It all starts with a buzz
Lesson time: (1min 29sec)
Free lesson
This lesson is part of the course Introduction to the Trumpet: My First Trumpet Lesson
Watch this lesson for free below.
Lesson transcript:
How to Make a Sound Through the Trumpet
So how do we make a sound through the trumpet?
- If I just blow air, it doesn't make a sound.
- If I blow air and press the valves down, it still doesn't make a sound.
The Importance of Buzzing
We need to do a special thing with our lips. We need to make a buzz.
-
Visualize the Candle:
- I would like you to put your finger up in front of your mouth.
- Imagine this is like a candle.
- I want you just to blow gently enough to make the candle flicker.
See that shape?
- With my mouth, my cheeks are not puffing out.
- I'm blowing gently.
-
Blowing Harder:
- Now blow a bit harder and blow the candle out.
- But still keep your lips in the same shape.
Licking and Pressing Lips
- Lick Your Lips:
- The next step is to lick your lips.
- Press your lips together and do exactly the same blow.
- Feel the air on your finger.
You should create a buzz.
Transition to Sound Production
So we've gone from blowing harder.
- Press your lips together, and you should make a buzz.
- This will help you to make your sound through the trumpet.
Practice Makes Perfect
So practice doing that buzz:
- Don't puff your cheeks out.
- Make sure your lips are squeezed together.
- Not too hard, but hard enough for a vibration, that's what we want here.
Feel that buzz on your lips. Practice doing that until you can make a good buzz.
About the instructor
Kay is a trumpet player, composer and teacher of brass and curriculum music, specialising in primary classroom teaching - KS2, First Access/WCET (whole-class ensemble teaching, where a class learns an instrument together) and teacher CPD (continuing professional development). She completed a Masters in Music Education - 'Teaching Musician' at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2018. Kay plays trumpet with the Bollywood Brass Band, a 9-piece band of brass and drums whose 2017 CD Carnatic Connection was nominated for a Songlines Magazine 'World Music Award' and given a 5-star review in the London Evening Standard. Kay composes and arranges for the band and leads on their education work, founding the Bollywood Brass Academy in 2017. Kay has presented her research into whole-class teaching at the Music Education Expo and the First Access Forum. She has designed and led CPD for LSO Discovery, Trinity College London, Music Education Solutions and the Bollywood Brass Band, and is an education consultant for Warwick Music. Kay's book of beginner repertoire, 'Are You Ready?', is published by Warwick Music; in 2017 Kay was commissioned by Warwick Music and Music Education Solutions to compose songs for a new KS1 scheme of work for the pBuzz, which was nominated as 'Education Resource of 2018' by the 'Education Awards'. Other publications include pieces for Trinity's Initial (2015/2018) and Grade 1 (2018) piano syllabus, Bollywood Blast! (Spartan Press) - a series of brass and wind tutor books with backing tracks in a Bollywood style - and Whole Class Bollywood Blast with David Rose (Bedford Music Hub), which is aimed at teachers of whole-class instrumental lessons and includes an Arts Award Discover programme. Her MusicGurus courses bring that classroom experience straight to you: from your very first trumpet lesson through two sets of tunes for beginners, Kay sets out exactly what to play and how to play it. www.kaycharlton.co.uk read more