An effective practice session can only be achieved if the player has his / her full concentration on the task and a goal in mind.

a.     Start by standing in front of a full mirror.

b.     Focus your mind on trumpet playing with all your concentration. Do not be distracted by time. (set your alarm if you have an appointment to keep. Try not to watch the clock)

c.     Settle into a good posture, square to the mirror and with the feet comfortably apart.

d.     Relax. Hold your trumpet down to your side at this stage.

e.     Inhale gently but deeply, filling the lungs to the bottom (see section 5 Long Tones and Breath Control) and exhale slowly by supporting the air stream with your diaphragm. Repeat this in a natural cycle until you feel relaxed and confident of a natural flow of air. Avoid any hyper-ventilation and over oxygenation. Keep your shoulders square to the mirror and check that they are not engaged in upward movement when inhaling.

f.     Some lip 'horse fluttering' of the lips can stimulate the blood flow to the lip muscles and prepare (warm up) the lips ready for shaping.

g.    Think only about trumpet playing....

When you feel relaxed and ready to play, follow the steps in Section 2 The Mouth Shape and Vibration