Second Book of Trumpet Solos: Trumpet & Piano Book

Wallace and Miller have curated a collection that moves beyond the typical melodic excerpts. You get genuine musical narratives here: Joplin's ragtime syncopation sits alongside Brahms and Chopin, creating a program that reflects the breadth of what trumpet can express. Each arrangement respects the original work while sitting naturally on the instrument.

You move through centuries and styles in one sitting. There's intimacy in the Chopin and Scriabin, rhythmic vitality in the ragtime and Anonymous Marche, hunting adventure in Hummel, and the quiet contemplation of Elgar. The trumpet becomes a storyteller, not just a technical instrument.

Intermediate trumpet students ready to explore repertoire beyond method books and beginning recital collections. This book works for students preparing for state festivals or seeking intelligent, varied solo material that builds interpretive maturity.

• Balance the syncopation in 'Maple Leaf Rag' with a clear pulse; the piano part will anchor you, but own the rhythmic space between the beats.
• The Chopin Preludes demand absolute control of your air stream. Work the phrasing in sections, ensuring you can shape entire phrases without breath interruption.
• Grieg's 'Hailing' has folk character embedded in its melody. Lean into the slight rubato that nature-inspired pieces invite, but keep the rhythm grid underneath.
• In the Wallace pieces, the programmatic titles are your friends. 'The Moose Is Loose' and 'Ballad of the Southern Eskimo' contain character clues that should inform your articulation choices.

Sequence these solos across a season rather than performing the entire book at once. A Joplin-Elgar pairing on an early fall recital establishes versatility. Save the Chopin Preludes and Scriabin for winter programs where their introspection lands differently. The shorter, character pieces work as encores or as part of thematic programs exploring musical nationalism.

• Phrasing across long melodic lines without frequent breath breaks
• Code-switching between Romantic legit playing and rhythmic jazz inflection
• Dynamic control in intimate, slow harmonic contexts (Chopin, Scriabin, Elgar)
• Articulation variety appropriate to national styles and historical periods
• Musical storytelling through character pieces with extra-musical associations