Practical Studies for Cornet and Trumpet, Book I: Trumpet Book

Getchell's first book strikes the right balance between guided learning and actual musicality. Students spend their practice time on material that addresses foundational needs (chord recognition, rhythmic clarity, articulation control) without sacrificing the melodic interest that keeps them motivated to practice.

These studies have a purposeful, straightforward quality. There's no pretense here, just well-crafted melodic lines that sit comfortably on the trumpet while introducing new rhythmic and harmonic challenges at a measured pace.

Beginning to early intermediate trumpet players (typically grades 4-6) who are ready to move beyond basic note-reading and need structured work on harmonic literacy, rhythmic precision, and clean articulation. This book also serves as a reliable resource for private lesson teachers building a foundation with younger students.

• Work through the studies sequentially rather than jumping ahead; each exercise builds on patterns established in previous ones, creating a cumulative understanding of harmonic movement.
• Isolate challenging rhythmic or articulation patterns by singing them first, establishing the musical gesture before applying it to the trumpet.
• Use the variety of key signatures and time signatures as an opportunity to establish solid fundamentals in each new context rather than treating them as obstacles.

Assign these as daily warm-up studies or as the primary solo study material during the first year of band instruction. They work particularly well alongside a full band method book, providing additional melodic reinforcement for the concepts being introduced in ensemble.

• Chord recognition and harmonic awareness across multiple keys
• Reading mixed time signatures and complex rhythmic patterns
• Precision with common articulation styles and tonguing patterns
• Sight-reading fluency across varied key signatures
• Consistent breath control and phrase phrasing in melodic contexts