Really Easy Jazzin' About: Fun Pieces for Trumpet: Trumpet Book

Wedgwood writes jazz vocabulary that sounds idiomatic rather than simplified. Each piece has its own character and harmonic identity, which means students aren't just learning to read notes, they're absorbing how jazz phrasing, syncopation, and groove actually feel. The collection moves naturally between styles without ever losing momentum.

Effortlessly cool. The pieces swing with genuine groove, trade between cheeky and sultry moods, and never talk down to the player. You feel the style in your body almost immediately, whether you're locked into a funk riff or floating through a blues melody.

Trumpet players in their first or second year who are ready to move beyond method books but need repertoire that respects their reading level. This collection works equally well for self-directed learners and ensemble students who want to feel like real musicians from day one.

• Listen closely to how the accompaniment lands on the beat in 'Blow-Away Blues.' Your entrances and note releases need to sit slightly behind the click to capture that laid-back feel.
• Treat syncopated figures like 'Wrap It Up' as rhythmic conversations with the rhythm section. Lock in tight enough that the groove is clear, but with enough air in your tone that it doesn't feel stiff.
• Let the blues notes in 'Hot Chilli' speak naturally. These aren't classical ornaments; they're part of the vocabulary, so give them breath and character.
• Experiment with vibrato placement in the ballad-style pieces like 'Buttercup.' Wedgwood's melodies reward subtle dynamic shape that mirrors speech patterns rather than classical phrasing.

Extract individual pieces for solo spots in a casual concert, or build an entire informal recital around the collection to showcase students discovering jazz outside of concert band repertoire. Pairing this with a jazz combo arrangement or playalong CD turns practice into genuine musical experience.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms with precision
• Identifying and playing through jazz chord changes and blues progressions
• Matching articulation and phrasing to contemporary styles (funk, rock, blues, jazz)
• Developing tone control and vibrato placement in non-classical contexts
• Responding rhythmically to accompaniment and maintaining groove over multiple choruses
• Understanding stylistic nuance through contrast between pieces