The trumpet is arguably most commonly associated with its high and piercing tone quality. There are positions trumpet players take up where most of what they perform is in the upper register: lead trumpeters in jazz bands, ska band trumpeters, etc. As such, there are several pedagogical texts and YouTube guides on playing in the upper tessitura. However, the trumpet boasts a range of over 2 and a half octaves. After surveying both college professors who teach trumpet and college students taking trumpet lessons all across the United States, results show many of the same exercises (many of which have been decades in circulation) being taught and/or practiced to work on the low register of the trumpet. As a result, new literature that requires the trumpeter to be dexterous in the middle to low-register of the trumpet and provide an equally as boisterous sound in this register should be considered and explored.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kyle Millsap

School of Music