Shopping for a trumpet player can be hard. Mutes, cases, and method books come in many kinds. The names can be confusing. The right gift depends on the player’s level.
This guide sorts gift ideas by level. There are picks for beginners, for high school and college players, and for advanced players. The last two sections cover small gifts and books for practice. Each pick links to that exact product on Amazon.
Before you buy, ask the player or their teacher what gear they own. (Most players do not need two of the same mute.) Mutes and practice tools come in sizes for each brass instrument. Check that each listing says trumpet.
Gifts for beginners and students
A new player needs a trumpet, a mouthpiece, and a case to start. The gifts in this section add tools for care, buzzing, timing, and quiet practice. Care gear matters from the start, since the valves need oil every day. If your player is new to the trumpet, our beginner’s guide to playing the trumpet covers the first steps.
Yamaha trumpet and cornet maintenance kit
This kit puts the basic tools for trumpet care in one box. Yamaha’s kit holds valve oil, slide grease, a cleaning snake, two brushes, a polishing cloth, and a care manual. It makes a good first gift for a student with a new trumpet.
BERP for trumpet
The BERP attaches to the trumpet’s receiver and holds the mouthpiece. The player can buzz while holding the trumpet and pressing the valves. Buzzing with the BERP helps beginners build breath support and train the ear.
Korg TM-70T tuner and metronome
The Korg TM-70T is a tuner and a metronome in one pocket-size unit. Its transpose mode can show notes for a B-flat trumpet. Sound Out mode plays a reference note, which helps a player tune by ear.
Bremner sshhmute practice mute for trumpet and cornet (SHP101)
This light plastic practice mute lets a player practice in an apartment or near a sleeping baby. It adds little back pressure. Save it for quiet hours, not for every practice. Amazon sells it under the Selmer name.
Gifts for high school and college players
Most beginners do not need a mute in their first year. After that, band music starts to call for mutes. Jazz band calls for more of them. A mute changes the sound of the trumpet, and each type has its own sound. As our guide to trumpet mutes explains, three mutes and a plunger cover most high school music. The plunger can be a sink plunger from the hardware store.
Humes & Berg Stonelined straight mute (101)
If a band part says “mute” with no other details, the player uses a straight mute. Retailers describe Humes & Berg Stonelined mutes as in tune and easy to blow. This one suits students who play in both concert band and jazz band.
Humes & Berg Stonelined cup mute (102)
After the straight mute, the cup mute is the next one a band player needs. A cup over the end of the mute gives a soft, round tone. It pairs with the 101 straight mute for a student’s first set of mutes.
Harmon aluminum trumpet mute (model B)
Jazz band music calls for the Harmon mute. A hand moving over the end of its sliding stem makes the “wah-wah” sound. Removing the stem gives the tone Miles Davis used (see our list of famous trumpet players).
Protec PRO PAC trumpet case with mute compartment (PB301)
This case suits a student who carries a trumpet to school, lessons, and rehearsals. It has a hard shell under a fabric cover, with room for mutes and small extras. A shoulder strap comes with it (backpack straps are a separate purchase).
Gifts for advanced and professional players
Advanced players own the basics. At this level, better mutes and tools for quiet practice make good gifts. Many professionals have firm favorites, so check with the player before buying a mute.
Denis Wick straight mute for trumpet or cornet (5504)
Denis Wick spins this straight mute from aluminum and fits it with natural cork. The listing promises a bright tone, steady pitch, and a snug fit in the bell. It suits players in orchestras and wind ensembles.
Denis Wick adjustable cup mute for trumpet or cornet (5531)
The cup on this aluminum mute slides to new positions. Each position gives a different tone color. It suits orchestra and studio work.
Yamaha SILENT Brass system for trumpet (SB7J)
This system pairs a pickup mute with a small unit Yamaha calls the Personal Studio. Its Brass Resonance Modeling gives an open, natural sound in the earphones. It suits players who practice at night or in hotels.
Hercules TravLite trumpet stand (DS410B)
A stand keeps the trumpet safe between pieces at a concert or rehearsal. This one has five legs and velvet pads to protect the finish. It folds to fit inside the bell.
Small gifts and stocking stuffers
Every trumpet player needs oil and grease. These small items suit any level. Players use them up, so spares make useful gifts. As our post on trumpet lubricants says, oil and grease are not optional.
Yamaha regular synthetic valve oil
Valve oil keeps the valves smooth and quick. Yamaha says its synthetic oils outlast mineral oils. Yamaha makes this oil in more than one weight, so check which one the player uses.
Yamaha synthetic slide grease (YAC SGRC)
Slide grease keeps the tuning slides moving and helps stop air leaks. This synthetic grease comes in a small tub. A drop of valve oil thins it for the third valve slide, which moves during playing.
Herco HE77 trumpet flex brush
This cleaning snake is coiled steel with a vinyl coat. It cleans the inside of the tubing and the slides. Our guide on how to clean a trumpet explains each step of a full cleaning.
Protec mouthpiece pouch for two mouthpieces (A220ZIP)
A loose mouthpiece can dent a trumpet inside its case. This nylon pouch holds two mouthpieces and closes with a zipper. It suits a player who carries a second mouthpiece.
Books for practice
A good method book gives a player new work each week. The books below run from a first band book to two classics for advanced players. A teacher can help you pick the right one. Our post on what to practice when there’s nothing to practice has more ideas.
Essential Elements for Band, B-flat trumpet book 1
Essential Elements is a method book for students in their first year of band. This edition comes with access to online resources from the publisher. Ask the band teacher which book the class uses.
First Book of Practical Studies for Cornet and Trumpet by Robert Getchell
This book of studies works on rhythms, key signatures, tonguing, and reading. Students can use it with a first band book or after one. It makes a good next step for a young band student.
Arban’s Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet, spiral bound
Arban’s classic method covers scales, slurs, tonguing, songs, duets, studies, and solos. The spiral binding lets it lie flat on a music stand. It suits a serious high school student, a college player, or a professional.
Technical Studies for the Cornet by Herbert L. Clarke
Herbert L. Clarke wrote these studies to help students master hard technical passages. The book works for both cornet and trumpet. It suits high school, college, and professional players.
Gifts that aren’t gear
Gear helps, but practice makes a player better. Lessons with a good teacher make a fine gift at any level. A ticket to a concert with live trumpet is another good choice. Recordings of great trumpet players give a student a sound to aim for.
Happy holidays, and happy practicing.
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