[Procrastinator50...]

Has anyone got a child that plays the trumpet, or plays themselves?

What is the best age to start? Any thoughts or advice for trumpet beginners? How do I choose an instrument? DS would learn through a private teacher, so there's not the option of renting one from the school.

[sparassidae]

One of our daughters plays trumpet. We are no experts, but answering your questions from our experience:

1) age- dunno. Our DD started last year after her 7th birthday, that was typical for the area we lived in, but we moved and here the school doesn't recommend starting an instrument until 10 yrs, which we think is strange. Anyway, she has been learning for a year and a half and is doing well. It took her a while to have the discipline required, but that is her personality. She still struggles a bit to hold it up straight but is getting better.

2) No advice really, except like with any instrument you will learn faster the more you practise. And for parents I can say learning trumpet is harder on the ears than either trombone or piano (which our older children play) lol

3) We bought her instrument by asking at our local music shop. They let us know when they found out about someone wanting to sell.

[howdo]

DS started at 8yo, has been playing for 12 months through a private teacher who comes to school. We hired the trumpet from the Ed Dept Music Service. You can usually hire them through music shops though - several places here in Adelaide hire them out I am led to understand. You could always enquire of the local woodwind and brass store if they hire.

I don't have a lot of thoughts or advice - but it was a good age to start him as far as we can tell Good luck to your trumpeter!

[~flaxen~]

Not a trumpet player but a cornet

What is the best age to start?

I started about Year 3, learning through my primary school brass band. I think the premise behind that was that I'd finished loosing baby teeth.

Any thoughts or advice for trumpet beginners?

There is such as thing as a practice mute that may be worth investing in to keep the peace with the neighbours

How do I choose an instrument?

Find your teacher first, they may know of someone selling. Or possibly join a concert band, sometimes they have instruments they can loan out and have beginner bands that you child could join to supplement their private lessons. If you are serious, the cheaper chinese brands (well for cornets anyway) I would steer clear of. I think someone said to me once "If it swims or flies, don't buy"...there were a lot of instruments branded lark or fish or something like that that were really crappy quality and awful sound. I ended up with a Yamaha which did me just fine and was what we could afford at the time. But my parents didn't buy me an instrument until I'd been playing for quite a few years.

This post has been edited by ~flaxen~: 19/11/2012, 05:36 PM

[It'sallgood]

Ask a few of the music teachers who come in here.

I think though, it's to do with teeth and the ability to place mouth correctly. It's not a good idea to start to early as far as I'm aware. I think if a kid has undeveloped jaw etc, it can mean gets into poor habits or something? It's all about the "umbusher" (have no idea how to spell that!!! LOL but it was drummed into me!!)

My brother plays trumpet and didn't start till late primary, I played Clarinet, same. They didn't want us playing any Woodwind or Brass instruments until about 10 or older.

Tamm

[Quill]

PPs have just about covered it!

This post has been edited by Quill: 19/11/2012, 07:31 PM

[Soprano-Cat]

Ask a few of the music teachers who come in here.

I think though, it's to do with teeth and the ability to place mouth correctly. It's not a good idea to start to early as far as I'm aware. I think if a kid has undeveloped jaw etc, it can mean gets into poor habits or something? It's all about the "umbusher" (have no idea how to spell that!!! LOL but it was drummed into me!!)

My brother plays trumpet and didn't start till late primary, I played Clarinet, same. They didn't want us playing any Woodwind or Brass instruments until about 10 or older.

Tamm

emboucher Can be affected by all sorts of things. Including braces in the teen years, resulting in having to learn how to place your mouth all over again. But whatever you do, don't stop playing! Invest in good braces wax and keep going or you'll be buggered once they're off.


Or take up percussion. Don't have to worry about it, then

[somila]

Embouchure, I believe.

DS#2 is hoping to start cornet next year with a view to playing trumpet. He is nine.

[Old Grey Mare]

DS started playing in the school's beginners band in Year 3. They had a private tutor who ran the beginner and senior bands and gave individual lessons during school time. We started by hiring a trumpet through Musicorp (NSW) and then asked the tutor to keep an eye out for one to buy. We bought a Chinese one for < $100 and DS played it for two years.

[Leefa]

I was 5 when I first started playing cornet. It's a bit smaller than a trumpet, and I think it has a nicer sound. Not as brash. But I grew up attending the salvos, so learning brass early on was pretty much expected. I think my husband was about 6 when he started. It kinda depends on the child though, some will have the will to learn and practice that early, others won't. I've never had to buy any of the brass instruments I've played over the years, they were loaned out by the church. I'm currently back on cornet and it was easier to play when I was younger!