Warm-ups for the trumpet can be divided into those that focus on producing long notes, tonguing, lip slurs, and playing scales. The majority of these drills deal with the various embouchure techniques needed to play the trumpet well. Scale exercises are an exception, as they focus primarily on finger dexterity and the ability to switch between different notes using the instrument’s valves. Before tackling a new piece, these techniques can help players get back into the proper trumpet technique.
Long note exercises are a type of trumpet warm-up that can help you control air flow and produce clean, sustained notes. The main issue most players have with long tones is maintaining a steady air stream in order to create a smooth, even note. Long note exercises may appear uninteresting to play, but they give players a chance to practice controlling the flow of air through their lips. They can also help players gain experience with producing a pleasant tone on the trumpet. Despite the simple rhythm and tunes, the goal of these exercises is to make them musical.
Tonguing exercises are meant to help you improve the articulation of your trumpet notes. This is an important type of trumpet warm-up because it allows the player to concentrate on their individual tonguing technique. When playing notes on the trumpet, most players move their tongue as if they were saying the word “taa.” Each note has a distinct attack and articulation as a result of this. Repeated notes are used in many tonguing trumpet warm-ups, which the player sounds out individually.
Lip slurs are the polar opposite of tonguing in that they involve changing notes without using the player’s tongue. These trumpet warm-ups will help you play legato sections in songs, which is an Italian word that roughly translates to “smooth.” Players should reposition their tongue, change the amount of air they release, and purse or relax the corners of their mouth to change notes. The tongue should be raised, more air should be pushed through the mouth, and the corners of the lips should be pursed to create higher notes.
Scales are a type of trumpet warm-up that allows players to practice fingering. A scale is a group of musical notes that sound good together and produce a specific “feeling.” This is useful for learning which notes are in which scales and which valves the player should press to produce specific notes. For a warm-up, scales can be played over one or two octaves.