anyone plays trumpet?

[midnightwriter]

DS is 5.5 and has been asking for a trumpet for almost a year. He's not sure if he wants lessons, though. But he's been obsessed with the instrument.

How difficult is the instrument? Is it feasible to start learning / experimenting with it at this age? Does one need lessons right away, or it can be enjoyed at an individual rate, let's say like one could mess around on a piano?

Now I'm going to check how much they actually are

[midnightwriter]

So I googled a bit, and they seem to suggest 9 years old? The book that we have for kids about trumpet has photos of a boy who is about 6. I'd appreciate any more feedback. Thanks!

[CarrieMF]

My dd started the Trumpet in band last year. She was 10. Trumpets are not cheap, not a quality one anyhow. To purchase hers is $800 new. Obviously used ones would be cheaper.

In addition to the trumpet you'll need valve oil & the equipment to clean it, approx $12 for a kit in a music store.

Unless you like the sound of Goose being choked I'd get lessons.lol

At his age would a toy trumpet work?

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF

My dd started the Trumpet in band last year. She was 10. Trumpets are not cheap, not a quality one anyhow. To purchase hers is $800 new. Obviously used ones would be cheaper.

In addition to the trumpet you'll need valve oil & the equipment to clean it, approx $12 for a kit in a music store.

Unless you like the sound of Goose being choked I'd get lessons.lol

At his age would a toy trumpet work?

I googled for used trumpets, and they run for $250-300. Still, pricey. For some reason he isn't into toy trumpets (yes, we tried). I'm not even sure, though, he would be able to handle the instrument, coordination wise. I think he wants to play one because they are so shiny , but maybe I'm underestimating him . He *is* very musical.

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I would start researching toy trumpets. A real trumpet will be too hard, and he will be discouraged easily. I'd hate to see him decide not to play the trumpet because he couldn't work it when he was six.

My daughter is a band geek, so I highly recommend nurturing his interest in music. I think it's been the best thing that has happened to my daughter.

[confustication]

My undergrad degree was in music performance- french horn being my primary instrument. I started on the trumpet in third grade with a private instructor as the local school system didn't start until grade five. By that time, I knew how to read music, locate keys on the piano- though I have never been a skilled pianist, and had been a member of local childrens' chorales for a few years.

I would suggest- at age 5.5 that he work on simply getting great exposure to different genres of music. He can learn to read music, and play the piano- in a very simple way without stress and pressure. He should also learn to sing- and if you can get him involved in some sort of group that would be fabulous because learning to be part of a larger musical group is SO so important.

No, I would not introduce any brass instrument at that age. The embouchure is simply not mature enough. Even when I was older, I was lucky to have instructors who knew how to protect a developing embouchure and prevented me from doing some of the things that could have caused significant damage.

If he is fascinated by the instrument- take him to see a symphony performance where they are strongly featured, introduce him to jazz etc and so on- let him hear them, and help him understand that there are a lot of exciting things he can learn along the way and when he is old enough- he can play.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by confustication

No, I would not introduce any brass instrument at that age. The embouchure is simply not mature enough. Even when I was older, I was lucky to have instructors who knew how to protect a developing embouchure and prevented me from doing some of the things that could have caused significant damage.

I also played instruments for years (bassoon and oboe) and I agree that 5.5 is really young for brass. There are instruments that would be a bit better for that age like violin or piano but he may not have interest in those.

[midnightwriter]

Thank you, all! :-)

[buttercup784ever]

I agree with the pp. Most 5 year olds can't 'buzz' their lips like you need to with brass instruments. It takes awhile to even get enough power to make a sound. It can be frustrating for an adult, let alone a small child.

My daughter wanted to play my old flute when she was 7, but her arms were just too short to hold it correctly. I started teaching her some stuff on the piano instead. We had fun with it, but now at 11 her arms are long enough and she's not interested in music at all.

[MusicianDad]

I would suggest waiting in regards to the trumpet. They are a very difficult instrument to play. If you can though, starting him on piano or violin would put him at an advantage, since he would go into learning the trumpet with a greater knowledge of written music.

(I also suggest a running intensive activity to build up his lungs. Any instrument that requires air to play will benefit from that.)

[Mama Shifra]

Like people in this forum mentioned, most "experts" will tell you that to play trumpet, you need to be at least 9 or 10 years old. Younger children are not physically able to play. However, one book I read recently suggested that children interested in trumpet should start with playing the recorder. My son also is interested in either trumpet or trumbone, so I am teaching him by rote the recorder using Oak Meadow's curriculum. We'll see if his interest lasts until he's 9!