My son, who is working towards Grade 5, has been complaining about his trumpet, which is a (pre-owned) Bach Prelude which he has had since he first started learning. He mostly complains about it when he is finding it difficult to get high notes, and/or to make "clean" transition between notes, particular on big jumps / slurred intervals, so I suspect the problem may be technique rather than instrument.

However, I'm not a brass player, and don't know whether he ought to be looking to move up to a "better" instrument by now.

Any brass experts out there willing to give a view as to what level of proficiency merits an upgrade? I would ask his teacher, but he's just finished lessons for the summer , and we are targeting Grade 5 in the autumn.

The Bach Prelude is basically a starter instrument. If your son is Grade 5ish and looking to continue to progress further, I would suggest that now is a good time to think about upgrading.

The thing with the basic student models is that intonation isn't great and the tone quality won't be either. As to how it plays, I would argue that it will be partly a technique thing on his behalf, particularly as you mention range and intervallic transitions. I bet if you put the horn in the hands of a pro, they wouldn't have too many problems making it do what they want!

Does your son know that a new trumpet is on the cards? This could be why he is complaining a little more. After all, I remember doing exactly the same thing- - and it worked!

I don't think he's quite that cunning, but you never know...

My obvious next question is whether you can recommend any makes / models for an upgrade. If styles of playing are relevant, he mostly plays classical, though also enjoys swing / jazz: maybe not so keen on "traditional brass band" stuff. All suggestions gratefully received!!

Bach, B&S, Yamaha, Getzen, Kanstul, Sonare, Stomvi, Holton, etc.
Any of the higher-end models from any of these manufacturers (and any of the many more reputable manufacturers out there) should last throughout a trumpet playing career. It's really a matter of "play before you pay" as all trumpets play differently to all players.

I'd say that unless you've got a really duff instrument (unlikely - most of the modern ones are OK if they are mechanically sound), the sound that comes out of a trumpet is 80% technique and 20% instrument (though agreeing that intonation does vary between models). I use £100 Packers student trumpets in lessons partly to demonstrate what is possible with a cheap trumpet. I don't get the 'Grade 5' thing, as grade 8 would be perfectly possible on a £100 trumpet if the technique is up to scratch.

Having said that, £100 won't get you an exciting trumpet, but getting a £1000 trumpet won't necessarily make high notes or lip slurs any easier. It might be worth trying other mouthpieces first, although there's nothing inherently wrong with the standard Bach 7C-type of mouthpiece.

He's had a new mouthpiece about 6 months ago (Kelly 5C - recommended by his teacher). I may see about taking him along to a shop to try a few out and see whether it does seem to make any difference to his intonation.

OK - good plan. Make sure he takes along some familiar music to listen to the intonation, and some stuff that he's finding more challenging too, so you can both check intonation and see if it makes other things easier.

I always keep in mind that the thing that produces the sound is the player him/herself, and it's a lifetime's work to get it working and keep it working properly. As Dizzy Gillespie said: “Some days you get up and put the horn to your chops and it sounds pretty good and you win. Some days you try and nothing works and the horn wins. This goes on and on and then you die and the horn wins.”

I don't know if this is relevant, but we bought our daugter a new Yamaha Cornet through the Co Durham school music service, which saved around 50% on the cost. Morover, no VAT is payable.

They also offer other brands, but there is a wait of a few weeks for delivery.

SB

My son is at the same level as yours, playing a basic student Jupiter trumpet. Having read this thread I was going to ask his teacher if he needed a new trumpet - but before i got a chance he commented on the nice tone and ability to jump between notes cleanly - he said it was because of all the work he has done on lip slurs. He does practise lip slurs every day - so maybe it is more about techinique than instrument.

Just an update - having taken son no.1 along to try out some different models, he is now the (very happy!) possessor of a Yamaha 4335. I went along prepared to be sceptical, but the difference in the ease with which he could get a focused, accurate and well-rounded tone, particularly on the high notes, was too obvious to be ignored. Since getting the Yamaha home we have tried it against his old trumpet and there is a really noticeable difference between the two.

I have, of course, reminded him that now he has an instrument of this quality, he needs to live up to it, as regards technique, and that he has to get some serious practice in!

My son worked with a Y 4335 for quite a few years and has recently upgraded to a Bach trumpet for his grade 8 work. We have been very happy with the Yamaha.