You don’t need to know anything about music to help your child succeed. Here’s how this course works and how you can support them.
How the course works
There are 10 weekly lessons. Each has a video, written lesson with playable music examples, a practice checklist, a short quiz and a recorder. Students can work at their own pace — some weeks may take longer, and that’s fine.
The five most helpful things you can do
- Make practice a routine. Same time each day (e.g. after school, before screens). 10–20 minutes daily is much better than an hour once a week.
- Set up a practice spot. A chair without arms, a music stand at eye level, and a device for the lesson page.
- Praise effort, not sound. Beginners sound buzzy and wobbly — that’s normal. Notice the streak, the focus and the small wins.
- Be the audience. Ask for a 1-minute “concert” at the end of the week. Ask them to teach you a fingering.
- Help with the tech. Help younger students log practice and send recordings.
Signs things are going well
- They can hold a steady note for 4+ beats by Week 3–4.
- They start notes with the tongue rather than a “huh” of air.
- They sit or stand tall, with the trumpet brought up to them.
- Practice feels like a normal part of the day rather than a battle.
When to get in touch
- Sore or swollen lips that don’t recover overnight, or any pain.
- Frustration lasting more than a week, or wanting to give up.
- Stuck valves, slides or mouthpiece.
- Any problem with the website.
Recordings, privacy and safety
- Recordings are stored privately on this website. Only the student who made them and the teacher can listen to them — they are never public.
- Before the first recording is sent, a parent/guardian (or a student aged 18+) confirms permission.
- Students can delete any recording from My Studio at any time. Deleting the account removes all recordings and messages.
- Recordings are audio only — no video or camera is used.
- Messages go only between the student’s account and the teacher. Parents are welcome to use their child’s account to read and send messages.
Health and hygiene
- Brush teeth or rinse the mouth before playing; food in the trumpet damages it.
- Don’t share mouthpieces.
- Rest as much as you play. Stop if lips feel numb or painful.
- Give the trumpet a bath in lukewarm water with a little mild soap every couple of months (remove the valves and felts first), or ask a music shop to do it.