| john:
i know how you feel. i started teaching myself in the 7th grade...on an old pan-american pea-shooter. i'll never forget when i finally figured out how to tongue a year later....Bb was always fingered 1,2,3,....etc. our school statred band when i was 9th grade...things got better.
for you, i'd say a 7c is ok right now, but you might want to go a little bigger soon...don't mash on the lips..keep the corners of the mouth firm & the center a bit 'supple'....no reason to strain anything...stay relaxed and use a big breath.
trumpets have a cylindrical bore, cornets have a conical bore, (flugels are 'big cornets')..some feel cornets respond a little easier because of that.
i suggest you get a couple of the easy sigmund hering trumpet books for a good reading start.
i'll let others offer their ideas now.....
dj |