hi i love collecting and trying to play different instruments i have spotted a trumpet and wondered as flute is my main instrument would the trumpet a harm my flute playing and b would a be able to play it

all advice welcome thanks

having looked at it further there is a solder joint that has come away would this be a reason not to buy it??

monkey flute

Do you know what make it is?

My first trumpet was a Stag and cost me £80. I didnt even intend to buy one, I wanted a cream scone in the music shop cafe but they didnt have any so bought the trumpet instead! I worked ok, but then got a yamaha student one and its much much easier to play across the range.

As for affecting flute playing, yes it does slightly, as the flute uses mostly upper lip and not lower, where as trumpet uses 2/3 lower, one third upper. You can work round this, I have never wanted to be, and never intend to be a world class trumpet player, so I play to about grade 5 standard or so and that is mostly mid range music. Mostly hymns actually. My trumpet gets its outings in Easter and christmas church services and that is nearly it!

Supposedly, the only brass instrument which would not hinder your flute playing ablility and vice versa is the french horn. It uses 2/3 upper lip, 1/3 lower.

For 20 pounds, why not?

But then you'll need a mouthpiece for a beginner. It makes a big difference.

Steve

PS Not really a player myself, but can get 1 1/2 octaves out of my son's trumpet. Great fun!

I recall being told by Alan Lumsden, professional trombone, ophicleide, flute and recorder player, in 1970 that most brass teachers had changed to teaching "high embouchure" (2/3 upper, 1/3 lower) for all instruments. Being a horn player, I don't have direct knowledge of trumpet, but my son was taught high embouchure for trombone c. 1980..

My friend plays both horn (and very rarely trumpet) and flute to LRSM level if that helps?

If you're having lessons on the flute, I'd ask your teacher first ... I know that flute embouchure is as critical as trumpet embouchure. I do know someone that plays tuba and flute to a high standard, but I suspect many flute teachers would have palpitations at the thought. Maybe that's just because brass players are so so vulgar.

But a word of caution - the trumpet isn't really an instrument I'd recommend as a 'part-time' instrument - it tends to be one that people play pretty seriously, or not at all, as it does require a decently maintained embouchure to get a good sound out of it over a useful range. Certain other instruments tend to be more forgiving about days off.


There are different schools of thought on this - horn tends to be more upper lip than lower, and trumpet vice versa, but some trumpet methods do go for the more-upper-lip set-up. I'd agree that trombone tends to be more upper lip. At the end of the day, I think it's whatever works best on the individual's face, but you might want to look at the technique forums on Trumpetherald to read more: http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/index.php?c=5

thank you for all the advice given i know my teachers husband plays trumpet so i shall ask her next week


thanks again monkey flute