I've been playing the trumpet for years now and did the usual exams at school. I've always kept up the playing in local music groups, but recently I've started taking lessons again and getting serious about practising. At the last lesson my teacher muttered the word diploma. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has done a trumpet diploma and how it went. Also, what pieces you played.

Thanks
Paris

Hi

I haven't done a diploma but am working towards one (DipABRSM). I've got the music for Haydn trumpet concerto. I think thats a great one to do and I would definately recomend it. It wont take you too long to pick it up either.

Quiet City by Copland is another good one. It's contemporary so at first you may have doubts but you will probably warm to it.

I got the music for Carnival de venise by Arban today...I'm not too sure why my teacher recomended it to me. It's the only piece I have ever come accross that I have thought is way out of my league. It's possibly one of the most difficult pieces you will have to play. Try to get a recording of it by wynton marsalis and you can see for yourself.

Hope this helps

I'm in the same situation as TrumpetGeeza and am getting ready for my DipABRSM. I'm trying to a get a mixed program in for my exam so am doing the Neruda (alternative to the Haydn), Malcolm Arnold (as a modern concerto), Quiet City (as a modern solo piece) and the Torelli (as a baroque piece). I have been through the Carnival of Venice before and its not as difficult as it looks. The well known variation is the one where it sounds like two trumpets are playing, one is playing the theme and the other is 'twiddling'. It looks really daunting but isn't too bad as long as you can get your fingers and mixed intervals going, it also shows that you have a good grasp of your technique.