I've heard of many reasons people want to learn to play the trumpet. One of them is that it is easier to learn to play an instrument with 17 or more keys. As a trumpet player, you need quick fingers to advance. The demand for it starts with the first set of sixteenth notes, and it never stops. These tips I'll share would help you learn how to hold a trumpet and make a better instrumentalist.

Lift

Most often, beginners develop lazy fingers meaning that valves don't make it up. When this happens, a transition between notes may become undesirable. You can train yourself not to do it by purposely lifting your fingers higher than usual. This acts as a double whammy exercise because the extra effort needed to do this strengthens your fingers and makes them faster.

Chromatic exercises

Chromatic exercises like those found in Clarke Technical Studies 1 help improve your trumpeting skills. Note that they may be too advanced for beginners, but you'll adapt to them with time. If you find an exercise tedious, you can choose something else. Use major scales and increase the speed as you go. First, in quarter notes, then in eight notes as the case may be. The goal is to achieve fluid fingers and cleanliness. Feel free to also use chromatic scales in the same manner. The key is to go up when you're ready and track your tempo. Without tracking speed, you cannot see the rhythms in which you should spend more time.

Take note of the right-hand grip

The way your right fingers hold the trumpet can make or break your ability to move your fingers freely. This happens mainly in the first three years of playing. Ensure that you do not hook the thumb behind the first valve, press the valves with your middle fingers, and keep the palm close to the valve casing. As for the dos, you can press the valves with the balls of your fingers and leave space between your palm and the valve casing, just like you'll do if you're holding a baseball.

Slam

To take your lifts to the next level, you can also slam down and lift high. This may sound like I'm going off, but this technique works and is taught in many schools. The idea is that the added muscle in use strengthens the fingers. Who doesn't want their fingers quick and strong?

Train the third finger

Everyone knows that the ring finger comes in the way of holding the trumpet. It causes lots of trouble, but this can be managed. This problem is due to the interconnection between the ulnar and radical nerves, hampering the ring finger's independence. Since the human anatomy works against many instrumentalists, you must work the third finger harder than others. It is best to focus on dexterity exercises that use the 123, 13, and 23 combinations. It is difficult going from 13 to 2; therefore, you should spend more time on it. You can customize the exercises to your taste to improve your hold on the trumpet.

Good things come to those who work hard for them. Committed learners also get to become expert players someday. Avoid all the distractions that come with learning a new music instrument and disregard the countless tips. The best routine you can adopt is a daily practice routine because it helps you master everything you learned. If at any point you're confused, speak to a friendly and patient instructor. With time, you'll master all the tricks and become a better player.