Emma:

Above is trumpet voluntary written in concert pitch so you can use the piano to check pitches while practicing the horn version.

General Reminders:

Sit on the edge of your chair with your feet flat on the ground. Keep your mouthpiece anchored to your bottom lip. Make sure you don’t let the angle of the horn sink down too much, though if your arms are hurting from holding the horn up properly take a short break. Remember to breathe in through your mouth deliberately and with focus

Trumpet Voluntary:

  • try to make the switch to primarily B flat side (thumb key) fingerings for this piece specifically. Write them in.
  • play along with an E flat concert drone track (like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgFNsz_9w4A ) to have a reference point for pitch.
  • use a metrenome/ tap your feet in rhythm. Being rhythmically aware and precise is important
  • practice in small units. don’t just play through the whole thing and hope you make it to the end. the piece will get much easier much faster if you break it into smaller chunk. Isolate specific bars, phrases, intervals, even just specific notes.

Happy Practicing!