Trumpet ~ How to make a louder sound?

Question

I play trumpet (duhh) I'm the best at school and I've played by myself in front of the whole school a few times and when I'm done i like to hear some peoples opinons and they all say good good but my music teacher says you need to be louder! I can play very loud standing up but not sitting. When im sitting my back is straight and i have a good gap between each lip (if you get me lol) So any suggestions?

Answer 1

claiming to be the best at school is a very wary thing to do....

but anyways, the best advice anyone can give you is to PUSH THE AIR. push as hard as you can without losing your tone.

Answer 2

Hey trust me  i've been playing for 6 years and is the second best in my class. Blow faster air.

Answer 3

any instrument that requires wind demands the same training and technique as a singer's voice. the diaphragm is the "heart" behind your wind, however, the mouth is the "voice" you have. the trumpet is merely a tool. a piece of equipment to help you do the job you know needs to be done. the mouth can hold a certain amount of reserve air while you blow.(dizzy gillespie). cheeks. i'm not saying blow your cheeks out like he did, but use what you have to make your trumpet your own. good breathing and don't over-estimate that good space between the lips(doc sevrensin).

Answer 4

Open your lips, take in more breath think loud and let it rip(if  you get ME lol)  which I think you probably would as to being in that position.   I play guitar so I musically concur!

You could also use a  microphone and amplifier of course eh?

OR  play Tuba instead...it has an even bigger funnel!  

"Funnelly" enough!......and what a BLAST that would be!

Answer 5

Do lots of situps to make your abs stronger, it will help!

Answer 6

put some microphone..

that should work well

Answer 7

What I think you mean by 'I have a good gap between each lip' isn't what is really going on. If so, that is NOT a good thing at all and you need to re-position your embouchure. Your lips should basically be touching and there should be a pin-point sized 'hole' that the air passes through. I've studied with a very prestigious trumpet teacher, just so that you know that I'm credible. When I was in school it took me over a summer to change my embouchure from what you are describing to the proper way. I just want you to know this now so that when you are in college you know what to expect. (You can try balancing a pencil between you lips so that the pencil is pointing straight out to help strengthen your muscles but don't do it too much). I know it seems like you won't be able to make a loud sound at all with this positioning but it really has nothing to do with it.

Anyway, my tip on playing louder is that you should just start on a concert B'flat 'G' while sitting and play a whole note and crescendo into a 'ff' and continue up an octave. Then, at 'ff' play your favorite piece with a pretty tone. Just remember that microphones were made for a reason and don't sacrifice tone for a loud sound. Is there a jazz band at your school? You may want to consider joining if you haven't already. It will help with dynamics.

Hope all goes well. I think it's great that you are playing the trumpet.

P.S. Breathe through your nose! ;)

Answer 8

Use your breath support as well as the faster air speed! Google breath support if you don't know what I mean! Learn to breath from your stomach not just with your lungs!

Answer 9

good dynamic pressure from the diaphragm

t-bones rule!!!!!

Answer 10

As others have pointed out, this probably has a lot to do with how you are breathing, and how you are using your airstream.

You mention that you have your lips apart. I think that you mean that your teeth are apart, and your lips are together. Is this true?

Something that helps a lot to achieve proper breathing techniques is to lay down on your bed, or on the floor, and play laying down. If you've ever watched a baby sleep, they do not struggle to breat. Take a big, deep, "relaxed" breath (you should feel your stomach area, and your lower back area expand... not just your lungs), and blow the air out of your mouth... without the trumpet. Blow the air towards the ceiling, or pretend that you are blowing out a birthday cake with two dozen candles on it. Then, play the trumpet with that same feeling. Stand up, and get that same feeling. Sit down, and get the same feeling.

If that doesn't work, there are a couple other possibilities. The first would be throat tension. Make sure that your neck is straight... not craned forward. Try blowing the air out forcefully... funneling it towards the front of your mouth, in a way that's similar to what it feels like to whistle. Thinking of this will help you to keep your throat open.

When you are sitting, with your back straight... but relaxed... roll your hips forward. Your lower back should be slightly arched... again, relaxed. Your chest will be out, and your arms and elbows will be comfortably away from your body. (This will also allow for better breathing.) If you draw an imaginary line between your elbows, and then think of forming an equilateral triangle with this imaginary line and your arms... again, relaxed. You are merely supporting the weight of the trumpet with your left hand.

It's very important to keep the inside of the mouthpiece shank, and the inside of the trumpet clean. Hopefully, this isn't the case... but, it's worth mentioning.

Spend time listening to recordings of good trumpet players. Focus on hearing their sound, and their use of dynamics. Listen to everything... orchestral music, brass quintet, opera, jazz, marching bands, drum corps, reggae, pop, mariachi, etc., etc., etc. Emulate their sound. Take what you like from each of your favorites, and make "your" sound.

Take private lessons if you can. A good teacher should be able to help you tremendously!

I hope that something that I've said helps. Have fun!