As a beginner, you might think that an instrument is the only thing you need to learn music.
However, many accessories can help you during this process. If you are a trumpet player, you can improve your playing with these helpful gadgets.
Let’s discuss all the essential accessories for trumpet players:
Here Are Some Essential Trumpet Gadgets:
All trumpet players could benefit from using a few different gadgets. Whether at a beginner or professional level, you can improve your technique by using a Warburton P.E.T.E., a B.E.R.P., a mute, a metronome, a tuner, a trumpet stand, and a marching band music stand, and a valve guard.
Table of Contents
1. Warburton P.E.T.E.
When a trumpet player is not practicing enough, their embouchure muscles start to weaken.
It’s best t0 practice every day to see the long-term best results, but what happens when you can’t practice?
Suppose you need to take a break from practicing. You can still exercise your embouchure muscles using the Warburton P.E.T.E.
This Personal Embouchure Training Exerciser is the perfect tool for engaging the lip muscles without picking up your trumpet.
The P.E.T.E. is the only tool specially designed to target your embouchure muscles. It looks like a metal tube with a flat metal disk on one end. You place the disk behind your teeth, close your lips around the tube, and form your embouchure.
With a P.E.T.E., you can strengthen your embouchure, which is essential to achieve great technique. With extended use of their Warburton P.E.T.E., Trumpet players find that they have increased endurance, flexibility, and range.
This tool is very beneficial when you can’t play your trumpet. Whether you don’t want to disturb your neighbors or need a break from playing, the P.E.T.E offers a quiet way to improve your embouchure.
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2. B.E.R.P.
A B.E.R.P., or Buzz Extension and Resistance Piece, allows every trumpet player to practice buzzing while having the feeling of actually playing their instrument.
Using this tool can indicate specific problems with air or embouchure techniques.
The B.E.R.P. attaches to the leadpipe of your trumpet. When you want to use this gadget, you fit your mouthpiece into the designated space instead of your leadpipe. Then, you can buzz while holding your instrument.
This tool simulates the amount of resistance your trumpet creates. By blowing through this resistance, you can learn to use proper air support and improve your buzzing.
Buzzing is an important part of improving a trumpet embouchure. Trumpet players normally buzz with just the mouthpiece, but with a B.E.R.P., then you can feel as if you are playing. This tool creates the amount of resistance that you would face while playing normally.
Over 30,000 people use a B.E.R.P., including professionals and students, which is an important tool that will vastly improve the quality of your trumpet playing.
3. Mute
Mutes are essential for every trumpet player.
These are objects that are placed inside a trumpet’s bell, effectively altering the sound quality. Many different kinds of mutes will be beneficial in your trumpet playing.
Some trumpet players use practice mutes so that they don’t disturb their neighbors while practicing at home. If you live in an apartment, you should consider this option. Trumpets have a naturally loud and bright sound, which could bother listeners during practice sessions.
A practice mute reduces the volume of your sound without creating too much resistance. With this mute, you can play at a normal volume, but you will have less sound output.
Other mutes are designed to alter your tone in different ways. Some ensembles like jazz bands will require sections of muted playing to achieve a certain sound effect.
You might need a straight mute, cup mute, or Harmon mute while playing in an ensemble.
4. Metronome
Every musician needs to learn how to play at a consistent speed.
You can perfect this skill by using a metronome in your practice sessions.
Whether playing in an ensemble or practicing a solo, each piece of music will have a certain tempo or speed. The music will not sound right if you vary the tempo throughout the composition.
A metronome is a tool that provides an audible clicking noise that helps you play in time. You can input the correct tempo of your music and then play in sync with the metronome.
When you practice with a metronome, you will gradually learn to play at the correct speed. Then when you have to perform a solo or in an ensemble, you won’t rush or drag the tempo.
You can purchase a metronome at the nearest music store. These are battery-powered and have many different settings. Also, many apps have both metronomes and tuners.
5. Tuner
Intonation is one of the most important aspects of being a musician.
When you are out of tune with another player, the two different sounds will create distortion. Even if an audience member isn’t a musician, they can hear if a note is significantly out of tune.
Because of this problem, it’s important to practice with a tuner, which is a tool that indicates how sharp or flat each note is.
Every pitch on your trumpet has an intonation tendency. Even if you get one note in tune, other notes might be flat or sharp. You can look at a tuner as you play to check these notes.
When you regularly use a tuner, you can adjust notes as you play and become a better musician. The more you focus on being in tune, the better you will sound.
6. Trumpet Stand
There may be times during practice or ensemble sessions where you are not playing your trumpet.
You could rest your instrument on your lap or the floor, but there is a better way to set aside your trumpet.
Trumpet stands are made to hold your instrument while you are not playing. Each trumpet stand has a peg that rests on three to five legs. When you need to set aside your trumpet, place the bell on the peg.
These stands can keep your trumpet from falling on the floor. You can effectively avoid damage by using a trumpet stand.
Plus, this tool is lightweight and easy to transport. You can easily fold up your trumpet stand and carry it to every practice session or ensemble rehearsal.
7. Marching Music Stand
If you need to read your music on the go, it’s best to have a clip-on music stand.
These are much smaller than normal music stands, making them easy to transport.
These music holders are especially useful for trumpet players in marching bands. Even if you are playing in the bleachers, you won’t carry a bulky music stand. You can avoid this problem by using a marching music stand.
When using a clip-on music stand, your music can be attached directly to your trumpet. This way, the music is easily readable. You also won’t have to find space on the ground to place a traditional music stand.
When you’re in a marching band, these small stands are essential. However, any trumpet player can benefit from using this gadget.
They are easily transported from place to place, allowing you to practice comfortably without a heavy music stand.
8. Valve Guard
After years of playing your trumpet, the oils on your hands could wear down the finish.
To stop this from happening, you could use a valve guard.
Valve guards are leather covers that fit over a trumpet’s valves. They offer protection from moisture, oils, or acids that could damage the exterior finish.
When using a valve guard, you keep it on your trumpet while playing. Some trumpet players enjoy the feel of it, claiming that the guard makes it easier to hold their instrument.
Without a valve guard, your trumpet could experience some wear and tear. You can avoid this by using a cleaning cloth daily, but this can be a tedious process.
As a trumpet player, you can easily protect your horn from damage by using a valve guard.
Final Thoughts
You only need your trumpet, a mouthpiece, and a case to get started as a beginner.
However, purchasing a few extra tools can greatly improve your learning process.
All trumpet players can agree that there are a few essential gadgets that every trumpet player will need.
Having a Warburton P.E.T.E., a B.E.R.P., mutes, a metronome, a tuner, a trumpet stand, a marching music stand, and a valve guard can significantly help you during your practice sessions and ensemble rehearsals.