young Trumpeters

Hand Position

1. The left hand holds the entire weight of the instrument

2. The right hand is used only to depress the valves

3. Wrists must be straight

4. Small finger of right hand can be placed in finger loop to avoid pressure.  Do not hold with loop!

5. Pads on fingertips on valves

6. Right hand thumb is in between first and second valves, or thumb under the lead pipe

Instrument Position

1. Trumpet held slightly below horizontal

2. Do not play directly into stand

Posture

1. Sit on front edge of chair

2. Feet flat on the floor

3. Back and head erect

4. Elbows and arms held slightly away from body

Embouchure

1. Say the letter “M” in a comfortable state

2. Teeth about ¼” apart while playing think “ah”

3. As little embouchure movement as possible when changing registers

4. Mouthpiece placed at the center of the mouth

5. ½ upper and ½ lower lips on the mouthpiece, equal pressure on top and bottom

6. Lower jaw pushed forward slightly to achieve horizontal alignment of teeth

7. Chin down and flat

8. Cheeks held in

9. Do not let air pockets form between the lips and teeth

Breathing

1. Breath through bottom of your mouth

2. Lower chest expands, open chest cavity

3. Shoulders do not rise when breathing

Throat Position

1.  Throat should always remain open at all times as if yawning

Tonguing

1. Front area of the tongue touches roof of the mouth where gums and teeth meet

2. No interruption of the sound when slurring from one note to another.  Slurs must be thought of as one long note

3. Tongue interrupts the air stream when articulating