The trumpet requires a few different supplies, all of which are very important.

• Blue Juice valve oil - for the trumpet's valves to work and move properly they must be oiled using valve oil. Blue Juice is recommended because it also cleans the valves a little bit as it lubricates them.

• Slide grease - the trumpet has several slides, and they need to be lubricated with slide grease every so often to keep them moving.

• Mouthpiece brush - to clean out the mouthpiece. 5th grade band is right after lunch, so it's especially important for brass players to clean out their mouthpieces regularly.

• Cleaning snake - brass players should "bathe" their instruments at least twice a year to prevent the build up of particulates, bacteria, etc. inside their instrument. The cleaning snake lets them scrub the inside of the instrument.

• Tradition of Excellence Trumpet Book 1

All of the cleaning and maintenance supplies can be found in cleaning kits. Cleaning kits will sometimes include a valve casing brush to clean out the valves without using the snake. The valve oil will get used up after a few months, so it's the only thing that will need to be replaced every so often. The slide grease may need to be replaced every few years.

Students should have a name tag or their name on their case.

What trumpet should i buy?

Best Brands: Yamaha, Bach, Conn, Schilke

Good Brands: Bundy, Getzen, Benge, Jupiter, Blessing, King, P. Mauriat, Selmer

Avoid these Brands: Mendini, Jean Paul, Kaizer, Eastar, Glory, Lagrima, Eastrock, Eking, pTrumpet

upgraded supplies

Mouthpieces - Mouthpieces are a relatively inexpensive way to improve a trumpet player's sound and expand their high range. Trumpets are a soprano instrument, and, especially in high school, it is important that they're able to reach that high range without too much exertion.

Most trumpets come with a 7C mouthpiece (medium diameter - 7, medium depth - C) or Yamaha 14A4a, and those are fine for beginners. After a student has developed a consistent sound, they should try other mouthpieces to help them expand their range. Many students move to a 3C mouthpiece (5C, 2C, 1.5C, and 1C are also comparable options). Once students get into high school and/or start playing 1st trumpet parts (higher in range), they may also want to try mouthpieces that make it easier to reach those really high notes. My personal recommendation for HIGH range playing is the Yamaha Bobby Shew Lead mouthpiece.

There are a lot of mouthpieces out there, so it is highly recommended that you try a few before making a decision to buy. If a student takes lessons from a private trumpet teacher, they should have a few mouthpieces that the student can try, and they will be able to make some recommendations on what to look for or buy. You can also check with your band teacher for some general recommendations and to see if they have mouthpieces you can try.

NOTE - different brands' numbering systems are not the same as each others' necessarily. Refer to a comparison chart to see equivalent mouthpieces.

Trumpet stand - instrument stands are really nice to have when going back and forth between playing your instrument and something else that requires both hands (writing on music, looking through music, etc). This is a safe way for a student to set their instrument down without the danger of forgetting it's on the chair or bed and sitting on it.

Mutes - Students who are serious about playing trumpet and are thinking about playing in college (as a major or recreationally) should consider purchasing a few different mutes. Mutes are devices that trumpet players put in the bell of their instrument to alter their sound for different musical effects. Muted brass instruments can frequently be heard in old cartoon music (like Looney Toons).

The straight mute is the most commonly used mute, followed by the harmon mute, and the cup mute. Plunger mutes are often used in jazz charts or jazz-style concert pieces, but you don't have to buy special equipment for that; you can use a (clean) toilet plunger, minus the handle. You can also purchase plunger mutes that are a little easier to hold onto than toilet plungers.

Trumpet is one of the instruments students can start band on. It is a brass instrument and requires blowing/buzzing through a mouthpiece to produce sound. Multiple pitches can be produced with one finger combination, so it is important that students wanting to play trumpet are able to match pitch (singing, buzzing on the mouthpiece, and playing).

Mrs. Topp hosts a try out night at SES each spring for 4th graders to try each of the different starter band instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion). All students are STRONGLY encouraged to try all of these instruments before making a definite decision.

A person's success on an instrument is largely influenced by the effort and time that is dedicated to learning and practicing the instrument. However, there are some physical characteristics that can make playing the flute easier. Click on the link below to read more.

Trumpet lyre and flip folder

Trumpet students in 7th grade and up will need to purchase a lyre and flip folder that look similar to the picture above. There are trumpet flip folders that clip to the bell, but I do not recommend them. The links below are for Amazon, but you can find these lyres and flip folders at any music store.

How to bathe a trumpet

Be careful that you observe how you took it apart so you can put it back together the way it was before. Consult the trumpet supply list before cleaning your trumpet.

Trumpet assembly, disassembly, and daily maintenance