I have recently started teaching myself the trumpet - and rather enjoying it! - I was prompted to do so by the mind-numbingly boring parts for horn in my school band. (The local orchestra parts are awesome, but the band ones... I could fall asleep! )Teaching myself trumpet was easy - my aunt used to play trumpet so I could use hers, and my best friend gave me a fingering chart and a few pieces to play. Piece of cake (sort of).

Anyway, I told my instructor what I'd been doing, and he protested vehemently. He said playing trumpet would ruin my embouchure and thus my tone on horn, and that I shouldn't play trumpet. I didn't think that this was particularly fair since he plays every brass instrument under the sun (though I didn't tell him that! ) But on the other hand, this probably means he knows what he's talking about...
But I've heard of people that play multiple brass instruments, or brass and woodwind, and that over time they learn to switch embouchure's relatively easily, given a few minutes on each instrument. Is this possible for me, or should I just do as I'm told like a proper little french horn player, and never play another brass instrument? (Brass is my favourite - I would never go back to woodwind)

Just wondering what people think...

Just yesterday I talked to a trumpetplayer ( professinal one)who plays horn as well. He ensured me that playing the french horn doesn't affect his trumpet-embouchure at all !
The only brass instrument that did hurt his embouchure was the trombone he tried for a while.
Speaking for myself I enjoy playing a pocket-trumpet a few times a week and I don't get into troubles with it, except for my neighbors that is !!

I am definitely not opposed to the idea of playing more than one instrument; I even play a couple other brass instruments myself (but I like horn the best, so I gravitate toward that). Just make sure you're aware of your embouchure at all times so you can detect changes. I would also suggest that you practice your horn significantly more than your trumpet so you can stay solid as a horn player.

Well I do play both, and honestly, It doesn't hurt me at all, in fact, since i played trumpet first, and then learned horn, I practiced horn and once i was able to play it decently without cracking notes, I went back to trumpet and my notes were usually dead on in tune, and i had an easier time centering pitch and finding pitch...SO, i wouldnt see a problem...if you wanted to play horn and clarinet, thats another story LOL

Thanks a lot everyone! Maybe I will keep playing a trumpet (occasionally)

In a perfect world your best playing will be by sticking with one instrument. In the real world if you play horn and go do a show that has a small trumpet part you get paid double scale if you play both. That means more money in your pocket. Unless you are a Horn performance major at a university there is no reason not to play what you want to play.

I play both and find that when I want a really good embouchure workout, I play the trumpet in the C/D/E/F above the Staff range for 20-30 minutes and that strengthens my muscles tremendously. Then my control over the horn the next day or 2 is increased. Sometimes a 1-2 day break is needed though. I would only recommend this kind of workout 1 a week.

I don't play trumpet and French horn...but I do play mellophone and French horn. I've tooted around on a trumpet and it has the same feel of a mello so, it's like 90% the same (except for key and range of course). I can say whenever I am concentrated on the mello for marching band it is very difficult to play the French horn. Or whenever I play my French horn it is somewhat difficult to play, not as hard though. So, a somewhat easy solution to make switching from French horn to trumpet like instruments...keep them both fresh. Play one for a day then the other the next. It'll help your lips be adjusted to both instruments mouthpeices and breath support and fingerings. What I do is during my homeroom period at school, I go to my band room and practice. I usually practice both instruments on the same peice to spice things up and excersise my fingerings on both instruments, along with the range and intonation.

Wow! Thanks for you input everyone - it's been really valuable!

I'm friends with a fabulous horn player and band director. He insists that all his horn players start on trumpet. He says it's the quickest to teach them "feel" of the upper register. It's hard for many horn players to get that nice tight set up needed for the upper register if they've only played horn or a lower brass instrument.

I think the experience you get on trumpet will be GOOD for your chops. Even if it does occasionally mess up your tone, it won't be permanent. I learned endurance and the upper register from a trumpet teacher. See my blog.

Valerie Wells
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/

Thanks Val. All of you have given me alot more confidence in pursuing both instruments

This has been a really interesting question and I'm afraid I can't give any advice HOWEVER,it might have been my imagination, do they make mouthpiece adapters as such so that you can use your horn mouthpiece with a trumpet.

I vaguely remember hearing about one - maybe then I'm imagining things. Does anyone know if these exist/work? (I doubt they do because I'm sure I would've heard a lot more about them if they do, I just wanted to confirm).

Thanks

They do indeed have mouthpiece adapters for French horn to trumpet/mellophone. I've used one for 2 outta the 3 years I've been in marching band. It makes the sound quality and timbre different than if you were to use intitial mouthpieces for like the trumpet or mellophone. And they do indeed work. It's just different though.

It's a very interesting question. I'm not a good enough horn player to start meddling with other brass instruments, but I do own a trumpet, and I'd like to learn to play it eventually, if only a bit. I bought the trumpet at the closing-down sale of a music store, really cheap. I'd gone there to try and buy a horn, but the only one that remained was so bad that I didn't want to spend money on it. But the trumpet (just as bad, I'm sure) was only about $40, so I couldn't resist it.

I'd like to know, is it all the same for trombone and horn? It's always been me second favourite brass instrument. I suppose it has not the advantages you've mentioned about high notes, but I don't think I've read anything that makes it unadvisable.

Good Lord... "Me second favourite instrument"... At least, it sounds as a native's mistake, doesn't it?