Step 1: Begin in a standing position in front of your chair. Your shoulders should be square (facing directly forward), feet shoulder width apart, and standing tall. Your head should be held high, but keep your chin parallel to the floor so it is not sticking out or tucked in.

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Step 2: Hold your trumpet with both hands using proper hand position and be careful to keep the mouthpiece from getting bumped. 

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Step 3:

a) Sit on the chair.

b) As you lower yourself into the chair keep your upper body in the same position you were in while standing.

c) Most of your body's weight should be on your sitz bones/your bottom.

d) Keep your feet flat on the floor. If needed, sit closer to the front edge of the chair.

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Step 4: Now that you are situated in the chair, check your hand positions to make sure you are still holding the trumpet properly.

a) Stay seated upright.

b) Keep your head up and still as you bring the trumpet to your lips. Your mouthpiece should be placed on your lips in the same place it was when you were buzzing. 

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Step 5: Take a breath and blow into the mouthpiece like you did with just the mouthpiece. Sustain the sound as long as you can. You're playing the trumpet now! Time yourself and see how long you can hold a note for- try to keep the sound even. 

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If you leave all of your fingers off of the valves on the trumpet and blow through the mouthpiece you will likely get a C. Press play on the MP3 to the right to hear an example of a C on the trumpet. If you are playing higher than the pitch you hear in the MP3, you are likely playing a G; try to match the lower pitched C. 

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