Lesson 1. Trumpet playing begins in your head
Alexander ran all the way home from school. He could hardly wait to tell his mother about the music played by the concert band that afternoon. He heard the drums beating, the flutes fluting, the trombones sliding through notes, the tubas oomping, and the trumpets trumpeting.
Wow! Those trumpets brought electricity to music. That’s all Alexander could think about after the concert. “Those trumpets trumpeting,” he thought to himself. He could hear their tones ringing clear as bells over the other instruments. “I want to trumpet like that,” Alexander said to himself.
Mother was so glad to see Alexander. She had fresh cookies on the table and a glass of milk. But Alexander was so excited about telling her about the trumpets that he couldn’t stop talking to eat the cookies. “You should have heard the trumpets trumpeting Mom!”
“Mom, I want to trumpet too. Where can I get a trumpet?”
“Well, your Papa use to play the trumpet. He might let you borrow his trumpet and even teach you how to play it.”
“Oh boy. When can we start?” Alexander said eagerly.
“Well, eat your cookies first, and then, call your Papa. I know he’ll love to hear from you.”
Alexander ate his cookies so fast that he didn’t realize just how good they really were. But what could be better than playing the trumpet?!
In no time, Alexander was on the phone talking to his Papa.
“Papa, will you teach me how to play your trumpet? I mean, let me borrow your trumpet? I mean, ah, ah, … I want to trumpet. Can you help me?”
Papa laughed at Alexander’s stuttering excitement. “Of course I will.”
After describing in detail to Papa all that Alexander heard that afternoon, it was time to ask the big question.
“When can we start, Papa?”
“We’ll start right now?”
“Huh?” asked Alexander in a surprised tone.
“Well, you see Alexander, trumpeting begins in your head.”
Papa smiled at the silence on the phone as Alexander thought hard about what this might mean.
“Very good Alexander. To trumpet well, you need to think about and understand what you are doing. You are off to a good start already.”
“But Papa, I haven’t done anything yet.”
“You’ve done more than you realize Alexander. You listened to the trumpets today. You heard how wonderful they can sound, you enjoyed their part in the chorus of instruments. You heard how they bring the music alive with well executed notes throughout the music. You were inspired by their sound and by their addition to the music.”
“So, how does that help me?” asked Alexander.
“Because now you know what the trumpet should sound like and how good it can sound. Not all trumpet playing produces a good sound. There are many people who trumpet, but no one wants to listen to them.”
“Oh, I think I understand.”
“You need to listen to good trumpet playing, and get that good trumpet sound into your head, so that when you practice playing your trumpet, you know what it should sound like.”
“So, what do you recommend Papa? What should I listen too?”
“I’ll send you a list of songs and videos to listen to tomorrow.”
“But what can I do until then?”
“Practice blowing softly through your lips.”
“Why?”
“Because playing the trumpet begins with air flow. You have to know how to blow air through your lips with a steady, controlled stream of air.”
“Oh, like water through a hose?”
“Yes. Take a deep breath. This is how to relax the big muscle under your lungs that controls breathing. Then relax, slowly tighten your upper stomach muscles right under your rib cage to blow out the air softly and slowly through your lips.”
Papa could hear Alexander breathing fast and hard.
“My mouth is drying out!” said Alexander.
“Alexander, close your mouth. Now breathe in through your nose, and let the air out through your lips. Let your lips relax, form a circle, and push out as the air pushes out.”
Papa could still hear Alexander breathing hard.
“Alexander, remember to relax and breathe softly and slowly. It’s just like breathing. Breathe in through your nose, and let the air push out through your lips.”
“Hey, I think I’m doing it. But my teeth sort of hurt.”
“Why is that? What are you doing to your teeth?”
“Well, I’m trying to keep my mouth shut, and I’m biting real hard.”
“Just relax. Relax. Relax. The tip of your tongue should be able to go between the space between your upper and lower front teeth. But keep your lips together. Just relax your jaw. This should be a natural gap between your teeth if you are relaxed. Now breathe in your nose and out your lips. Let the air push your lips out through a tiny circle.”
“I didn’t know breathing could be so hard to do!” Alexander exclaimed.
“Breathing is so easy, you never thought about it before. But you will now, if you are going to play trumpet. Practice breathing until I see you after school tomorrow.”
“OK. Thanks, Papa. I will practice right now.”
“Good. Now remember, relax.”
“Ok. Good bye.”
“Good bye.”
Lesson 1:
a) Listen to music with great trumpet playing.
b) Breathe in, slowly tighten upper stomach muscles under rib cage to blow air through relaxed lips softly and slowly.
c) Practice every day.
