Best of Belwin Jazz: Young Jazz Collection for Jazz Ensemble: 1st B-flat Trumpet Book

This collection swings hard one moment, settles into a moody ballad the next, then pivots to Latin grooves and rock energy. The variety means your trumpet section stays engaged across rehearsals; the written-out solos let players showcase musicality they've worked to develop.

Young jazz ensembles ready to move beyond basics but not yet equipped for demanding improvisation. First trumpet players in middle school through early high school programs will find material that challenges their tone and phrasing without overwhelming their reading or rhythmic maturity.

• Balance your articulation across the section during the swing charts. Young trumpet players often dig in too hard; the rhythm section will thank you if the lead voice sits cleanly in the pocket rather than pushing ahead.
• Study the written solos as melodic ideas, not just note sequences. This collection gives your trumpets phrases worth understanding musically, which changes how they shape the line and breathe.
• On the Latin and rock tunes, lock your section's attacks with the rhythm section during rehearsal. Precision on unison passages pays dividends when you move to the solos.

Select individual charts for concerts throughout the year rather than programming the entire collection at once. A swing tune and a ballad work beautifully in a spring concert; pair a rock chart with a Latin one in the fall to show your ensemble's stylistic range without overloading a single performance.

• Swing articulation and phrasing
• Reading and executing written jazz solos
• Ensemble balance in unison trumpet passages
• Responding to rhythm section grooves in multiple styles (Latin, rock, ballad, swing)
• Tone control and breath management across different tempos and dynamics
• Listening for harmonic movement without improvising over changes