Whether you’re a new trumpet player or a musician with a considerable amount of experience, finding the right trumpet books isn’t always easy. That’s because there’s such a vast range of options out there. Moreover, the options with the greatest amount of value often come at a pretty hefty cost. Following are several types of trumpet books that you’ll invariably come across while shopping, along with a few simple tips for choosing the best book for your needs and playing skills.
Trumpet Books For Beginners
Nearly every music store will have several books that are meant for beginning horn players. These are comprehensive, elementary courses that people can manage on their own at home. They’ll have sections on building the proper embouchure for moving wind through this instrument with both force and control. They’ll also have all major and minor scales including the chromatic scale, as well as a few recognizable tunes that people can easily play along with. You can use these to learn the fingering for different notes and get tips on how to perform slurs, staccato notes, and more. No matter what your goals may be, books like these will give you the essential, rudimentary skills for becoming a strong and capable player.
Easy Melodies
The next step up in trumpet books are books that contain easy to learn melodies. You have either heard songs like these before, or you’ll find that they’re simple enough to master without the benefit of professional instruction. Books like these may even come with CD or online listening companions. This means that you can listen to more seasoned musicians play these songs before attempting to play them on your own. These tools are great for ensuring that you get your timing and your phrasing just right. If you’re teaching yourself how to play this instrument entirely on your own these helpful companions are absolutely essential.
Full Arrangements
You may even be able to find books that contain entire arrangements. These are perfect for two or more players who want to make music together. They often contain perfectly arranged duets, trios and quartets as well as pieces that are meant for presentation. This is one of the cheapest ways to get quality sheet music, especially if you’re an instructor with a nominal budget for teaching supplies.
Music Theory
Certain books for trumpets are all about music theory. Rather than giving you actual songs to play, these will tell all about how music is made, why it sounds the way it does, and the ideas that go into creating a brilliant piece. These are the types of books that you want to invest in if you’re interested in a long-term career as a musician or in music composition.
