Easy Rock Instrumental Solos, Level 1: Trumpet Book & Online Audio/Software

Playing these arrangements feels like joining the actual recordings. The familiarity of songs like "Stairway to Heaven," "Satisfaction," and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" makes the music immediate and fun, while the orchestrated accompaniment gives your playing a polished, professional context.

Trumpet players at the beginning of their instrumental journey who want to play songs they recognize and love. This book works equally well for solo practice at home and for ensemble reading in band or small group settings.

• Lock into the groove by listening to the demo track first. Hearing the live performance helps you nail the rhythmic feel before attempting the play-along.
• Pay attention to the rhythm section's pocket on the accompaniment. These arrangements sit in real rock grooves, so matching the tempo and swing of the drum track matters more than perfect note precision.
• Balance your tone with the orchestration. The backing tracks are full arrangements, so project your sound without blaring; let the accompaniment support you rather than competing with it.
• Use MakeMusic Cloud to access the tracks across devices. Practicing with the accompaniment on your phone or tablet means you can work through solos anywhere, not just at the instrument.

Assign these solos to trumpet players at the Level 1 stage during the fall and spring concert seasons, or use them as rewards for consistent practice habits. They pair naturally with your existing band repertoire as encore pieces or student showcases, and the ensemble compatibility means multiple trumpet players can perform the same title together.

• Reading Level 1 trumpet notation and ledger lines
• Sustaining steady quarter-note and eighth-note rhythms without a conductor
• Playing in time with recorded accompaniment
• Matching articulation and phrasing to familiar melodies
• Building tone control in the middle and upper register over extended phrases