kadleck

A good question.

Practice: Obviously the basics (tounging, slurs, etc...) are necessary for any trumpet related stuff. For improvisation, I might use the Aebersold play along CD's to work on my harmonic ideas and time. For lead playing, I use the Colin Advanced Lip Flex. book to work on the upper register. For classical playing, I work out of the books you mentioned (Arban, Clarke, Charlier, etc...) and try to play some excerpts.

Basically, I like to listen and try to imitate great players. Find great recordings of orchestral works and listen closely to how the trumpet players phrase and try to copy their sound. Transcribe a Tom Harrell solo (just an example) to learn about his harmonic approach to improvisation. Listen to Snooky Young play with the Basie band to check out phrasing, style, sound, etc...

In order to be a "jack of all trades, master of none", I do change my equipment. (I do not advocate this for everyone.) For me, there is no way to play "April in Paris" and "Shostakovich 5" on the same mouthpiece. One (or both) will suffer. My opinion (worth less than 2 cents) - a lead sound should have enough highs to cut through a band, while an orchestral sound should have some more broadness to the core.

Hope this was somewhat helpful.

Tony