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Tarsky

Deputy

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Yes, I'm a brass
player

Posts: 1

Question on beginning trumpet or cornet
07/27/10 at 11:48:16

Hello,
I wonder if you can help me. I’m wanting to learn the trumpet or cornet. The reason I’ve mentioned both is because I’m unsure what is best for my situation.
I play harmonica in a blues band and we cover the whole spectrum of the genre from Fats Domino to
Eric Clapton and all points in between. I’ve always wanted to learn the trumpet/cornet, but as I’m in my forties with a very young family practice time would probably be mostly in my car (Polo) at work during lunch hour!
So what should I be turning my attention to that will fit in with the band, allow me to practice in my car and at home without too much noise and what are the best home tutoring books you would recommend, and finally do I need a mute.
Thanks
Phew!

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Dave Johnson

Assistant Principal

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Ex Principal cornet
REME band(army).Many
moons ago

Posts: 187
Reading England

Re: Question on beginning trumpet or cornet
Reply #1 - 07/28/10 at 08:05:33

I recommend the Yamaha 'silent brass' system. It consists of a mute, a small portable amplifier and a set of earphones. It is very effective but you will still need to play without it at times to get the real 'feel' of the instrument.
I hope that you realise that to learn to play the trumpet or cornet requires a lot of dedication in the form of practice. It is not an instrument that you can learn to play well in just a short time - unles you are really a prodigy of course. Be prepared for setbacks and try to join a band as soon as you are reasonably proficient. That will maintain your interest. Most amateur brass bands are always happy to accept new players even if they can't play too well at first. After all, that is where their future good players usually come from. This would be on cornet of course.
If you choose to learn trumpet, entry to a group is more restricted but it's always possible to change from one to the other at a later stage when you are proficient enough.

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Cornets Yamaha and Bach
Trumpets Boosey Bb, Berkeley C and Eb/D
Flugel Bach Strad 183
Tenor horn Jupiter

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Roger_C

Co-Principal

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Lifelong Dabbler

Posts: 442
London
Gender: male

Re: Question on beginning trumpet or cornet
Reply #2 - 07/28/10 at 09:45:25

Just to clarify the point about choice of trumpet or cornet: from the technique point of view, they are essentially identical, especially at the beginning stages, so it really doesn't matter. As Dave has suggested, if you're interested in brass band then it has to be a cornet, otherwise it's not that much used except in purist Dixieland bands. For the vast majority of pop, jazz & classical music a trumpet would be the norm.

I would also endorse Dave's point about practising "open" as much as possible. There have been periods when I've taken my trumpet on a trip, pulled over miles from anywhere & done some practise on the back seat.

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scipio1

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Posts: 39
Lincolnshire
Gender: male

Re: Question on beginning trumpet or cornet
Reply #3 - 07/30/10 at 08:22:23

Hello Tarsky, Get an adjustable cup mute rather than the Yamaha silent. Its nearly as quiet, much cheaper and you will use it in performance. Home tutors for serious adult beginners are scarce. In view af your situation you may find 'Technical Studies for the Modern Trumpet' by Pat Harbison worth a look. The 7 page introduction explains what to do, and why, and the exercises are a million miles away from 'Tune a Day'. Look at the trumpet forums on the web and search names like Jerome Callet, Carmin Caruso, Claude Gordon. That should keep you occupied for the next 30 years. All the best, Frank. Wink

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JazzJezz

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Trumpet and Flugel

Posts: 11
Kent, UK

Re: Question on beginning trumpet or cornet
Reply #4 - 07/30/10 at 09:20:45

Speaking from my own personal experience I find the Yamaha Silent Brass thingy to be very useful when needing to practise in a quiet environment.

Practising mute free is the best, sticking anything in the end of your horn changes the response and feel. But sometimes this is not possible. For me this is when I am sitting in a hotel room.

The problem I have with practise mutes is that, as the feedback of my input is via my ears, I always end up overblowing to get more volume! Its a subconcious thing.

But with the Silent Brass, you can just turn up the volume that you get through your headphones- therfore I hear my playing at the correct volume and do not try to play louder.

The other big benefit is that it is easy to plug in a (ipod) device and play along to those backing tracks that give my practise variety, structure and increased enjoyment/ motivation.

On whether to get a cornet or a trumpet... if you want a trumpet sound get a trumpet, if you want a cornet sound get a cornet. If you want to add it to your blues band I would have thought trumpet - but I am biased!

I liked using the "Jazz Method for Trumpet" (Tutor Book & CD) by John O'Neill and Steve Waterman, but I was already proficient before starting on it - but it does start pretty basic.

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Elf Assistant Principal Offline A brass or two! Posts: 186 North Wales Gender:	Re: Question on beginning trumpet or cornet Reply #5 - 08/25/10 at 00:15:40 I spent many months with my first trumpet in a porta-studio (car) it's a great compromise - especially with the heater in the winter! One big bonus you will notice is that it's so much nicer to play standing up instead of cramped in a car seat.
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