Assembled Mouthpiece & Barrel
To make our first sounds, we will begin with just the mouthpiece and the barrel. We will add the rest of the clarinet back on soon.
If your clarinet is already assembled, carefully remove the bell, lower joint, upper joint and place them back in the case to keep them protected.
To make our first sounds, we will begin with just the mouthpiece and the barrel. We will add the rest of the clarinet back on soon.
If your clarinet is already assembled, carefully remove the bell, lower joint, upper joint and place them back in the case to keep them protected.
Go Tigers!!!
Casa Roble High School
& Pasteur Middle School
Go Rams!!!
REVIEW: Before we begin learning how to hold the trumpet, review the parts of the trumpet to help you understand where to place your hands as you learn proper hand position.
Step-by-Step
Hand Position Instructions
Step 1: Begin by sitting in a chair with your trumpet in the case on the floor in front of your chair.
Step 2: Carefully take the trumpet out of the case while staying seated in your chair. Rest the bell of your trumpet on your left knee with the valves pointed away from your body and the bottom of the trumpet pointed at your belly.
Step 3: Right hand placement
a) Place your right pinky into the finger hook found on the top of the trumpet, just after the 3rd valve.
b) Rest your other right hand fingers on the tops of the valves; index finger on the first valve, middle finger on the 2nd valve, ring finger on the 3rd valve. Keep your fingers open to allow them to move freely.
c) Keep your thumb straight and pressed against the 1st valve. Keeping your thumb straight allows for better mobility in your fingers.
Step 4: Left hand placement
Most of the weight of the trumpet will be in the left hand and should be held firmly.
a) Place the left thumb in the first trigger/first valve slide.
b) Place your palm against the valve casings.
c) Wrap your index and middle finger around the 3rd valve casing,
The next step varies depending on hand size.
d1) Large hands: place your ring finger inside the third trigger ring, and place your pinky below the 3rd slide.
d2) Smaller hands: place your ring finger and pinky finger inside the third trigger ring.
Your hands will stay on the trumpet in the same position for resting and for playing. Even when you are not making sound, be sure to hold the trumpet properly to create good habits and correct muscle memory. The video below explains more about muscle memory and hand position.
Larger Hands
Smaller Hands
