Wannabe trumpet player.

muddyl

Hi all,
I've always wanted to learn the trumpet. I bought one years ago but never got started due to family issues.
Anyway, i'm back thinking of learning again, but in true MSE form, i'd like to try to self teach (Not just because of money but also as finding a teacher around here seems pretty hard).
With that in mind, can anyone recommend some self teaching resources? I know there is a fair bit on youtube but I dont know what's good and bad at the moment.
And a budget practice mute would be a good idea too (so the wife wont kill me ;-))

All help greatly appreciated.

kingdavid2012

I give you some advice on this.

Steps

1.Listen to music that has great drumming. This will help you understand what you have the potential to be.
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2.Reproduce the song. This will give you a place to start. This will also help you get better at learning beats and what is essential to making your own beats.
3.Search well-known drummers to better understand how many types of drumming are out there.
4.Learn how to keep a steady rhythm, nothing fancy, unless a solo. This is very important if you are looking to be in a band, a steady beat is what everyone loves in a drummer. You may also want to brush on solo skills in case they ask you to rock it out. Sometimes a solo may be just a new improved kick beat. It could be Neal Peart's YYZ, or it could some type of marching solo.
5.Use metronomes. They will save your life. As more and more bands follow metronomes, you will need it more and more. If you can play along with a metronome, even if its only a simple beat, that will get you farther than you can imagine.
6.Get into drum solos. These are also important because it gives you a case to show your skills and gain Rep. You would want to make these simple, but not too simple. Solos need to be fast but do not give the impression that you are just hitting drums without structure. A good place to start is to alternate hitting the toms back and forth while hitting the bass drum. Also try loosely holding the sticks when you hit the snare a high-hat. when hitting the high-hat in a solo take your foot off the pedal in coalition with your foot hitting the bass pedal. If loosely follow these rules and be creative you'll be amazed of what you can accomplish.
7.Follow a measure. In a four-beat measure try hitting any cymbal for all four beats, then hit the snare on any beat you want, you can even hit the snare twice in the same measure, also try to incorporate the bass drum on all, two, three, or even one, and try changing the bass beat from one measure to another. The possibilities are endless.
8.Have Fun. Just let your creativity flow however you want.
9.Relax. Always remember to be relaxed, but not too relaxed, behind the metronome, but not late. And take it easy on your joints - stretch before drumming.
10.Try practicing single stroke rolls into a pillow. It will improve your speed alot. Practice with a metronome.


Tips
Read drumming books and watch videos that can help you learn
Lessons are a great idea
Be a visual drummer - this is only learned from experience and watching others. By exaggerating movements or moving in ways that is not expected makes your performance even more entertaining and enjoyable for yourself and for your audience
Surround yourself with more experienced musicians
Visit DrummerWorld.com & YouTube to watch drumming videos
Practice. The only way to get better is to sit down, and practice drumming every day for about 15-30 minutes.
As always when playing drums, wear protection such as ear plugs. Snares in particular were designed to be extremely loud (to carry across entire battlefields), but are played very near YOUR head and ears. You want still to be able to hear music and conversations when you are 80! Many drummers start noticing hearing loss in their 50s and belatedly start wearing protection then. Don't let this happen to you!

Lifeforms

kingdavid2012, they said trumpet, not drumming o.O

Basically make sure your outfit is good. that it works like a trumpet should work. Find a good music shop (instrument, not cd shop) that you feel comfortable in, and come from recommendations if possible. They'll be honest if you need stuff fixed/serviced.

Watch tons of videos from you tube about learning to play it, and consider asking on freecycle if you have a local one for advice about a trumpet, or a trumpet teacher. You could benefit from a couple of lessons, just to make sure you're heading in the right direction, but this doesn't mean you need to take them hand in hand with playing it.

Have you even blown it yet? can you get sounds out, can you get notes out? Are you comfortable with oiling it? (if not there are comprehensive guides online to follow (to the letter! They know it better than you ).

If you can find someone who enjoys playing it, more than being a teacher, just pick up a half hour toot with them to see what they feel/say. If they start talking about making you a master tumpeter in only 10 easy lessons, run a mile. But see if you can find someone who will be honest with you, and willing just to listen, coach, give you ideas on how to improve, and more importantly tell you where you're going wrong.

Also if you can find a friend with an interest in starting to learn (possibly by freecycle info post maybe?) get together and play together.

Can you read music? As this will be something you need to do to learn. Find a good book to teach you music as well as the trumpet fingerings. You're looking for a young persons book in this aspect. easy stuff to begin with. Then get into playing your own music, in your own style.

Most of all, enjoy it! You might find Trumpet isn't what you want after all, but don't let that put you off trying something else. There are a few types of trumpets, as well as other similar brass instruments, so if you stop with the Trumpet, try something else!

N.B. not a trumpet player, but a self taught clarinet, flute/piccolo player. Ultimately whatever instrument it is, you basically learn by doing it, and doing it a lot. a 20 min blow once a week doesn't cut it. You need to be picking it up daily and learning daily. Try keeping it in a place where you're at a lot and can multi task.

tuftyclub

I'd recommend looking up your local brass band - it would be cornet rather than trumpet - but most bands gives free tuition to learners of all ages

Where do you live?