I'd like to learn how to play the trumpet. My community offers lessons in guitar and piano, but no such luck with trumpets. Is it an instrument one can readily learn on his own at home, with some online instructional videos and such?

What's a reasonable timeline window one can expect it to take to be able to play some tunes (generally speaking of course)? I have experience playing the piano, violin, and bass, but no winds.

Thanks

i think it would be tough, but doable like most instruments.
especially if you are already starting with a musical background.
make sure you start off with a correct embouchure. it is hell to have to correct that once a habit is formed.
this was my main instrument for my music degree, so if you have any questions let me know.

tyvm

how would one know this? and thank you for bringing this to my attention. had know idea it could be problematic down the road.

if you are learning from videos, you can get a good idea of what it looks like.

jmitch, would you ever recommend starting someone on a bigger mouthpiece first, and then transitioning? Trombone or euphonium maybe.

When I took brass methods (percussionist), I found the smaller mouthpieces to be much more difficult. It could be b/c I have DSL's, but also just the amount of force and muscles needed. I was passable at trumpet but god awful at horn

Having been a life-long percussionist, I can definitely empathize with OP's struggles w/ wind instruments. Jmitch def has more trumpet experience than I do by leaps and bounds, but I'd say breathing exercises, embouchure, and long tones at low partials will be the most beneficial starting off.

wrt breathing, "Breathing Gym" kicked my ass in a very good way when I was learning how to play brass instruments.

not necessarily. it could help with getting a straight more relaxed embouchure, but i don't think it would make it easier to transition to a smaller one.
for trumpet or horn it is really important to keep the corners of the mouth 'tight' (not stress tight, but flexed). almost like if you were trying to show off dimples in your cheeks or a small forced smile.

Ya I can def see how trombone+ sized mouthpieces can be a huge detriment to that. I guess it was helpful for me because I was just trying to learn every brass instrument as well as possible within 1 semester.

it would def be helpful when you switch after learning one. they are basically the same, just a bit tighter the smaller the mouthpiece.

Don't try to learn the trumpet yourself.


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