Online trumpet lessons

Welcome on the website of ‘Trompetnet.nl’
On this page you can find more information about trumpet teacher Theo Hartman, on which brass instruments online lessons are possible and on which platforms good quality lessons can be achieved. Also several different microphones and interfaces will be showed in a selection of videos. Trumpet lessons with ‘Trompetnet.nl’ are for young and old, beginner and advanced with the opportunity to grow and learn in a pleasant way.

A free initial interview with Theo online can be requested to get to know each other, to discuss musical preferences and equipment. Also Theo will demonstrate how the trumpet actually sounds online!
For contact details for your first free online trumpet adventure please go to: https://www.trompetnet.nl/contact-2

My name is Theo Hartman. I began playing cornet at the age of 9. I studied the trumpet succesfully at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, The Netherlands. Among my teachers were Theo Laanen (Residentie Orchestra, The Hague) and John Taber (Residentie Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony  Orchestra and Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine). From 1985 till 1990 I played as assistant principal trumpeter with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra in Israel. With the Haifa Brass Quartet I performed also extensively in Israel. After returning to my home country, The Netherlands, I have been performing with the Radio Symphony Orchestra and many more Dutch orchestras. In 2006 I initiated my own brass ensemble ‘Continuous Brass’ which is still performing. Recently I have created a new brass quartet, The Hague Brass Quartet which is performing in churches and also together with church organ. For small ensembles I am running my ‘TNCB Productions’ and next to that I am an enthusiastic brass teacher with a lot of experience live and online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On which instruments you can follow lessons?
At ‘Trompetnet.nl’ I teach trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn and trombone. Weekly lessons with a fixed time are possible or otherwise by appointment. Brass instruments are used in many orchestras or bands. As soloist it can be real fun to perform in church together with organ.

A trumpet is a brass wind instrument noted for its powerful and piercing sound mostly tuned in b-flat. It can be used in either a classical orchestra or in a jazz- or salsaband. Trumpets for beginners range in cost from €100-600. John Packer has a budget beginner’s trumpet with fairly good valves around €220. The Thomann TR-200 is a reasonable and nice sounding trumpet for €180. Beginners usually buy a b-flat trumpet which has the most free blow. Both JP-051 and Thomann TR-200 I can recommend. In case budgets are wider I could recommend a Jupiter, Yamaha or Schagerl trumpet. Intermediate trumpets start around €800 to €2.000 and professional trumpets even up to €5.000 or even more. Popular professional brands are Vincent Bach, Yamaha, Schilke, Getzen, Kanstul, Schagerl, Adams and Van Laar. Sometimes nice used trumpets can be found online or in a shop for reasonable prices.

A cornet is a brass instrument that looks like a smaller, wider trumpet. The cornet used to be a common feature of jazz band, until it was replaced by the trumpet. The sound of a cornet usually is a bit more mellow than the sound of a trumpet and also mostly tuned in b-flat. During previous centuries the cornet was a real soloistic instrument and its fun to play pieces by the famous Jean Baptiste Arban or Herbert L. Clarke. In terms of prices cornets are similar like trumpets. Brands for beginners I could recommend are Yamaha and CarolBrass.

A flugelhorn is a brass instrument that looks like a bigger trumpet and has wider tubes. The sound of a b-flat tuned flugelhorn is warm and smooth. In military orchestras flugelhorns used to have a melodic but also fanfare-like function but nowadays in jazz music a flugelhorn gives a more tender sound. In terms of prices flugelhorns are similar like trumpets and cornets but its more difficult to get a good budget flugelhorn. Popular professional brands are Van Laar, Adams, Kanstul, Getzen, XO, CarolBrass and Yamaha. With some luck a nice used one might be found.

A trombone is a brass instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube with two turns and having a movable slide or valves for varying the tone and a usual range one octave lower than that of the trumpet. Nowadays a slide trombone is the most popular. In terms of prices trombones are similar like trumpets. A good beginner’s trombone is the JP031 for around €270. The JP230 for €770 is a more intermediate level. Popular professional brands are Vincent Bach, Yamaha, King, Michael Rath and Conn.

For whom? And what to expect from my lessons?

From the age of 8 years old children can start learning a brass instrument when they have changed their front teeth. Depending from which country a pupil or student will apply for lessons we will search for a fun and attractive starters book like “Easy Steps”, “Look, Listen and Learn” or “Tune Up”. All of these books have nice short melodies with cd-accompaniment.

Music notation will be taught in a relaxed manner and also playing by ear will be an important aspect of a lesson. In time pupils can choose their own musical styles and repertoire from classical pieces towards pop or jazz standards. Musical development will depend on effort and motivation on the part of each individual pupil. The teacher will approach each pupil both in a professional and relaxed manner. Music has to be a fun issue!

More advanced and older students can choose their own repertoire and of course the teacher will give interesting recommendations. Targets will be set to learn and grow to become a mature musician. For diligent and talented students additional material like music theory and solfege (aural training) can be offered.

At ‘Trompetnet.nl Online’ a lot is possible, from shorter (weekly) individual sessions to longer ones (30-45-60 minutes). Weekly lessons will be scheduled in a fixed time and for other less frequent lessons will be scheduled by appointment. In The Netherlands I have a valid ‘Statement of Conduct’ from the Dutch government. I can offer trumpet lessons in different languages like English, German, Dutch and Hebrew. Online lessons can be given with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Sonobus, Whatsappvideo or Facetime. I will be happy to advise which platform will fit you the best and can be optimized in order to achieve pleasant and successful online lessons.

Course fee
Course fee depends on duration and frequency of lessons. This can be discussed by e-mail or telephone. For contact details please go to https://www.trompetnet.nl/contact-2  A single lesson has to be paid for in advance by either PayPal or banktransfer in name of Trompetnet.nl

During a single lesson for a beginner special attention will be given to ‘how do I play my first tone’ and ‘how is my trumpet attitude and breathing’. In a short time 3 to 4 different tones will be learned and simple songs can be played. For more advanced students special attention will be towards ’technique’ and ‘style sense’. If chosen for a continuous course close attention will be on ‘breathing technique’, ‘attitude’, ‘embouchure’, ‘nice sound’, technique and endurance’, ‘music notation’, ‘style sense and repertoire choice’.

For a continuous course pupils and students are requested to transfer the course fee before the first lesson of each month. An agreement will be signed by both parties through a Contract Form. A notice period of one month will be applied.

Online equipment
As an online teacher I have been researching which audio equipment could be the most suitable and affordable for attractive lessons. By using only the computer microphone a nice full sound is hard to obtain. Playing forte gives very fast distortions. By using external microphones linked to the computer sound results can be highly improved which of course is pleasant for both student and teacher.

There are different types of microphones like dynamic, (usb) condenser and ribbon microphones. Often an usb interface is needed between microphone and computer which delivers phantom power (with condenser microphones) or transmission of electric signals. Brands like Roland, Focusrite and Motu can be mentioned. Average prices for an interface are around €60-120. Dynamic microphones are around €60-100, (usb)condenser microphones around €50-130 and ribbons – which sounds probably for brass instruments the nicest and warmest – are quite a bit more expensive and not really necessary for online trumpet lessons.

I have been testing extensively several dynamic and condenser microphones which could be interesting choices. My advice would be to read reviews about the items to see if it fits expectations both in terms of price and application. Also be careful if phantom power (+48v) is necessary because it could damage the microphone. This is a serious warning for a ribbon microphone like the budget T.bone RB 100 priced around €80. By the way condenser microphones do need phantom power.

Equally important for good results is a reliable and fast internet connection. For an interference-free Zoom online lesson 100 mbps speed is at least required which can be measured at www.fast.com If connected additionally a RJ45 ethernet cable to the wifi router speed results might double. For an additonal €6 I have to state it helps a great deal!

At regular video conference platforms its impossible to play together during lessons because of the latency on the internet. Happily apps like ‘JamKazam’ (video & audio), ‘Jamulus’ (audio) and ‘Sonobus’ (audio) can be used to play together in duos or trios with only a slight delay and can be fun during online lessons.

On the next video a comparison has been made between three dynamic microphones which I use during online trumpet lessons: a Shure sm57, an Audix i-5 and a more budget Behringer B906. The video has been recorded in combination with a Mackie ProFX10v3 usb mixer audio interface and Zoom video.

My newest assets are two Mackie microphones, see above for microphone pictures which are not expensive and very well manufactured. The Mackie EM-91CU costs around €40 and can be plugged into the computer easily and you don’t need an expensive external interface. The sound is quite powerful and maybe a bit brighter than the more expensive Mackie EM-91C which is a condenser microphone and needs an external interface with phantom power. This Mackie EM-91C costs around €80. On the next video I have compared both Mackies so you can judge for yourselves.