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for two or three years, hut it the
players excel, by the time they are in high school
they may be ready to move on to a more expensive instrument.
All trumpets are made out of brass but are most commonly
available with lacquer or silver plated exteriors. There are differing ideas
as to which sounds better, but William Vacchiano,
the former principal
trumpeter of the New York
Philharmonic, put it best when he said,” “Number one, the silver trumpet
looks better and, number two, it doesn't matter!"
To sum up,
the student should pick the best-sounding trumpet that plays well in his or
her price range.
A used trumpet is a valid option to buying a brand new
instrument. Many times an older professional horn may he in reasonable shape
or refurbished by a dealer and priced similarly to a new student or
intermediate model.
Caution should always be
taken
when buying an older instrument,
particularly if you are buying
from a private seller (a
good music store will typically perform all necessary repairs prior to
putting a used horn on sale.) Check the trumpet for leaks, dents and
corrosion. Internal corrosion is hard to see, but deadly to performance. It
first appears as a pinkish-red pinpoint on the outside surface of the horn.
Make sure the valves move fast and don’t need re-plating, be sure that all
the slides move easily, and make sure the felts around the valves and corks
on the water keys are in good condition or have been replaced with new
one.
Beginners generally should start on a mouthpiece with a fairly small rim and a C cup, which is standard. It is recommended that students stick with this “standard equipment” until they achieve a level of playing ability that would warrant experimentation. Ask the student’s band director, private teacher or a knowledgeable sales person for suggestions as to what size and brand of mouthpiece to buy. |
1. Valve oil —- an absolute necessity to keep the valves moving quickly and smoothly.
2. A mouthpiece brush and cleaning snake to help keep the
trumpet clean and in good working order. (WEBMASTER NOTE: visit www.hornflush.com
for the best do-it-yourself brass instrument. cleaning system in the world
today! Fast, Safe Easy & Effective
3. Method books whichever are recommended by the student’s teachers.
4. Music stand —- a portable
stand is always good
You can expect to pay between $30 and $50 for these items.
WHERE SHOULD YOU BUY A TRUMPET?
There are a few options available when purchasing a trumpet: your local music
store, a mail-order ser- vice, or private party selling a second-hand
instrument. Each has its benefits, but key things to consider are price and
service. Proper maintenance and accidents can lead to potential problems such
as slides or valves that get stuck or damaging dents and dings which can
affect more than just the looks of the instrument. You may want to choose a
music store with a repair person on-site or, if you purchase from a
mail-order service, it would be
wise to have a repair shop available to you locally.
HAVE A BLAST~
Having fun is what music is all
about. The joy of creating a bright, hold sound and playing recognizable
melodies is a wonderful experience for any child. With a good instrument and
lots of practice, a student will see himself or herself making strides
playing higher, faster and better. By listening to recordings that feature
the trumpet, a young player can work toward attaining a professional sound
and perhaps play those fancy pieces that inspire them. Go get that first horn
and, on behalf of all trumpet players, Welcome!
Edward B. Kessel, author of “How To Buy a Trumpet,” is
a composer/producer/trumpeter and member of the New Philharmonic of New
Jersey. Also contributing to
the preparation of this article were Alfred Weissman, former trumpet
of the Denver Symphony
(principal), Detroit Symphony and the Israel Philharmonic,
Steve Dillon, Dillon Music, Woodbridge, N.J., and
Rich Breske and Dan Shideler of United Musical Instruments U.S.A., Inc.
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Proper maintenance and accidents can lead to potential
problems such as slides or valves that get stuck or damaging dents and dings
which can affect more than just the looks of the instrument
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