In the first lesson, I focus on making the student feel comfortable and excited about learning. We start with introductions and their musical background or goals. For trumpet, I introduce basic instrument care, posture, and embouchure. We produce the first few notes with just the mouthpiece and then the full instrument if possible. For general music, I begin with fundamental music symbols, note names, and some basic rhythmic clapping. I end by assigning light practice and encouraging questions.
At this stage, trumpet players work on improving articulation, dynamic control, and musical phrasing. They start playing longer pieces and may begin basic improvisation or ensemble readiness. General music students apply theory in practice (e.g., reading scores, basic harmony), and aural skills progress to full phrase dictation, chord identification, and basic transcription. The goal shifts toward fluency, confidence, and preparation for more intermediate study or performance
Trumpet students expand their range, begin scales (C major), and work on breath support and tone quality. They start short songs and simple etudes. Music theory students learn major scales, intervals, and key signatures, and begin to analyze basic rhythms and melodic patterns. Aural skills include interval recognition, simple melodic dictation, and rhythm dictation. Lessons also begin including more independent practice and feedback review
In these lessons, trumpet students begin working through their first few notes (typically C-G) and simple tonguing. We also begin short exercises using quarter and half notes. General music students continue developing rhythmic skills (clapping/counting) and start identifying pitch relationships (solfรจge, intervals, etc.). Ear training is introduced through call-and-response singing or pitch matching. These lessons are about reinforcing fundamentals and building consistency