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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Any trumpet teachers here? Could I ask a question?

30 replies

OneTimeGo · 22/11/2021 18:28

DS has always wanted to play the trumpet, nothing else.

He has had lessons and is making ok progress. I’m happy with this and he is (I’m a musician who knows nothing about brass instruments). I’m not fussed about any sort of high goals as long as he’s enjoying himself.

He got a new school music teacher who went off sick and now has another teacher (does not play the trumpet).

She thinks that he would be better switching to the euphonium - thinks he will find it easier to make a sound.

He’s not interested in playing the euphonium. He wants to play the trumpet. I feel that this is what matters (we're paying, so he's not getting something for nothing).

I wondered whether different mouthpieces might help - I wouldn’t know where to start. He’s currently using the one that came with the trumpet.

Am I being silly to go against his teacher and insist he carries on with the trumpet?

Could different mouthpieces help?

His adult teeth have been coming through and they’re not perfect, so I’m sure that’s not helping.

Thank you for reading!

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InflagranteDelicto · 22/11/2021 18:33

Not a teacher, but an enthusiastic amateur. Different mouthpieces make a massive difference, I took my euphonium to prozone & tried loads (pre-covid)

But enthusiasm imo is half the battle. Can you discuss with her?

DrMadelineMaxwell · 22/11/2021 18:36

I learnt the euphonium but didn't stick with it as I found it cumbersome and a pain to take to and from school (when I was having lessons in HS). I tried swapping to the cornet but found it a lot harder with the smaller mouthpiece.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 22/11/2021 18:37

I was part of the local town band too, so the euphonium was a real pain when it came time to walk around the town playing Christmas carols and others were carrying light trumpets or french horns and I was lugging around a euphonium!

DCINightingale · 22/11/2021 19:02

Definitely worth trying different mouthpieces, they can make a huge difference. If he's set on the trumpet there seems little point or joy in getting him to switch to an instrument he doesnt want to learn. And yes, euphonium will just be a pain to carry.

There are a couple inbetweeners, flugel horn, tenor horn, which might hold more interest for him?

Original poster
OneTimeGo · 22/11/2021 19:03

DS is not massive (think tall and thin - rake like). I wonder about the size/ weight of the euphonium. I do think I want to start with the mouthpiece, but the teacher just wants to switch. Thing is DS doesn’t want to play the euphonium…. He wants to play the trumpet.

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Gonegrey31 · 22/11/2021 19:09

Do you have a local Brass Band? They can be so helpful in encouraging young players, helping them try different instruments etc .

Aristodog · 22/11/2021 19:14

The euphonium is definitely easier to get a sound out of than the trumpet (playing it in tune is a different matter).

But if he wants to play the trumpet, then he won’t easily take to the euphonium, it’s always easier to learn something you actually want to learn. A decent teacher should be able to advise what to look for in a mouthpiece depending on what he’s doing with his embouchure, but yes it can make a real difference.

DorotheaDiamond · 22/11/2021 19:15

Just say no!!! And try different mouthpieces…dd/dh have various different depths and some are definitely easier apparently! Dh says a “bach 7c” is apparently a good beginner mouthpiece - dd uses a Bach 5c which is what dh started on…it’s all about personal preference!

Yes euphonium will be easier with a bigger mouthpiece but if he wants to play trumpet stick to your guns! If you can’t get to a shop order online and send back - as long as you are careful and don’t scratch them when you put them in and out they will be fine to take them back!

Play 5 minutes morning and evening to build up lip strength…every single day!!!

Original poster
OneTimeGo · 22/11/2021 19:22

Thank you. I am building up to saying no, but don’t feel I know enough to be confident!

He had the 11bsomething that came with his Yamaha trumpet, then a previous teacher gave him a 2c which he got on better with. He changed teachers (school move - school music services) and has had messed up lessons (covid and online - not ideal). Add to this his adult teeth coming in. Then the teacher went off sick and he has a long term substitute who is not a trumpet player (don’t know how much it matters). I feel that changing instruments is a little dramatic to begin with…

I think I will phone a couple of brass shops tomorrow and ask about trials.

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DorotheaDiamond · 22/11/2021 19:27

The other thing to remember (and use in your argument) is euphonium is brass band only - trumpet/cornet (totally interchangeable apart from needing a mouthpiece with a different stem) gives access to orchestras too!

fairlygoodmother · 22/11/2021 19:28

If he's doing okay at the trumpet and enjoying it I absolutely wouldn't consider switching to a different instrument. Would it be difficult to change teachers to one outside school? I think I'd try that first.

The trumpet is so versatile in terms of the kind of music you can play, I think he will get a lot of joy out of it if he can keep it up.

Aristodog · 22/11/2021 19:31

Agree with Dorothea - but also, if he was interested in lower brass at all, trombone is far more versatile than euphonium. And he could use the slide to prod irritating music teachers who don’t know what they’re talking about 😉

Is the teacher a brass player at all?

Original poster
OneTimeGo · 22/11/2021 19:33

Good point about versatility!

I think I’m hanging on for his main teacher to come back to ask his opinion. He was getting in well before, so it’s hard to know what has made things stall. I think he needs consistency and regular face to face (hard with covid)

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SE13Mummy · 22/11/2021 19:36

If the trumpet is what your DS has his heart set on, then it would be a shame for him to be redirected to a low brass instrument this early on. I wonder if there's a compromise to be had e.g. he does a few months on the tenor (Eb) horn and once he's secure on that, transition back to the trumpet? The tenor horn mouthpiece is somewhere between that of a trumpet and a euphonium. The tenor horn is closer in pitch to a trumpet so it may feel more like lip training in preparation for taking up the trumpet and less like bailing out.

Whilst it's definitely worth exploring different trumpet mouthpieces, it may also be necessary to switch teacher if this one isn't really prepared to teach him the trumpet. The embouchure needed for the trumpet is quite tight and if your DS has missing teeth, he may find his lips are rather 'flabby' in places because there's nothing behind them.

JustOneMoreStep · 22/11/2021 19:42

I'd stick with trumpet if that's what he wants to play and is engaged with whilst making progress. If he develops good knowledge on the trumpet he can always make the switch to euph at a later date if he decides he wants to.

As for mouthpieces, they can make a huge amount of difference but it really depends on the standard of player using them. I'm getting the impression that your son is a beginner so actually a middle of the road 'standard all rounder' mouthpiece is best to stick with. I dont advocate my students tinker with mouthpieces until they are least grade 5 standard (and it's often higher). Its really easy to become obsessed with mouthpieces but in honesty you find one that suits the individual and stick with it, but you need a bit of skill to know what suits if you see what I mean. The mouthpiece isn't just about making it easier (in reality it makes some things easier and other aspects harder) it also changes the sound created.

Vapeyvapevape · 22/11/2021 19:44

I think he should stick to the trumpet, it’s what he wants to play and I guess playing it is for his pleasure, as with any hobby, you do it because you enjoy it .

Original poster
OneTimeGo · 22/11/2021 20:05

Yes. He wants to play the trumpet. Don’t know why I’m second guessing myself defending that really. I mean maybe something else would be easier, but it’s not what he wants. He just wants to have fun and play the trumpet.

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Original poster
OneTimeGo · 22/11/2021 20:06

@JustOneMoreStep

I'd stick with trumpet if that's what he wants to play and is engaged with whilst making progress. If he develops good knowledge on the trumpet he can always make the switch to euph at a later date if he decides he wants to.

As for mouthpieces, they can make a huge amount of difference but it really depends on the standard of player using them. I'm getting the impression that your son is a beginner so actually a middle of the road 'standard all rounder' mouthpiece is best to stick with. I dont advocate my students tinker with mouthpieces until they are least grade 5 standard (and it's often higher). Its really easy to become obsessed with mouthpieces but in honesty you find one that suits the individual and stick with it, but you need a bit of skill to know what suits if you see what I mean. The mouthpiece isn't just about making it easier (in reality it makes some things easier and other aspects harder) it also changes the sound created.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not talking about him going and trying loads to lick out one, just making sure he's got a decent one that suits (that works with him - I want to make sure it’s not making it harder).
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Original poster
OneTimeGo · 22/11/2021 20:16

Pick out, not lick out 🧐

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doesanybodyhaveamap · 22/11/2021 20:19

Not a brass player but IME if he doesn't want to play the instrument then it's simply not going to work!

Perhaps you could go somewhere where he could try a euphonium just to see if when he plays it he actually likes it.. but I'd be inclined to do that privately without involvement of teacher so he's not put under pressure....

If he loves trumpet he'll be more inclined to work to overcome the challenges. If he hates euphonium, he's not going to want to practice and put the work in no matter how much 'easier' it is.

purplesequins · 22/11/2021 20:33

he could try with a cornet to start with - same notation and fingering to trumpet, but much easier to get a nice sound of (and easier to hold).

Downsize2021 · 22/11/2021 20:36

How are his adult teeth looking? I only have my own experience as a child to go on but i was made to switch from trumpet when i got a brace and was never told about different mouthpiece sizes. I also noticed that the former euphonium and baritone players were all reaching the end of their school career so part of me wonders if the teacher just wanted me to plug the gap in the band! I did end up loving euphonium tho- it played smooth tunes and got me an A in music with my jazz piece. But if he wants to play trumpet he should. There's no point in a hobby if you don't like it!

FictionalCharacter · 22/11/2021 20:39

Please let him continue with trumpet if it’s what he likes! It’s not right for teachers to try pushing kids towards instruments they don’t want to play. So what if he’s never going to be a top professional musician - most kids aren’t! Surely his enjoyment is all that matters.

Mendingfences · 24/11/2021 16:45

My general principle is kids should get to choose what they play. However, with brass there is an element of how well your mouth/lips fit the mouthpiece and whilst there is some variation among trumpet mouthpieces it is quite minimal when compared to the differece between the mouthpieces for different instruments. If the teacher has suggested swapping al the way to euphonium then it is possible that there is a significant mismatch. Im sorry if ive missed how old your ds is and how long he has been playing but it may be worth bearing in mind a swap if he struggles to progress on trumpet. In my experience swapees tend to make rapid progress as (with ghe exception of trombone) the fingerings are the same

Original poster
OneTimeGo · 25/11/2021 19:21

Maybe we started him too soon (11) he has adult teeth, but they’re definitely not all through (especially bottom teeth). Nobody told us otherwise though.

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