The trumpet is a brass wind instrument played by vibrating the player’s lips and blowing air through them to buzz them. The lips are then placed on the mouthpiece of the trumpet, which then vibrates the metallic mouthpiece and shapes the air column to produce sound. Pitch is changed by pressing different valve combinations along the body of the instrument, which then changes the length of the tube that the air travels. The longer the tube, the lower the pitch.
Like with all wind instruments, beginners must train their mouth muscles and lungs, which may initially lead to some pain in the lips/mouth. Different notes can be learned by remembering the valve fingering. The initial instrument cost is a commitment, with beginner trumpets ranging widely in quality and cost, going from as low as $150 to $1500. Trumpets made mostly of plastic are a cheaper option, but often sacrifice sound and build quality in exchange.
The trumpet has a uniquely bright and brilliant tone that
is both powerful and stately. It is a common addition to orchestras, wind
ensembles, and brass bands, and is featured in a variety of musical genres
including jazz, big band, and ska. The unique method of playing the trumpet is
shared with other bigger brass instruments, and as such it is easier to
transition to other brass instruments later in a player’s musical career.