At age nine, I chose the trumpet as my primary musical instrument. It has remained a great choice for me throughout my entire life. The trumpet is a versatile instrument, has a beautiful sound, plays melody or harmony, is used frequently in jazz, classical and show music, and provides plenty of opportunities to play in solo, small or large ensemble. The versatility of the trumpet can be seen in the way it is played, as well as in its types of venues. The sound can be altered greatly by the use of various mutes. The three most common are the straight mute, the cup mute and the Harmon mute, which can further be changed by moving or removing the stem of the mute. One can use a hand over the bell or the Harmon mute to produce a wa-wa sound. The horn can be played in the upper register for a powerful sound that can’t be produced anywhere else. It can be played in all registers in many different styles.

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