Classical Trumpet Performance, Teaching

​John Freeman

Short Endurance

What I call “short endurance” is the lip’s ability to play for perhaps 30 seconds, 60 seconds, or longer without removing the horn from one’s face.  It’s a different type of endurance than simply being able to play all day long.  It’s a much more acute type of endurance, and can only be improved by specifically training oneself to be able to do it.  Over time, certain players, especially those in brass bands, brass quintets, etc. will develop this kind of endurance naturally because of the demands that kind of music requires.  For the rest of us, we must practice this type of playing, otherwise, we will quickly become fatigued when faced with say, a medium high sustained chorale with repeats.  The key to practicing this is to play easy things that don’t kill the lips, but allow them to play for a long time which will develop the right kind of muscle needed.  Power practicing has it’s place, but should not be combined with these exercises.    

My exercise for this is below.   Do this once or twice a day at the end of a practice session.   I say at the end because it will most likely tire you out completely, but that is the point.   This type of practice promotes capillary growth in the lips, which help to replenish the muscle during activity.  Follow the rules at the bottom.