Playing the trumpet can be a blast, but it also comes with the risk of serious injurie; so it’s time to take charge of that brass and keep your lips, jaws, and lungs in tip-top shape.
Stretching, Breath Control, Horn handling, Mouthpiece manners, and Proper Posture are key to staying injury-free and enhancing performance.
These little techniques can save you big time—learn more about them!
Stretching
It's Not Just for Grandma
Playing the trumpet requires your face and lip muscles to be on point. Some easy face stretches can get the blood flowing and prep you for action. Flapping your lips is a great way to loosen up your embouchure.
Try holding a note for a few seconds, then giving your lips a break. Repeat this a couple of times to ensure your face is ready to rock.
Remember your shoulders and neck, too! Tension there can affect your posture and technique. For a full upper body warm-up, add some hand and finger stretches.
Breath Control
It's Windy Work!
Playing the trumpet is like blowing up an air mattress – it’s all about controlling your breath! Kick things off with some diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Take a deep breath, fill up your diaphragm, and slowly let it out while buzzing your lips.
Work on controlled breathing drills to boost your lung capacity and staying power. Use a metronome, breathe in for four counts, hold for two, and then breathe out for four. This teaches your lungs to use air efficiently.
In a funny way, your trumpet prefers calm and collected breaths, not frantic gulps of air. So, treat breath control with the same respect as hunting down the last scoop of ice cream in the freezer!
Holding the Horn
Be Delicate
Your left-hand does the heavy lifting, with your thumb around the first valve and index finger on the third valve slide. Your right hand is just as important, with your thumb under the lead pipe and your pinky steering clear of a vice grip on the pinky hook.
Balance and flexibility are crucial to avoiding ouches, so let your hands be graceful dancers, not rigid robots, for spot-on playing without the strain.
Mouthpiece Manners
No Need to Bite
The mouthpiece isn’t tasty, so don’t chomp down on it. Biting can cause all sorts of trouble. Instead, pucker up like you’ll smooch a cute little squirrel.
Gently rest the mouthpiece on your lips and make an excellent seal. Your embouchure (that’s just a fancy word for your mouth muscles) should be strong but flexible.
Don’t put too much pressure on it. Using too much force can lead to ouches, tired lips, and problems down the road. Think of your lips as the gentle protector of the mouthpiece, not a wrestler trying to squeeze the life out of it.
Keep the contact light – just enough to make a sound, but not so much that your face hurts.
Posture
Puff Up Like a Proud Peacock
Imagine yourself as a mighty peacock, chest puffed out, chin parallel to the ground. That’s your posture motto; whether sitting or standing, keep your back straight. Keep your shoulders relaxed but not slouched.
If you’re sitting, perched on the edge of your chair, feet flat, knees apart. If you’re standing, place your feet shoulder-width apart.
Slouching is your enemy; it cramps your diaphragm and restricts airflow. Head up, eyes forward, not on your toes. This proud, upright posture makes breathing easy and lets you play longer without discomfort.
Pre-Toot Warm-Ups
Your Trumpet Isn't a Gymnast
When playing the trumpet, injuries can be like unwanted party poopers. No one wants a puffy lip or sore chops when trying to nail that perfect high note. But don’t worry; you can keep your embouchure in great shape while you blow your horn.
Some handy tips to avoid trumpet-related injuries (and keep your brass blasting):
Less is more: Give your lips a break rather than playing until they’re fried.
Mind the pressure: Reduce that death grip on the mouthpiece.
Stay loose: Keep tightness at bay, especially in breathing or chops.
Take breaks: Don’t be a practice machine. Refresh and recharge!
Remember: Stress less, play more!
BONUS: ACCESSORIES FOR CARING YOUR TRUMPET
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When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
I play the clarinet, but been thinking about picking up the trumpet too. This article made it seem less daunting. Especially liked the bits about breath control and warm-ups, feels like stuff I can already do which is encouraging. Might just give it a try!
pre-toot warm-ups? more like pre-toot rituals to summon the jazz gods haha. gotta get in the zone somehow, right?
I found the section on ‘Mouthpiece Manners’ particularly enlightening. I’ve always been intrigued by the physics behind brass instruments and how slight variations in mouthpiece pressure can significantly alter the tone and intonation.Toby Coles, could you perhaps expand on how the angle and depth of the mouthpiece contact affect sound production? Is there an optimum balance that one should strive for, or is it more dependent on the individual’s facial anatomy and playing style?
interesting question, TechieTrombonist89. in my experience, it’s very much personal and finding what works best for you is key. would love to hear Toby Coles’s take as well.
really enjoyed the bit about posture, never thought sitting up straight could do much but tried puffing up like a prouder peacock n it actually helped with my playing. who knew something so simple could change the sound that much. gonna try more of these tips, thanks Toby Coles for the insights.