What an Intermediate Trumpet Player Should Concentrate On

Reaching the intermediate stage on trumpet is a milestone. You’ve built the basics: posture, breathing, tone, simple scales, and endurance. Now, the challenge shifts toward refinement, expansion, and artistry. Intermediate players must balance discipline with exploration—stretching technical limits while learning to make music expressive and personal.

Here’s what to concentrate on at the intermediate level, with detailed guidance and exercises.

1. Expanding Range Safely and Efficiently

The intermediate player is ready to move beyond the comfortable octave of beginner years. Expanding range is not about brute force—it’s about air speed, coordination, and efficient use of the embouchure.
• Top priority: build strength gradually.
• Air focus: higher notes require faster air, not more pressure.
• Daily range work: lip slurs and scale patterns that reach just above your comfortable limit.

Exercise: Play ascending lip slurs from low C to high C, resting often. Use a metronome to keep slurs even. End each range session with comfortable mid-register playing to “reset” the chops.

2. Tone Development: From Good to Great

Intermediate players often have a functional tone but not a refined one. The next stage is to develop richness, resonance, and flexibility.
• Listen closely: Is your tone centered? Dark? Bright? Wobbly?
• Experiment: Play long tones at different dynamics—pp, mf, ff. Learn to control tone at all volumes.
• Model sound: Recordings of greats (Adolph Herseth, Maurice André, Clifford Brown, Wynton Marsalis) provide sonic goals.

Exercise: Choose one note (middle G). Play it at pp for 8 seconds, crescendo to ff over 4 seconds, then decrescendo back to pp over 8 seconds. Repeat on multiple notes.

3. Articulation Mastery: Beyond “Ta”

At this level, tonguing expands from simple attacks to a toolbox of articulations.
• Single tonguing: refine clarity and precision.
• Double tonguing (“ta-ka”) and triple tonguing (“ta-ta-ka”): essential for faster passages.
• Style control: learn the difference between staccato (short, light), marcato (strong, separated), and legato (smooth).

Exercise: Play a scale up and down, tonguing every note. Start with single tonguing at quarter notes, then move to eighths, sixteenths, and finally double tonguing. Keep clarity consistent.

4. Flexibility and Endurance

Intermediate players often struggle with endurance—especially when rehearsals get longer. Flexibility and strength-building are essential.
• Lip slurs: daily practice strengthens embouchure and builds smoothness across partials.
• Endurance strategy: multiple shorter practice sessions are better than one long one.

Exercise: Play “ladder slurs”—low C to G to middle C, then back down. Add notes gradually (C–E–G–C–E, etc.). Focus on smooth transitions, not speed.

5. Technical Studies and Scales

This stage demands fluency in all major and minor keys, plus chromatic scales. These are not just for exams—they unlock freedom across repertoire.
• Scales: Practice two octaves when possible, slurred and tongued.
• Arpeggios: Major, minor, dominant 7th.
• Technical books: Clarke’s Technical Studies, Schlossberg, and Colin’s Lip Flexibilities become staples.

Exercise: Play a scale in C major, two octaves. First slurred, then tongued. Repeat in all 12 keys using the Circle of Fifths order.

6. Phrasing and Musicality

Trumpet is not only about mechanics. Intermediate players must learn to shape phrases like singers.
• Breathing with purpose: plan breaths at musical points, not random breaks.
• Dynamics: exaggerate crescendos and decrescendos—music comes alive through contrast.
• Imitate singers: listen to vocal recordings and try to match their expressiveness on trumpet.

Exercise: Take a hymn tune or folk song. Play it with exaggerated dynamics, then record yourself. Ask: did it sound like speech or just notes?

7. Intonation Awareness

Intermediate players must learn to adjust pitch in real time. Unlike piano, trumpet intonation is flexible—and sometimes unreliable.
• Ear first: sing notes before playing them.
• Tuning slides: use 1st and 3rd valve slides to adjust sharp notes.
• Drone practice: play scales against a drone pitch to hear harmony and tune intervals.

Exercise: With a drone set to concert Bb, play a Bb major scale. Adjust each note until it “locks in” with the drone.

8. Sight Reading and Transposition

Band and orchestral literature often demand quick reading and, later, transposition. Intermediate players should strengthen both.
• Sight reading: play a new etude or exercise every day. Don’t stop for mistakes—keep going.
• Transposition basics: learn to play simple melodies in different keys, especially from concert pitch instruments.

Exercise: Take “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in C. Play it in F, Bb, and G. This builds flexibility in key recognition.

9. Building Repertoire

Intermediate players should expand beyond exercises into real music.
• Solo repertoire: Haydn Concerto (2nd movement), Hummel, Arban Characteristic Studies, Charlier Etudes (simpler ones).
• Etudes: Bousquet, Brandt, and Bordogni vocalises (transcribed).
• Ensemble playing: join band, orchestra, brass ensemble, or jazz combo for applied learning.

Exercise: Choose one etude per week. Record yourself and mark mistakes. Return the next day to fix them.

10. Improvisation and Style Variety

Intermediate is the perfect stage to dabble in jazz and improvisation, which improve ear, rhythm, and creativity.
• Jazz basics: learn the blues scale and simple call-and-response phrasing.
• Style work: explore baroque articulation vs. jazz swing vs. modern wind band style.

Exercise: Play a 12-bar blues in Bb using only the notes Bb, Db, Eb, F, and Ab. Focus on rhythm and feel, not speed.

11. Endurance and Health

Intermediate players play longer rehearsals and harder music. Avoid injury by respecting the body.
• Rest principle: “Rest as much as you play.”
• Hydration: dry lips = bad tone. Drink water.
• Recovery routine: finish practice with comfortable mid-range playing to “cool down.”

12. The Mental Game: Confidence and Patience

The intermediate stage often feels like a plateau. Progress slows, frustration rises. The solution is persistence and intelligent practice.
• Set goals: range target, scale fluency, or learning a solo.
• Record progress: weekly recordings show growth often missed in daily practice.
• Stay inspired: attend concerts, listen to diverse trumpet music, and remember why you started.

Sample 30-Minute Intermediate Routine
1. Breathing + buzzing (2 min)
2. Long tones with dynamics (5 min)
3. Lip slurs (5 min)
4. Scales & arpeggios (5 min)
5. Articulation drills (5 min)
6. Etude or solo excerpt (8 min)

Closing Thought

The intermediate trumpet player is standing at the gateway between competence and artistry. The focus is on range, flexibility, articulation, tone refinement, and musicality. This is the stage where exercises begin to sound like music, and music begins to challenge technique. With disciplined practice and curiosity, an intermediate player not only improves their skills but begins to find their own voice on the trumpet.

Popular Method Books for Intermediate Players:

Droste: The Ultimate Warm Up For Trumpet (Windy Town)
Droste: The Ultimate Wedding Book For Trumpet (Windy Town)
Droste: The Ultimate Technical Study Trumpet (Windy Town)
Arban: Complete Conservatory Method, ed. Goldman and Smith (C. Fischer)
Bordogni: 24 Vocalises, trans. Porret (transposition) (A. Leduc)
Bousquet: 36 Celebrated Studies, ed. Goldman (C. Fischer)
Brandt: 34 Studies and 24 Last Studies, ed. Vacchiano (Belwin-Mills)
Broiles: Have Trumpet . . . Will Transpose (transposition) (C. Colin)
Chavanne: 25 Characteristic Studies, ed. Voisin (International)
Cichowicz: Flow Studies
Clarke: Technical Studies (C. Fischer)
Clarke: Setting Up Drills (C. Fischer)
Clodomir: Methode complete, ed. Job (A. Leduc)
Colin: Advanced Lip Flexibilities (C. Colin)
Endresen: Supplementary Studies (Rubank)
Gallay: 22 Exercises, ed. Maire (A. Leduc)
Glantz: The Complete Harry Glantz (C. Colin)
Goldman: Practical Studies (C. Fischer)
Gower and Voxman (ed.): Rubank Advanced Method (Rubank)
Hering: 32 Etudes (C. Fischer)
Hovaldt: Lip Flexibility (R. King)
Kopprasch: 60 Studies, ed. Gumbert and Herbst, 2 vols. (C. Fischer)
Laurent: Etudes pratiques, 3 vols. (A. Leduc)
Maniscalco: Leonardo Maniscalco, trumpet player with the Rome Opera House orchestra, has published two books of trumpet etudes. La sonorità e la tecnica, vols 1 and 2.
Pares: Scales (Rubank)
Rubank: Trumpet Method, Book 2
Sachs: Orchestral Studies - Orchestral Excerpts for Trumpet
Saint-Jacome: Grand Method (C. Fischer)
Salvation Army: 101 Technical Exercises (Salvation Army)
Schlossberg: Daily Drills and Technical Studies (M. Baron)
Skornicka: Rubank Intermediate Method (Rubank)
Smith: Lip Flexibility (C. Fischer)
Staigers: Flexibility Studies, 2 vols. (C. Fischer)
Stamp: Warm-ups plus Studies (Editions Bim)
Vacchiano: Trumpet Routines (C. Colin)
Vizzutti: Trumpet Method Books 1–3 (Alfred)
Zauder: Embouchure & Technique Studies (C. Colin)

Links To Appropriate Materials:

These are SOME Highlights - Most of the Books are appropriate for this level.

ALL the Lessons are Appropriate for this Level of Player

Forever Flower Song Play Along Track

Trumpet Practicing

Trumpet Mouthpiece Selection

Trumpet All Scales

Brass Quintet

Trumpet Technical Pages

Clark Technical Studies

Listening Examples

Practice Chart

Top Ten Trumpet Tips

Arban

St. Jacob Grand Method

12 - Weeks Intermediate Trumpet Curriculum:

🎯 12-Week Intermediate Trumpet Curriculum

Practice Time: 60–90 minutes per day, 5–6 days per week.

Week 1: Foundation Reloaded – Warm-Ups & Tone Control

Focus: Reinforce breath support, tone production, and muscle memory.
Goals: Establish consistency in tone and setup.

Daily Work:
• 📘 The Ultimate Warm-Up Book – First 3 pages daily (Tone Builders + Lip Slurs)
• 🟦 Stamp: Warm-Ups Plus Studies – Basic Warm-Up + Octave Expansions
• 🟦 Schlossberg: Daily Drills – #6, #9, #17 (Slurs, Octaves, Tongue Slur Combos)
• 🎯 Buzz mouthpiece 3 minutes with long tones (concert F – Bb range)


Week 2: Scale Mastery & Dexterity Boost

Focus: Key signatures, finger independence, clean transitions
Goals: Master major and minor scales (up to 3 sharps/flats)

Daily Work:
• 📘 The Ultimate Technical Studies Book – Scale-Based Patterns, Pages 5–7
• 🟦 Pares: Scales – Major + Harmonic Minor exercises
• 🟦 Rubank Intermediate Method – Technical Etudes, p. 18–23
• 🎯 Play scales tongued up, slurred down—two octaves when possible


Week 3: Clean Articulation & Double Tonguing

Focus: Precise tonguing, speed, clarity, rhythmic control
Goals: Develop clean single/double tonguing at MM = 100+

Daily Work:
• 📘 The Ultimate Warm-Up Book – Articulation Grid, Pages 6–7
• 🟦 Arban Method – Articulation Studies 27–34
• 🟦 Clarke: Technical Studies – Study I + II (Slur/Tongue Contrast)
• 🎯 Alternate “tah-tah” and “tuh-ku” patterns with metronome


Week 4: Flexibility Focus – Slurs, Lip Strength, Range

Focus: Smooth intervals, embouchure power, airflow
Goals: Slur across registers without tension

Daily Work:
• 📘 The Ultimate Warm-Up Book – Lip Slur Series (Pages 10–13)
• 🟦 Colin: Advanced Lip Flexibilities – Set A & B
• 🟦 Hovaldt: Lip Flexibility – Exercises 3–7
• 🎯 Top of each session: Slur low G to high C (10x, rest between sets)


Week 5: Transposition & Key Awareness

Focus: Transposing melodies + etudes into C, F, Eb
Goals: Improve mental flexibility, ear training, and reading

Daily Work:
• 🟦 Broiles: Have Trumpet… Will Transpose – Lessons 1–5
• 🟦 Bordogni/Porret: 24 Vocalises – Transpose Vocalise #1 and #2
• 🟦 Chavanne: Characteristic Studies – #1 in F and C
• 🎯 Improvise a melody in two keys daily after warm-up


Week 6: Etude Expressiveness – Tone Meets Technique

Focus: Phrasing, style, line, and flow
Goals: Play with intentional dynamics and musical breath

Daily Work:
• 🟦 Hering: 32 Etudes – #2 and #4
• 🟦 Laurent: Etudes Pratiques Vol. 1 – #1–3
• 🟦 Gallay: 22 Exercises – #5 and #8
• 🎯 End session with 1 recorded etude, evaluate phrasing


Week 7: Advanced Technical Control

Focus: Speed, clarity, clean fingers, breathing coordination
Goals: Improve speed without sacrificing tone

Daily Work:
• 📘 The Ultimate Technical Studies Book – Chromatic and Dexterity Routines (Pages 12–17)
• 🟦 Goldman: Practical Studies Vol. 2 – #10–15
• 🟦 Zauder: Embouchure Studies – Set A
• 🎯 Breath Gym: Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale slow – 3 sets


Week 8: Etude Artistry & Advanced Style

Focus: Contrast, rhythmic complexity, phrasing with intent
Goals: Interpret and perform diverse styles confidently

Daily Work:
• 🟦 Brandt: 34 Studies – #9 and #10
• 🟦 Maniscalco: Sonorità e Tecnica Vol. 1 – Etude 3 and 4
• 🟦 Bousquet: 36 Celebrated Studies – #6 and #7
• 🎯 Journal your daily musical decisions (accents, breaths, tone choices)


Week 9: Orchestral Awareness & Concert Preparation

Focus: Orchestral excerpt execution + endurance
Goals: Blend sound, match articulation, understand context

Daily Work:
• 🟦 Sachs: Orchestral Studies – Mahler 5 opening, Pictures at an Exhibition
• 🟦 Arban: Theme & Variation Solo – Choose one, begin slow practice
• 🎯 Play full-page excerpts at 80% tempo with drone pitch


Week 10: Endurance & High Register Control

Focus: Sustained strength and consistency in upper range
Goals: Play high G-A-Bb comfortably without pressure

Daily Work:
• 📘 The Ultimate Warm-Up Book – Upper Register Builders (Pages 14–15)
• 🟦 Glantz: The Complete Harry Glantz – High note exercises
• 🟦 Clarke: Setting Up Drills – Exercises 5–7
• 🎯 Rest equally as much as you play; use timer


Week 11: Wedding Performance Readiness

Focus: Control under pressure, beautiful tone, timing cues
Goals: Prepare and perform 3 full wedding pieces

Daily Work:
• 📘 The Ultimate Wedding Book
• Trumpet Tune – Henry Purcell
• Rondeau (Theme) – Mouret
• Wedding March – Mendelssohn
• 🎯 Perform each piece with click track and breath cues
• 🎯 Practice all dynamic and tempo markings accurately


Week 12: Mock Recital & Integration Week

Focus: Perform full routine + etude + solo
Goals: Apply all techniques in performance setting

Daily Work:
• 📘 Choose one piece from Ultimate Wedding Book for recital
• 🟦 Choose one lyrical + one technical etude (Brandt + Bousquet)
• 🟦 Perform Arban Theme & Variation or Maniscalco Etude
• 🎯 Record full recital and self-review with rubric


✅ Final Practice Call to Action:

Ready to dominate the horn? This isn’t just a curriculum—it’s a full-spectrum training plan built by real players, for real players.
Use The Ultimate Warm-Up Book to center your sound.
Dive deep into precision with The Ultimate Technical Studies Book.
And when it’s time to perform, The Ultimate Wedding Book makes your playing shine with elegance and control.

Every note you play, every breath you take—it’s one more step toward brass mastery.