An advanced trumpet student needs the appropriate books and solos literature to continue progressing smoothly. Often these students get lost practicing material they already sound good on, either because they do not have new music that is adequately challenging, or because they feel more comfortable on music that already sounds good.

Many of the following etude books are core materials that should be in every advanced trumpet player’s library, or available for check-out from the band teacher. Taken as a whole, the etudes below are sufficient for a committed student to be successful at the pre-college level and into their professional career.

Many of us know the basic beginner books in helping get young trumpeters rolling. However, the list below is for those of us that need a little help in knowing what to have in the band music library for those students that are showing incredible promise and are looking for the college path for acquiring the needed technical and musical skills needed to sour through those finger-biting college auditions. Having these book readily available for your private teachers and students studying on their own will give them a great place to reach for success.

Arban, J. B. Complete Conservatory Method. Colin, 1981

Considered the most comprehensive pedagogical trumpet book in print, the Arban book covers all areas of trumpet technique as well as duets and cornet solos. With 380-pages of non-stop trumpet technique, the book is a must for every trumpet student.

Bordogni, M. P. Melodious Etudes. Leduc, 1948

These etudes are arrangements of 120 vocalises, set for voice and piano by Marco Bordogni. The printed piano score and a CD of the piano accompaniment are also available. By playing with piano on CD, the trumpeter has a chance to truly be a soloist, adding an additional dimension to the usual practice fare.

Brandt, V. Thirty-Four Studies. International, 1945

Vassily Brandt (1869-1923) German born, but immigrated to Russia. Most known for teaching at the Moscow Conservatory 1900-1912, and the Saratov Conservatory from 1912-1923. He was the trumpeter for the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra close to 20 years.

This book designed to develop an orchestral approach to sound, articulation, intonation and style. Each etude includes a short orchestral trumpet quotation, which is incorporated into original writing in the same style.

The etudes themselves are not difficult, but performing them correctly requires both “chop” endurance and a clear grasp of the musical style. This book is best studied with a trumpet teacher with established orchestral experience. The etudes are commonly used to practice transposition once the fundamental skills have been mastered.

Bousquet, N. Thirty-Six Celebrated Studies for Cornet. Carl Fischer

Considered a prequel to the Charlier book, this book features etudes which are difficult in both key and technique. The style is that of early 20^th century cornet music.

Caffarelli, R. One Hundred Studi Melodici. Ricordi, 1957

This book is oriented toward transposition, including specific instruction on every aspect of transposition, and including both clef and intervallic transposition. The preface features charts and descriptions of both. The studies are melodic and lyrical, lending to a song-like approach to transposition.

Charlier, Theo. Thirty Six Etudes Transcendantes. Leduc, 1946.

Considered one of the truly great etude books written for trumpet, this book’s publication set a new standard for trumpet playing. The studies are very advanced, and include both lyrical and technical playing. Newer editions contain the original French text, so any questions of interpretation can be answered with respect to the original source. A piano accompaniment, written by Jean-Marie Cottet, is available for ten of the etudes.

Clarke, H.L. Technical Studies. Carl Fisher, 1934

Many educators believe that the Clarke book is designed for finger dexterity. While it is true that finger dexterity is a by-product of the book’s design, its actual intent is to build breathing and aperture flexibility and embouchure strength. When combined with finger dexterity, the result is a student with increased endurance, range, breath control, flexibility, and finger speed in all keys.

Colin, C. Complete Advanced Lip Flexibilities. Colin, revised and edited: 1980

This book is an aid in building a trumpeter’s range, which is increased rapidly within the first seven exercises. Colin also discusses topics such as proper warm-up, intelligent practicing, the role of the tongue in lip slurring, lip flexibility, and lip trilling and stretching. A major challenge even to good trumpet players, adequate REST is crucial when working from this book, to avoid fatigue and bruising.

Concone G. Lyrical Studies for Trumpet. The Brass Press, 1972

The Concone book is considered the prequel to the Bordogni book, and is a good introduction to lyrical playing. The melodies are simple and easy to hear, while still challenging to play beautifully and musically. The book progresses from easy to moderately difficult in both technique and musicality. It also makes a great transposition tool.

Dufresne, Gaston. Develop Sight Reading. Colin, 1972

The Dufresne book is designed to establish and refine the performer’s musical reflexes through sight-reading. The 54 etudes are 1-2 pages each. Etudes should simply be read, not practiced; and several weeks should elapse before the student sees the same etude again. The daily practice of sight-reading accessible melodies helps the trumpeter begin to develop instincts in melodic phrasing and harmonic movement.

Gates, Everett. Odd Meter Etudes. Sam Fox Publishing, 1962

Filling a gap in the etude literature, this book introduces 7/8, 10/8, 5/4, 8/8, 9/8, 5/8, and more. Each etude is annotated to give the player a better understanding of what the composer wants. The book produces clear improvement in students’ sight-reading, as well as firm and immediate grasp of pulse and meter.

Getchell, R. Second Book of Practical Studies. Belwin, 1948

The second of a two-book volume, Getchell explores the foundations of rhythm, as well as discussing how to formulate a warm-up routine. Included are rapid dotted rhythms, triplets, syncopation, 3/8 and 6/8. The etudes should be practiced initially with minimal musicality, in order to emphasize exact rhythm and articulation.

Goldman, E. F. Practical Studies for Trumpet. Carl Fischer, 1921

Each etude highlights one particular technical idea, primarily in the areas of articulation and rhythm. Studies include triple and double tonguing, running sixteenth notes, 3/8, 6/8, syncopation, grace notes, and rapid dotted rhythms.

Hering, S. Etudes in All the Major and Minor Keys for Trumpet. Carl Fischer, 1975

A must-have for all trumpet educators, this book outlines etudes in every major and minor key signature. The writing is similar in all keys, so that etudes in more difficult keys are considerably harder than those in easier keys.

Irons, Earl. Twenty-Seven Groups of Exercises. Southern Music Company, 1977

Almost every trumpet player has worked through this book at some point in their career. Exercises are arranged in groups which lead the student through an entire idea from beginning to end. Irons pays special attention to tongue position through the various ranges. Other topics include breath control, lip flexibility embouchure strength, and double and triple tonguing.

Lin, Bai. Lip Flexibilities. Balquhidder Music, 1996

This book is distinctive in that exercises move at a slow pace in order to achieve perfection at each stage, rather than increasing flexibility as quickly as possible. The book emphasizes relaxed throat and tongue throughout the exercises, as well as fluent and consistent air speed.

Nagel, Robert. Trumpet Studies in Contemporary Music. Belwin Mills, 1975

A must for the advanced trumpeter, Nagel’s book “covers a wide variety of study material which reflects the most important styles and composition techniques used in the 20^th century.” Topics include intervals, rapid staccato playing, dynamic contrasts, pentatonic mode, syncopation, impressionism, pointillism, and more.

Paudert, E. Twenty-Four Modern Virtuoso Studies. Carl Fischer, 1964

Designed for the technically advanced symphonic player, the exercises feature flowing runs of sixteenth notes, triplets, and eighth notes with the typical rhythms and dynamic range of the symphonic style. An excellent book to develop sound, style and articulation.

Sachse, E. One Hundred Studies. International (no copyright)

The Sachse book was written mainly as a transposition study book for trumpet. However, it also features rhythm, unusual articulation patterns, intervals, varied time signatures, lyrical and technical skills. A single etude may have the student working on dynamics, turns, trills, lyrical playing, and both the low and higher range. The Sachse book is really a “Jack of all trades.”

Schlossberg, M. Daily Drill and Technical Studies. Baron, 1941

A cornerstone in every trumpeter’s library, Schlossberg’s book is an essential introduction to breathing and articulation. Material includes long tones, intervals, octaves, lip flexibility, arpeggios, and scales. Twenty minutes daily of Schlossberg drills will give the trumpeter a daily checkpoint for their fundamental technique, breathing and “chop” response.

Small, J. L. Twenty-Seven Melodious and Rhythmical Exercises. Carl Fischer, 1962.

The Small book can be used as a prequel to the Wurm book. This book concentrates on phrasing, syncopation, lip flexibility and developing a strong embouchure through etude practice. The book is not sequenced in order of difficulty and includes etudes in virtually every major and minor key.

Stamp, J. Warm-Ups & Studies. Editions BIM, 1978

James Stamp developed these groups of exercise to remedy the weekly fatigue and injury his students were experiencing from heavy playing in the Los Angeles commercial, studio music scene. After much trial and error, Stamp developed a reliable, workable system to gently message and repair damaged lips. A cornerstone in the etude literature, these studies are used daily by professionals around the world for warm-up and warm-down.

Thompson, J. The buzzing book (Complete Method). Editions BIM, 2001

This method book is designed solely for buzzing a brass mouthpiece. The book takes the player through the ways of finding consistent mouthpiece placement as well as getting the player to create a greater and consistent airflow. Throughout the book there are wonderful illustrations and pictures depicting the embouchure. Two CD’s accompany this book, either in C or Bb pitch for brass musicians to use to play along with the book. The buzzing exercises start simple and develop along with the player’s ability.

Wurm, W. Forty Studies. International, 1963

A collection of medium-difficult etudes for the advancing trumpeter, many etudes for past Texas All-State auditions have come from this book. Each etude covers a specific topic, including intervals, articulation patterns, harmonic sequences, and specific rhythmic patterns. This book also makes a great transposition study. This book is a prequel to the Paudert book.