Eric Gabriel Marx Brass Methods March 6, 2020

Trumpet TPO
 Out of the case:
o Lay case flat on floor, latches to open upward
o Lift the trumpet out of the case
o Lift mouthpiece out of the case and place in the mouthpiece receiver, giving a
quarter turn to secure the mouthpiece in place.
 Placing the horn down out of the case – on the opposite slide of the 2nd
valve slide. This avoids denting the 2nd valve slide.
 Posture
o Seated upright in a chair, either against the back of the chair or on the front.
o Straight back, hips in line with shoulders.
o Two feet flat on the floor.
 Hand Position
o Left Hand Carriage –
 Hold left hand like a C shape.
 Thumb in the thumb saddle
 Ring finger in the 3rd valve slide ring.
 Pointer and Middle fingers wrapped around valve casing below the bell.
 Pinkie finger rested on the third valve slide.
o Right Hand Carriage –
 Hold left hand in a C shape.
 Thumb in the crevasse of the valve casing between 1st and 2nd valves.
 Pointer, Middle and Ring finger curved, tips resting on 1st, 2nd and 3rd
valves, respectively.
 Pinkie finger ON TOP of the pinkie ring.
 Initial Sounds
o Say the letter “M” to form the embouchure.
o “Spit out a watermelon seed” to establish a focused buzz.
o Place mouthpiece on lips, in the direct center of the lips.
 Half and half up and down, half and half left and right.
o Say M and spit out a watermelon seed into the properly placed mouthpiece.
o Support with full breath of air.
 Articulation
o Tongue should interrupt air stream, placed between top teeth and gumline.
o Ta – Regular articulation
o Ti – Separated articulation
o Doo – Connected articulation
 Quick Problems and Solutions
o P: Student having trouble with high notes?
 o S: Use more air, support from the diaphragm, less tension on mouthpiece.
o P: Student having trouble with playing a D in tune?
o S: Kick out the 3rd valve slide while playing the 1-3 fingering.
 Idiosyncrasies
o Transposition – Beginning trumpets are a WHOLE STEP DOWN from Concert
Pitch! – Open C on trumpet = Bb on piano.
 Professionals may need to sight-transpose in a multitude of keys.
o Tendency Tones
 Sharp Tendencies
 D – 1 and 3
 C# - 1 2 and 3
 Flat Tendencies (In staff)
 D-1
 Eb - 2
 E – Open
o Too much pressure against the face
 Can cause nerve damage
 Overusing muscles and tiring out too quickly
 Relax face, pull trumpet away from face
o Pinkie in pinkie ring
 Tap-Tap-Stick the pinkie on top of the ring
 References
o International Trumpet Guild
o Trumpetherald.com
o A Complete Guide to Brass – Scott Whitener