The document provides instructions for playing a C major scale on the trumpet. It discusses the history of the trumpet, famous trumpet players, how to buzz one's lips to produce sound, and the specific fingerings for each note in the C major scale. A video is included of someone demonstrating the C major scale on trumpet. The summary reminds trumpet players to maintain good posture, have strong air support, and keep their lip corners tight for accurate intonation when playing higher notes.
2. History The trumpet is a musical instrument that is part of the brass family. It has the highest range out of all the brass instruments. They are one of the oldest instruments dating back to at least 1500 B.C. The earliest trumpets were used as a signaling tool mainly for military purposes.
3. Players Some of the most well known trumpet players among many other's are Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie.
4. Buzzing Buzz freely without the mouthpiece by putting your lips together and making them vibrate. Use lots of air and try and make a buzzing sound while keeping your lips together Make sure you keep the corners of your lips really tight and close together so you can make your lips vibrate. Next you can take the mouthpiece and let it sit comfortably on your lips. Both the upper and lower lip should be inside the mouthpiece (shown in the picture). Then try and produce that same buzzing noise through the mouthpiece. After you have accomplished buzzing with and without the mouthpiece you are ready to put the mouthpiece in the trumpet and use that same buzzing sound and air support to play.
5. C Major Scale The C Major scale or B flat concert is the first scale that most beginners learn. It is often referred to as the “warm-up scale”. The C Major scale that beginners learn, ranges one octave, C to C. Starting on middle C below the staff and the octave above which is the third space C in the treble clef.
6. Fingerings Before you learn the fingerings for the C major scale you need to know which fingering is what on the trumpet. The first valve is the valve closest to the mouthpiece, the third valve is the one closest to the bell and the second valve is the one in the middle.
7. Notes C, D, and E. The first note is C below the staff which is played with no valves pressed down, also referred to as open. The next note is played with valves 1 and 3 pressed down which is D. Then comes E which is fingerings 1 and 2.
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9. Then back to open for G which is the second line on the treble clef.You will notice that C and G have the same fingerings which is no valves pressed. In order to play the difference between C and G you have to tighten the corners of your lips to make it a little bit higher than the first C you played.
10. Final notes: A, B, and octave C. The next note is A, A is played with fingerings 1 and 2, the same as E. Once again you have to tighten the corners of your lips in order to play a little bit higher. Then comes B, which is played with the second valve only Finally the last note is the octave C. This C is the fourth space in the treble clef. It is the same fingering as middle C below the staff which is open. The image to the left represents the C major scale in the treble clef. Along with the note names, the fingerings for each note are given underneath.
11. Video Here is a video of someone playing the C major scale on trumpet. He plays the scale three different times using different articulations.
12. Things to keep in mind…. Always play with good posture. Have your feet flat on the ground, sit up straight and on the edge of your chair. Have good air support. Keep the corners of your lips close together in order to correctly buzz into the mouthpiece. Remember to tighten the corners of your lips when playing higher notes.
