Basic Skills for the Developing Trumpeter

Available for $18 through Charles Colin Publications (Catalogue # CC1093) 

Preface

There are many fine technical methods available for intermediate and advanced trumpet players, but very few for elementary players.  Many of the famous trumpet method books devote only a few exercises to elementary technique, often at a pace that is too quick for the elementary student.  This leads to an incomplete mastery of basic trumpet technique. 

This text was developed to teach elementary technique in a slow, logical and sequential manner.  Once the student has completed this text he will have a solid foundation and should continue his studies in more advanced method books.  He will then have technical mastery of the trumpet; and will be better able to express himself musically. 

The range demands are handled carefully to ensure that the student does not have to be able to play a "high C" before he can begin to master technical skills.  

The advanced trumpeter can benefit from this text as well.  By choosing a few exercises from each section daily, he will be able to cover all of his basic skills in a short period of time.  This will keep his skills polished. 

Special note: Throughout this text the author uses the masculine pronoun when speaking about trumpet students; this not meant to exclude the many excellent female trumpeters; it was done only for grammatical expediency.

This text is dedicated to my students: past, present and future. 

 Table of Contents

Warm Up……………………….………….……….…………….1

Warm Down……………….……………….…….………………5

Tonal Exercises………….…...…………….…..…………..…....8

Graded Flexibility……….…………………………….………..39

Upper Register………………………………………...…….…46

Low Register Articulations …………………………………....51

Double Tonguing………………………………………...….....53

Triple Tonguing……….....…….............................…….....……63

Twenty-five Simple Melodies......………………………...…...68

  Endorsements

“Congratulations.  A significant contribution to the pedagogical literature for trumpet.”

                                                Keith Johnson

                                                Regents Professor of Trumpet

University of North Texas

“This new book by Eric Swisher should find its place on the stand of every person wanting to solidify their basic technique.”

                                                Vincent DiMartino

                                                W. George Matton Professor of Music

                                                                                Centre College

“The concept for this book is just great.  Too few students who aspire to play at the professional level have developed genuine facility in all of the essential technical areas covered in this text.   All trumpet players need to woodshed patterns like these, and I can't think of any other single volume that presents them so concisely and efficiently.”

                                                Louis Ranger

                                                Trumpet Faculty, Aspen Music Festival

Professor of Trumpet, University of Victoria

“Eric Swisher's new method book is an important addition to trumpet ‘methodology.’  Its focus on the fundamental and practical development of beginning trumpet players is immensely helpful, but it also contains a wealth of comprehensive studies and exercises that will benefit any player.  I especially appreciate the attention to studies in areas not often addressed in most other method books, such as lip bends and low register articulation.  The section regarding multiple tonguing is one of the best I've seen.  The sequential progression of exercises in all of the sections is excellent in terms of pedagogical approach.  Very well done!”

                                                John Schlabach

                                                Professor of Trumpet

Ohio University