How do I get started playing the trumpet?

Question

I have many years of experience getting students started on the trumpet with the proper set up for their embouchure. I have a detailed, step by step process that breaks down getting your first sounds on the trumpet and sets you up for improving at a faster rate.

Answer 1

Logan B provide a great answer and I'll just add one thing: hook the bump of the upper lip inside the cup of the mouthpiece, set the "mmmm" formation, breath out passing air through the lips then slowly closing the lips to create the first buzz. After you have that buzz, hold it out as long as you can. Give this a few reps. Then put the mouthpiece to the trumpet and play a middle G. There, you just played your first note on the trumpet!

Answer 2

There are two basic fundamentals necessary to make a sound on the trumpet. One is the embouchure, and the other is the breath. The embouchure is formed by saying the syllable “Em” as in Eminem or M&Ms. The lips should be slightly pressed together. Then simply blow your air fast past the lips. It helps to aim for a spot on the wall!

Answer 3

To get a student started on trumpet, you typically want to begin with the mouthpice only and creating the embouchure. This gets the student set up to create the correct first sound on the horn itself. For the embouchure, you have the student form the "mmm" sound with their lips. This creates firm corners. After setting the "mmm" formation, have the students say "Pooh" to blow our air between their lips. They will continue to keep their corners firm as they do this. It is common to have the student use their fingers to push on their corners to keep the firm, but you may also have them look in a mirror.