Category: Music Exercises

  • Week 1 of 30 Weeks of Trumpet Scale Drills: C Major

    Week 1 of 30 Weeks of Trumpet Scale Drills: C Major

    Starting this week, I am beginning my first official, scheduled series of exercises on this site. Are you ready for some trumpet fun? This particular series starts with an exercise in C Major, but it is nothing to sneeze at. The beginning parts are nice and easy to get you warmed up. But, towards the…

  • Free Scale Exercise for Any Instrument #1

    Here is a fun, simple scale exercise that is perfect for any level of player. (Note that I didn’t use the words ‘beginner’ or ‘easy’, as this sort of exercise can be good practice for even the most advanced players! Just try playing it really fast.) This sort of exercise is great to help you…

  • Write Out This Simple Melody in F [Ear Training Exercise 3]

    It’s time for another ear training exercise! This one is in the key of F (one flat: a B flat) and it starts on a B flat. All you have to do is listen to this melody and transcribe it (write it out) on a piece of paper or your favorite music notation program. Then,…

  • Write Out This Rhythm! [Ear Training Exercise 2]

    In 2012, I started a new point system with my students. Not like grades, just points for cool stuff. And, if you’re my student and you figure out this exercise, you’ll get 20 points!

  • Can You Figure Out This Melody? [Ear Training Exercise 1]

    If you understand what you are playing, you can play a whole lot better. Ear training is a great way to help with that. All you are going to do is listen to the melody below and attempt to write it out on a piece of paper or in your favorite music notation program.