First off let me say I know nothing about trumpets. I've always had an interest and recently broke down and bought one. It's used, brand is Cecilia. Got it off Ebay and the quality is questionable, but I'm just trying it out so I though it'd by fine. As soon as I got it, I opened it, broke it out, put the mouthpiece in and started blowing. It was like blowing air through a plumbing pipe. Nothing but the rush of air. Took the valves out and moved them around. Nothing much changed. What do you think? Did I screw anything up? Am I just playing it wrong? Can it be fixed?
If any of the valves were in the wrong place you would likely not even be able to blow air through the horn. They valves should be numbered, usually above the piston on the spring housing. The one numbered "1" goes in the tube closest to your face as you hold the horn. #2 goes in the center tube and #3 goes in the tube nearest the bell. Trusting that you do have a mouthpiece inserted in the leadpipe, are you "buzzing" with your lips? That's how the sound is produced for playing a trumpet.
Finding a good instructor and paying for at least a few beginner lessons would probably be a worthwhile investment if you plan on playing trumpet at all. If you stay with it for perhaps a year I expect you'll find that the Cecilia trumpet is a piece of junk as compared to any of the more well establish, more well known brands. It should get you through intermediate level, but if you advance beyond that, as will be necessary for you to make it at normal high school playing level, you'll need a better trumpet to keep up with the crowd.
If all you hear is wind, then yeah, it's most likely a problem with your lips buzzing/not buzzing.
Just learn the technique, and post back if you still buzz but the Trump isn't working.
Never heard of Cecilia...then again, I'm inexperienced.
Blake
Is it clogged up with the previous owners stuff? try cleaning it out. you can poor some clean water down the leadpipe and blow it out of your bell and slides. If a bunch of stuff you wouldnt want to see in your horn comes out that could be part of the problem. If not, maybe your valves are misaligned.
and then again maybe you just need and instructor. you said you just started?
I would look into some lessons. usually run about 15$ for a half hour (depending on the guy).
$15 for a half hour?? Where do you live? I'm lucky to get $40 for a half hour. But yeah in relation to the original guy's question, an instructor would prove useful.
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