There are countless trumpet books that teachers can invest in, whether they are instructing beginning horn players or musicians who are far more advanced. In order to get the most from these resources, however, it is important to find a few key features for ensuring optimal guidance and minimal room for misinterpretation. Following is everything that you want to look for when shopping for these learning materials.
Complete Scales
Playing the scales isn’t always fun, but this is actually how strong musicians are developed. Whether at the front or the back of the book, all of the major scales should be listed. The best trumpet books will additionally include the chromatic scale and a variety of fun exercises that students can complete in order to boost their skills in this area.
Recognizable Songs
In order to get their sense of timing just right, new trumpet players should start out by playing tunes that they can recognize. Although trumpets are less likely to play the melodies when playing as part of comprehensive ensembles, they should definitely have the opportunity to play a few melodies when working on these pieces. As they become more adept at recognizing and adhering to time signatures, players can move on to playing harmonies instead.
Information On Developing A Good Embouchure
It is not enough for trumpet players to learn how to play the right notes and follow along with the music. They also have to develop sufficient strength in all of the right facial muscles for maintaining an impressive embouchure. This is the only way that players can consistently deliver strong, clear notes, whether playing as part of a group or on their own.
Play Along CDs
When players are practicing on their own, they can use an included CD to make sure that they are getting the right sound. These resources are especially important in beginning trumpet books. They help new students practice independently, without making major and consistent mistakes. Tools like these can also make the independent learning process far less frustrating. When students have questions but lack the opportunity to immediately get answers from their instructors, they can always turn to these helpful resources instead.
New Songs
In addition to playing songs that they already know, new musicians must develop the skill to play tunes that they have never been exposed to before. Thus, teachers should look for books that have a number of original compositions in various styles, sounds and lengths. These books can also coordinate with the learning materials for other instruments so that groups can practice on developing a sharp, clean sound when playing together.
