Bourbon City

Remember that most anyone can make noise with the trumpet. Many even learn to play in a limited musical way. It takes much more to be a musician; to be a teacher. However, one does not need to be the best player to be a very good teacher or director.

It appears to me that many of todays players think that one must play super high (G, A even dblC) to be called a trumpet player. Not true my friend. Most music for trumpet is written below high C with much of it still it the staff. Heck, when I was your age, I didn't even know what double high C looked like, let alone sound like. I never saw it in high school.

Learn the fundamentals, practice, don't push too hard, rest twice as long as you play. Develop your tone. Pick a player whose sound you like and then develop your own version of that sound. Learn to articulate. Learn how to phrase. Learn all the keys. Scales. Lip slurrs. Do these until your friends threaten you with deportation or something.

A mouthpiece? That is a personal decision. You should take the recommendation of your teacher. For a starter mouthpiece, go as large as you can but retain all the other atributes you have developed along the way.

Don't get hung up on equipment right now. There will be plenty time for that later when you will be able to make an educated decision and hopefully afford the equipment.

Listen. Don't talk during lessons unless you ask a question or a question is asked of you. Learn by listening. Albums, CDs and tapes. Spend your evenings at the library listening to music when not practicing.

I hope this helps a little. Good luck to you with your studies.