Just wondered if anyone else has young children who learn brass instruments? Mine are Primary School age, and are really resistant to practising on school days - I think they are just too tired after a day at school, and obviously you need quite a lot of physical energy to play a brass instrument. I have not suggested before school due to the neighbours... But I am worried that if I just let them do it at weekends they will not build up their lip muscles and therefore not progress. Any thoughts?

My daughter started the trombone when she was nine. She has always done some practice every day (and she would have had a longer day than your children since she started at 8.30 and finished at 4.30). My experience with two daughters, each with two instruments (all belonging to a different family) makes me think your children's problem is probably more to do with making a practice part of their routine rather than it being a problem with brass instruments as such.

I found it became easier when I found a fixed time every day to do the practice (and I found the optimum times as much by trial and error as anything else). She also used to like me getting the instrument out and putting it away for her afterwards (and her primary aged sister is the same with the oboe). I also think they need to have a clear idea of what they are going to do during their practice time (ie a number of tasks to accomplish rather than a fixed period of time to play for). My daughter has always done a buzz on the mouthpiece, lip slurs (which have gradually got longer), scales (which have increased in number), a technical exercice and a piece (or two). Until very recently she liked fixed instructions like "play the new scale three times" rather "play the scale and if you make a mistake, stop and start again until you get it right."

I'm sure they could manage 10 minutes to do some buzzing and lip slurs which would help strengthen the embouchure.

I agree with kerioboe - my son started trumpet when he was year 3 and practised enthusiastically even though he had a long day at school. If he was particularly tired - maybe on games afternoon he would come home knackered - I'd let him off, as it were, but generally encouragement kept him going.

Once it has become part of their routine, they will automatically begin to think of that time of day as practice time. One of my sons did this (early morning before school, which I appreciate might not be an option for you, Alison!) and got much more practice done generally than my other son, who would practise in odd minutes. The point is to get it to become a habit.

I also found rewards worked well - anything from extra time spent watching television or playing computer games to extra pocket money for good practice weeks. You might find this helpful whilst your children are trying to get into a routine. It's usually easier to "remember" if there's a carrot!

Hi Regards the remark you need a lot of physical energy to play a brass instrument, that is not quite correct by playing the right instrument you should not be tired after playing, in my experience playing should be enjoyable and if you are tired after practice or after a concert then you are on the wrong instrument.A lot of players do not breath properly whilst playing I would say breath control is one of the most important measures of playing brass or wind instruments. breath wrong whilst playing and you will be tired after, as regards building up lip muscles get them to practice with the mouthpiece only they could buzz, play up and down the scales etc, suggest this and see how keen they are they will not be the first youngsters to give up playing after the first rush of excitement has passed , I can remember when just a small boy I seen the film "The Benny Goodman Story" and all I wanted to be was a clarinet player like B G but dad stopped that in its tracks by making the comment where do think I have that kind of money to buy clarinets, Remember this was in the years just after the second world war, hope the children keep at it, I turned out to be a decent euphonium player in my playing days now retired, trying to play the piano getting there but slowly

Our children play brass instruments and one of the things that made them practice more was being able to leave the instrument out. Sounds daft but if the trumpet was on a stand on the sideboard he was much more likely to wander past and pick it up and play. I am a great fan of bribery, after all it's us who know they will thank us for the nagging one day, not them. Five minutes on a trumpet bought ten minutes on the playstation . . . . . . . worked treat.

Hi there,

I'm currently and undergraduate at the university of Huddersfield where trumpet performance is my major study. With regards to practise, when first starting, if they can do every day, or every other day that would be great, and as you say it is all about building the muscles in the lip. They dont have to practise for long every day, just maybe 10 or 15 minutes. (This is mainly because if they miss more than one day at a time, the lip loses the strength, and it is like taking one step forwards and two back).

Now i'm at degree level and took have taken my diploma last year I practise about 2 to 3 hours a day, but for beginners anything from about 10 minutes is ample.

Hope that helps!

Hey just noticed this. I agree totally with just buzzing. A fun way to do this could also be when watching the tv. e.g. watching eastenders or someother program then during the adverts try buzzing theme tune back or something. They would be doing practice without noticing it. Could turn into a competition =D Can practice many techniques buzzing too.

Also try some books maybe with CD's to play along to, with well known tunes. They are much more likely to want to play something like that than struggle through a study or scale.

Good luck!

When I was young, 6pm was my practice time - because it beat watching the 6 o'clock news!

My 7 year old euphonium player seems to find enormous stamina and energy to blow his horn at exactly the time he should be getting ready for bed. He is shrewd enough to know that I find it almst impossible to resist a child who comes to me dragging their instrument asking whether I will come and hear them play...

Luckily for his musical development children have to go to bed every day, so he gets plenty of practice in!