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Eric’s Tips for Trumpet Players

Warm up no later than one hour before the performance for 15 minutes and then don’t play on the horn again until 3 minutes before start of the performance.

Don’t over blow…it doesn’t sound good…even though you think it does.

Play something everyday…even if it’s just a few notes for 30 seconds.

Always breathe deeply…especially in pp sections.

Only play really loud in jazz…one trumpet can drown out the entire woodwind section…that’s why we don’t let them play jazz…and when we do we give them a microphone.

You don’t have to jam the trumpet hard against your lips to play extremely high-register notes…it won’t sound good anyway…it takes a strong embouchure, control of the air-stream and years of practice.

Always sound good…no matter what.

Practice at least 4 days a week for at least one hour per day…and practice correctly.

You should be able to play pp in the high register…if you can’t you’re not breathing right.

Keep the instrument clean and oiled and greased…it doesn’t matter what kind of horn you’re playing but it does matter if the horn you’re playing is properly maintained…your parents won’t buy you a new Stradivarius Model 37 if you don’t take care of the old piece of junk you're playing on now.

BiNaK valve oil is the best…and that’s from an engineering standpoint.

The mouthpiece doesn’t matter…pick one that suits your playing style and use it.

Trumpet players cannot smoke…your lungs are the most important part of the instrument and if they’re full of crap the Trumpet will never sound good.

You are not the best Trumpet player in the world.

Silver trumpets look better.

Don’t play out of tune…that’s the same as playing a wrong note.

2^nd and 3^rd part are just as important as 1^st part and in some cases more important.

An abdominal routine will do wonders for your tone and endurance.

Yamaha professional trumpets are crap.

If your abs don’t hurt after a performance you haven’t played properly and you haven’t done your best...you are breathing wrong.