Bass Clefs, Treble Clefs, and Tenor Clefs. Oh my!

The euphonium is a unique and often misunderstood instrument, even among experienced musicians. Over the years, I’ve encountered many questions about it: Is it called a euphonium or a baritone? Why don’t we see euphoniums in orchestras? Should the bell face forward or up? Does it have three or four valves? And what exactly is a compensating euphonium?

One of the most intriguing questions, and the one we’ll explore today, is: Why is euphonium music written in both treble and bass clef?

The beginning of the school year is here! As the excitement of the new term settles, you may hear from your student’s band director or teacher that it’s time to upgrade their flute—especially if they’ve been playing for at least a year. Choosing the right step-up flute can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to make it easier for you!

How to Start the Flute Upgrade Process

We are thrilled to announce that world-renowned jazz artist John Raymond will be hosting a jazz trumpet masterclass at Paige’s Music on November 23rd at 5PM!

As an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, John brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. He has released nine albums under his own name, and has been featured on over thirty recordings, including four GRAMMY-nominated albums! Along with his musical accomplishments, John is the author of “The Jazz Trumpet Routine: Fundamentals for the Creative Improviser” and hosts the popular podcast “The Trumpet Summit”. As a Bach performing artist, John Raymond’s insights will be invaluable to musicians of all skill levels.

This masterclass is open to trumpet students of all ages and abilities who are eager to dive deeper into the world of improvisation. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just beginning, this clinic is for you!

We’re excited to partner with Bach and Conn-Selmer to present this incredible opportunity. More details, including how to RSVP, will be shared on our social media outlets and website soon. Plus, there will be a special giveaway for attendees—so make sure to stay tuned!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to see you on November 23rd for this unforgettable event!

The summer months are very important in your development as a trumpet player. Many students will leave their trumpet in the case in a closet for 2-3 months which is a terrible idea! Can you imagine not walking or running for 2-3 months and then trying to run a 5K or 10K? If you don’t play your trumpet all summer, that is essentially what you are doing to yourself! We use facial muscles to play the trumpet and as with any other muscle in the body, if you don’t use it then you lose it. So, it is vital that you practice your trumpet to at least maintain the growth and endurance that you had during the school year. Check out these tips for practicing over the summer:

1. Listening

When I was in middle and high school, I did not realize the importance of listening to professional trumpet players. When you first learned to talk, you did so from listening to your parents and others. There are many speaking accents throughout the world and those are passed on from generation to generation through children listening to those around them and recreating what they’ve heard in their head through their voice. The same is true with the trumpet. My tone and sound are similar to my private teachers’ sounds as well as the trumpet players that I’ve listened to the most. Take time this summer to listen to artists like Allen Vizzutti, Michael Sachs, Hakan Hardenberger, Wayne Bergeron, and others to find your sound. See which artist you like best and dive deep into their recordings!

2. Find a private teacher

If you are looking to really improve during the summer, then I highly recommend finding a private teacher. There are so many great trumpet teachers within the Indianapolis region as well as throughout the state of Indiana! We have a list of private teachers on our website, but you can also reach out to your band director to see if they have someone that they recommend. One of the major advantages of taking private lessons is the one-on-one training that you receive. In band class, there are so many other students in the band as well as the trumpet section that your teacher is trying to work with. In most cases, they don’t have time to help you on an individual basis with your sound, range, articulation, or other fundamentals that are key for your success as a trumpet player. If you have trouble finding a private teacher, feel free to reach out to me directly and I am more than happy to help.

3. Listen to online masterclasses or podcasts

In our current world, we have some incredible resources online that you can use to help grow as a trumpet player! There are many colleges and competitions that post masterclasses that different artists have held. There are also a few trumpet-related podcasts available to listen to that go into details on playing the trumpet. I highly recommend searching for your favorite artist with the word “masterclass” after their name on YouTube and see what comes up. You may be surprised with what you find! If you need any recommendations, feel free to e-mail me and I am happy to provide some recommendations!

4. Play your trumpet!

The most important summer practice tip is to play your trumpet! Like I said in the introduction, it is vital for you to play your trumpet over the summer. If you don’t play your trumpet, you risk injuring yourself when school starts back up especially if you are going to be in marching band. Set small goals for yourself to start and grow your practice time from there. Maybe just warm up every day for one week and then the following week play some of your favorite pieces from the previous year or look up your favorite song online to find sheet music for it. I personally recommend practicing in 15-20-minute chunks for 30-60 minutes per day. If you do that and use your time wisely, I guarantee you will feel ready for band class in the fall.

Make the most of your summer by actively engaging in these practice tips, ensuring you start the next school year at your best.

With the school year right around the corner, now is the perfect time to make sure you are ready with the supplies needed! We’ve got a great stock of everything that you’ll need to have up for the start of the school year. Here’s my recommendations for your back-to-school list:

1. Clean your Trumpet

The summer is the perfect time to make sure your trumpet is ready to go for the school year. We highly recommend having your trumpet cleaned and serviced once a year. While the exterior of your trumpet may look fine, there are likely spots with build-up inside from playing during the school year that you will want to have cleaned out to prevent future issues. We can provide a loaner for the week it will take to clean and repair the trumpet to make sure you are able to practice!

2. Valve Oil

It is very important to make sure that you have at least one full bottle of valve oil for the start of the school year. You should be putting oil on your trumpet valves at least once a week to make sure that they stay in tip-top shape! We have a wonderful selection of different valve oil brands for you to select from in our store.

3. Slide Grease

Many trumpet players forget about the importance of slide grease. You want to make sure that all of your slides are moving properly. If your slides are starting to slow down or even stick, start by wiping down the slides and then put a fresh thin coat of slide grease on them to make sure they’re moving well again! Pro Tip: If you want your slides to move faster, add a little bit of valve oil on top of the thin layer of slide grease. If you still have issues with the slides sticking after using grease, then you probably will need to check in your instrument for repair to have it cleaned and make sure that there are no dents or issues causing it to stick.

4. Mutes

We have a wonderful selection of mutes in our store from straight to practice or cup to harmon mutes, we have you covered! Each mute has a special function. If you live in an apartment or small house, you may consider getting one of our practice mutes to lower the noise level when practicing. Harmon mutes are usually used in jazz band and cup mutes are also a staple in jazz band but some concert band music will ask for them to be used as well. Stop in today to see our great selection!

5. Trumpet Stand

Trumpet stands are a great way to safely place your trumpet down when taking a break from practicing or in band class. You do not want to set your trumpet on your chair because it will likely fall onto the ground and that will create dents on the instrument. Students that place their trumpets on the ground also risk them being stepped on. So, the best fix for these situations is a trumpet stand. Most trumpet stands can also fit inside the bell of your trumpet when storing it away in the case! We have a great selection of trumpet stand options in our store.

6. New Case

During the back-to-school season, most students are looking for a new backpack to take to class. This year, I recommend checking out a new case! We have a great selection of new cases if you want to stand out when heading back to school. Stop by today or call for more information!

Be fully prepared for back-to-school with Paige’s Music. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, our selection is designed to ensure you have the best possible start to the new school year.