meloktaLearning goal
Plays three open notes (C, G and high C) without valves by changing the air speed, and notices that faster air makes a higher sound.
Topic
Hello, trumpet! On a trumpet, the sound comes from the air that passes through your lips. The faster the air, the higher the sound.
Prior knowledge
No previous knowledge needed.
Teacher note
The virtual trumpet has three valves on the left and three air buttons on the right. No valves are used in this lesson. On a real trumpet the pitch changes with lip tension and air speed; here this is shown with the three air buttons. Start with a ‘slow–medium–fast’ breathing warm-up as a class. The virtual trumpet sounds the notes as written (like a C trumpet); on a B-flat trumpet the same fingerings sound a whole step lower.
Lesson steps
- Don’t press any valves. Press the SLOW air button: this is C.
- Now use MEDIUM air. This sound is G: higher!
- And FAST air: high C. Still no valves.
- Climb the stairs: slow, medium, fast.
- Now go back down: fast, medium, slow.
- Listen! Is the mystery sound low C or high C? Play what you hear.