I'm a jazz singer and I decided to learn an instrument about 2-3 years ago. I love the sound of trumpet and am a big fan of Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong.

The fingering was really easy to learn but I've found that I haven't really progressed that fast. I dont practice much. I'm completely overwhelmed with the amount of stuff I should be practicing (Arban, Clarke, Caruso, flexibilities, lip buzzing, scales, arpeggios, long notes). It's also not the kind of instrument you can just noodle about on, as it takes so much effort with muscles and breath... I'm getting really fed up

I'm thinking of changing to learn double bass... do people think I'm mad to swap?

Personally, I think you should continue.
I don't know your skill level, but go out and get a good set of books (such as Standard of Excellence), it SHOULD teach you the proper techniques, a little bit at a time, along with some easier versions of classic songs to play along the way.
That's just my suggestion, though Double Bass does sound interesting.
Blake

yeah, I know what you mean... maybe because my vocal skills are fairly advanced (I'm a gigging jazz singer) I know how far I have to go on trumpet yet and I get annoyed by how slow my practice is...

patience is needed!

First of all, especially for a virtual beginner, if you don't practice regularly at least 20-30 minutes per day, I promise that development of trumpet playing skills will come very slowly. I think that most likely applies to any and every instrument, the exception being for those who are extremely gifted where picking up an instrument an learning to play it is concerned. I would encourage you to not give up. The rewards you reap will be directly proportional to the effort you put into it.

hey im currently amsic student about to take my a level inmusic (hopefully dependig on my gcse results) i play the trumpet among other instruments and i find that although it is a very challenging instrument its well worht sticking at it
im currently the equivlent of the ABRSM grade 5 and really enjoy playing

another thing about the trumept is practise is always variable sometimes its very good and other times its so bad you curse at the thing
but stay positive!
jak

"another thing about the trumept is practise is always variable sometimes its very good and other times its so bad you curse at the thing "

At least it doesn't respond back.

But yeah, some days can be really good, while others make you wonder why you still bother to keep playing. But in the end when you look back and see how much you've improved, it can be really rewarding.

Yeah...

Thanks for this - I think you're all right and I'm being a bit lazy really. What would people recommend for a 20-30 min practice session? I have some Caruso warm-ups that take about that time and that's without even doing scales or arpeggios or anything.... *sigh*

Thanks for this - I think you're all right and I'm being a bit lazy really. What would people recommend for a 20-30 min practice session? I have some Caruso warm-ups that take about that time and that's without even doing scales or arpeggios or anything.... *sigh*

just have fun with it dont worry about becoming nuber one if you like the sound of the trumpet play it when you want and if you dont become number one so what it will be a fun experence.