Zeus_Apollo

Well, I'm not exactly new to the forum but I haven't been here for the longest time and I never introduced myself and just thought it would be fun!

I'm from Southern California and I'm in the 12th grade. I've been in Marching Band for soon to be 4 years but I kind of want to march in college. I've been in concert band, however, for about 8 years but I haven't been playing trumpet for very long. My previous instrument was flute, which I played for about 6 1/2 out of the 8 years. I have a long music history having played the piano since I was 6 and dabbling in harp for about 2 years.

I've found that trumpet is actually a lot more fun than flute and the challenges of trumpet are fun to try to overcome. Flute seemed very bland and boring although I know I was nowhere near professional status. I'm the type of person that likes to shine in performances and flute was getting me nowhere since I never had private lessons in either flute or trumpet.

I love the sound, the feel and just the entirety of the trumpet. I don't know how I could've ever thought that flute was better than trumpet. I guess I was just trying to defend my old section hahaha.

I've been trying to find ways to improve my 'stamina', I guess you could call it. I play 1st in my band and I can play the notes pretty accurately unless he's repeatedly asking me to play 8-count high C's which then I have to go down an octave. It also frustrates me that I can never consistently hit the high F but of course, I never practice. :( I know that I can't start complaining until I practice and still can't reach my goals but I guess I keep assuming that one day I'll be able to hit my notes consistently no matter how many times he asks me to play by practicing during my monday-friday school practices.

Anyway, I have been able to get what I wanted from switching out of flute which are the solos! I have my chance to shine! :) Oh and I have a question for those who play multiple instruments. Which instrument do/did you enjoy playing the most? And why?

ComeBackKid

Well Zeus Apollo, you not only have lofty goals for the trumpet but for your screen name as well. It sounds like you are a very capable musician. If you are first chair with no lessons, you have no lack of talent. You are right that the trumpet will give you much more of a chance to shine and play solos - assuming you keep your skills up.

The main concern here is that the trumpet requires much more than just musical ability. Embouchure development is a critical issue and has not only short term effects but long term as well. In order to continue to progress in the way that you want to, you are going to need to practice. There are specific, critical exercises that are needed. Some of those exercises may seem trivial or boring to someone like you who seems to be able to achieve a high level with little effort. But the lips are a very delicate and sensitive tissue and need to be trained in the right way in order for stamina and range to increase and be stable over time.

There are many threads on this forum that have recommendations for exercises to include daily, books to use, etudes that will improve skills, and many other factors that are key to trumpet playing that do not apply to any other instrument.

We welcome you to the forum and hope that you will use the resources here and we look forward to the time that you will post an audio or video clip of your playing and blow us all away. We are always waiting for the next Maynard Ferguson, Arturo Sandoval, Wynton Marsallis, or Dizzy Gillespie to show up on this site. Maybe you're it.

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Come-Back Kid
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