ok i play flute...oboe clatinet marimba (and most of pit) piano. in my band im knowwn for learning an instruent really fast. so because we lack trumpet player. they gave me a trumpet and said "alright here is the star spangaled banner learn it ok?" im ok with that...but thing is. i suck terribly at trumpet. ive tried many times before. anyone have tips on playing? i cnt make a sound. and wen i do it isnt the right note. i cnt play. and i have no teachers. please i need help

1. Embouchure: this all depends on your mouth configuration. Frankly, it would be best if you could see a private teacher to see what his/her opinions are and what he/she has to offer. There is no right embouchure. The key is to find the right embouchure so as to maximize endurance and offer little resistance. This is one of the first huge hurdles that all trumpet players have to overcome in order to grow.

2. Remember to blow, not buzz. If you buzz, you will have poor tone and unsupported sound and this will quickly become a bad habit. Use really hot air to get a good core (i.e. meat) to your sound, and keep your embouchure relaxed. Imagine that you are trying to melt the bell of your trumpet with your hot air. If you can imagine that, your playing will be much easier.

3. Relax! Learning a new instrument takes time, especially to master it (to the level of proficiency that your band teacher wants). Take really deep breaths (think "mom", say it, and then say it while breathing in slowly), and use the resources that are available to you. Remember: rest as much as you practise!!

4. Sight-read! This will increase dexterity in your fingers and recognition of notes. The complexity of the songs are up to you. The more you sight-read, the more easier it will become to play and to notice the little technical mistakes (that are totally fixable).

5. Find other people that play trumpet, and play with them! Do duets, practise routine, play songs for each other, etc. That way, you'll learn almost twice as fast, increase endurance, and possible help each other out in the long run.

6. Listen, listen, listen!! There are thousands of resources on the web that are beneficial for trumpet players and musicians in general. Use YouTube!! There are tons of great resources there, as well as clinics, how-to videos, and performances by people of various ages! The more you can pick up on and incorporate into your practise, the more proficient you'll become and the easier it will be to practise/perform.

7. If possible, attend live performances/clinics/festivals! These are incredible opportunities to get to know other trumpet players, know more about the trumpet world, hear top-notch trumpet playing, clinics/classes by professors and professionals, try out other trumpets, etc.

As you can see, there are near-endless things to do to improve. Each effort you take makes you better the next day. Of course, none of these are easy tasks to do, so it is up to you to decide what will work for you and how you will incorporate them into your practise/daily life.

Hope this helps!

belltrumpetplayer19