How difficult is it to play a trumpet?

[admylin]

Ds has been offered the chance to learn trumpet, he wanted to play saxophone but the music school have assessed him, let him try all the different instruments (euphonium, sax, trumpet, trombone, clarinette and flute) and he's been chosen for trumpet. Does anyone have a 9 or 10 year old who plays trumpet? I once (pre-children) looked after a boy who had to learn trumpet becuase his dad wanted him to and he hated it and could hardly get a note out of it. It was my job to supervise practise after homework.

Ds is really please danyway, I just hope he won't be dissapointed if it's hard to play.

[PussinWellies]

Depends. I can offer you experience of 10-yr-old cornet player, 9-yr-old euphonium and 7-yr-old tenor horn.

Cornet is shorter, lighter and easier to hold, and the larger brass (euphonium, tenor horn) are easier as they take less pressure to produce a good sound. On the other hand, you can be a real prima donna with a trumpet, and play jazz -- great for a would-be saxophone player! If he loves it, that's half the battle.

[admylin]

Thanks Pussinwellies. I hope he enjoys it and I was secretly pleased he got the trumpet - my first true love in teen years played one too and he was in a band! Wonder how much a trumpet will cost, he uses the music school one - or more like we rent it from them but he has alreday said if he likes it he wants one of his own for Christmas!

[PussinWellies]

Maybe I should add that not all those children are mine (though as we share music lessons, transport and spare clothes, it gets hard to remember which are which).

Trumpet is really versatile, and much more chance of getting into a band or orchestra than if he was the umpteenth clarinet player in the school. Good luck to him!

[madmummy4]

My daughter was playing the cornet last year in school band.I went to hear their first concert, bless them.From what it sounded like it must be quite hard as they could only do very very basic notes!!!She is ten and was in year 5 last year which is when they all started.

[asdmumandteacher]

Yay! My son learns the trumpet...well actually the cornet at the mo (he is 9 ) and has been for the last 2 years. (I am a music teacher)The cornet is a good one to start on as is the clarinet and the violin too for making a nice-ish sound at the beginning. But, its up to what will inspire your kiddie - if they want to make the sound of an instrument rather than what it looks like...they have to love its sound

[OonaghBhuna]

I played the trumpet through school and I loved it. I was in the school orchestra and jazz band and boy did we have fun. It is great fun and I met so many friends from this experience.
So I would recommend it to anyone

[Bride1]

My daughter plays cornet (and piano, guitar and recorder) and thoroughly enjoys it.

She makes a reasonably nice noise most of the time and says the lessons are fun.

[Kez100]

Son plays the Trumpet and has done for three years now. He has formal lessons which were in a school group but are now individual. He doesn't do grades, he just plays anything he wants and loves it. Practices most days and has been invited to join his new school's band.

Took him about a year to learn a scale (didn't practice much then) but then he was off and now he plays all sorts of 'boy' music (film music, blues) and really enjoys playing with others.

I think it's a great instrument, very versatile, reasonable to buy - his was £100 - and not too difficult to lug around (if you buy one without a suitcase for a case).

[trickerg]

In our orchestra, we have 3 trumpet players from Y4 and 6. They all began playing in Y3 -all of them had their two big front teeth when they started, which apparently makes it easier!

[trickerg]

(Might add the Y4 and one Y6 are on grade 2.)

[colditz]

It's not very hard. It IS very loud.

[Kez100]

It is quite hard to not play loud which dynamics require after a while.

I agree it is quite a loud instrument when they start, but I thought it was easy to bear during the learning period (if you know what I mean). Not screecy when they hit bad notes etc

[jeee]

I'm tone deaf and after 1 lesson on the euphonium could play something resembling a tune (the neighbours enjoyed hearing jingle bells at 6 the next morning ). I think brass instruments are great.

[madamearcati]

The lower brass instruments are easier to play than trumpet according to my boys' brass teacher.My Ds1 started trumpet at 7 but I don't think he progressed as quickly as he would have done if he had started 2 or 3 years later.DS2 wanted to start trumpet at 8 but the teacher encouraged him to do tenor horn instead because its easier.
The good thing about trumpets is that they are so versatile in terms of the type of ensemble you can play in.
(Is important for front teeth to be fully through before playing brass)

[snorkie]

Trumpet is a great instrument that can be played in all sorts of different kinds of music - orchestras, brass bands, wind bands, jazz groups etc. You can even play the last post on remembrance day if you get good enough. I don't think it's considered to be too difficult either - I hope he enjoys it.

[Bishyabosh]

I am a professional trumpeter who also does some teaching. My advice is if your son is on the small side start him on cornet but if he's a strapping lad get him onto trumpet. Either way make sure he practises at home using a music stand. I've seen loads of kids who practice sitting on their bed with the bell of the instrument pointing down towards the bed where the music is sitting. This develops bad posture and a duff downstream embouchure. Also, there has been medical evidence to prove that kids who don't have their front teeth can develop problems with their teeth alignment....... so make sure he has his front teeth!

It's a great instrument and with about 20 mins slog a day you can progress really quickly. I wish him all the best!