Summary

To grasp a better understanding of how to teach beginning trumpets and

brass players, this article from Contributions to Music Education, delves into the

typical middle school and explores the different vowels shapes and how each can

have an effect on slurring in young/ learning musicians. While some methods

books argued that vowels shapes are very much so important for learning to play

trumpet, others argue that it is unnecessary and one only needs to know that there

is a low, middle, and, high range on the trumpet. However, some research studies

showed that some vowels shapes did make a different, as well as moving the

tongue lower and higher. The study called for beginners to play within a 5th interval

for several exercises. 500 files were evaluated by university professors and brass

players in order to critique with multiple opinions. Overall the results supported the

possibility of vowel shapes effecting the slur capabilities on trumpet expect in

valved slurs.

Personal Reaction

As someone who has struggles with consistent embouchure and slurs on

trumpet, this article fascinated me and has me eager to try new vowel shapes in

order to reach different ranges of the trumpet and other brass instruments. Since it

was my first time playing a brass instrument, I was not keen on what to adjust in
order to increased my range, but through this, I will use this knowledge on my next

attempt to play a brass instrument. Assuming this ends with positive results, I can

use this learned information to teach middle school brass students, a simple way to

extend their range mainly by focusing on different vowel shapes.

Paul, T., & Paul, P. (2009). The effect of changing syllables to facilitate slurring by
middle school trumpet students. Contributions to Music Education, 36(1),
41-51. Retrieved February 21, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/24127217