In our previous post we directed our attention to the chromatic warm-up and this post explains the benefit of lip slurs to improve flexibility as well as improving your tone. The more strength you developed in your embouchure, the more lip slurs will be needed to keep your flexibility in line with your increased strength. In order to accomplish this, time must be spent doing lip slurs. The amount of slurs you do will depend on the amount of time you are spending strengthening your embouchure. A very good way to evaluating your flexibility needs is to answer this question…

The importance of warming up before hard playing cannot be over stated. Just as an athlete stretches, a ball player throws easy at first; the trumpet player is very similar in that a sudden blast of a high note may work for some but the more intelligent of the masses begin their playing with an easy routine of warming up gradually. I have incorporated my chromatic exercise into my warm-up and find it very beneficial. No matter how high we are able to play, improving our range is always a good idea. The chromatic warm-up I have included both as…

I have had a few readers ask what they need to practice to be a better player. Without hearing or visiting with these people, it would be impossible to suggesting what might work best for them. The best I can do is to share a typical hour practice session which I go through each day. I will be the first to say that what I do might improve your playing and with that said, let me explain how and what I run through each day. I am a strong believer that practicing the same material every day becomes boring and…