Constantin Dimitrescu - Rustic Dance

Dans ţărănesc (also known as "Peasants Dance" or "Rustic Dance") is a composition by Constantin Dimitrescu (1847 - 1928), one of Romania's most important composers from its late romantic period.
Originally written for cello, was transcribed for many different arrangements. The one I've heard the most during my school years was on violin.
Here's a transcription for trumpet. This is how I intend the arrangement to sound:
And here are some backing tracks with piano at different tempos:
90 BPM
80 BPM
And here is weird one, more "hip" I guess. I made it for a student that wanted a more modern approach to it. It's 90 BPM.
You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

     

Here is the orchestral version of it:

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.

Cheers and happy learning,

Mihai

Herbie Hancock - Chameleon

I think you can't fully appreciate the modern funk or pop music which was heavily influenced by funk, if you don't know a bit about the roots.
So, my goal was to familiarize my pupils (9 to 15 years old) with a classic funk groove and to put the focus on brass instruments outside the marching band, in a more fun & groovy context.
The song was composed by Herbie Hancock, has a characteristic bass line and is set to a funk beat. For the most part, the song is built on a two-chord vamp.

• First, this is a transposed version, so it's easy for a beginner/ medium level to play it. This started as an example for the bass player, so, the groove was transposed to have open strings.
• Second, the arrangement is made for kids, so, some notes were changed in the unison and the theme passes from one instrument to another. The kids have a limited range of notes they can play.

This is how I intend the arrangement to sound:
You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

        

Here's the original:

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

The Legend of Zelda - Main Theme

Here we go with a bit of more computer game related music. This one has an orchestral/ classical feel. "The Legend of Zelda Theme", also known as the "Overworld Theme", is a recurring song in the Legend of Zelda series. It serves as the main theme for most games in the series. It was composed by the now famous Kōji Kondō for use in the original game, The Legend of Zelda.

And here is the backing track:

It doesn't seem too fast, but when you play it, 120 BPM is a quite difficult tempo to play the second line... I had to practice a bit to be able to play it on flugelhorn. While some 12-16 years old could play the first part, for the second part you need a bit more flexibility and experience. 

You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Triforce and SS Ancient Hylian fonts were used in the Musescore sheet:
https://zeldauniverse.net/media/fonts/ 

Click the image to download the format you want:

        

For the MuseScore sheet to look as I intended, you have to download the "Triforce" and "SS Ancient Hylian" fonts from here:
http://zeldauniverse.net/media/fonts/

Here's one of the versions I took as reference for my backing track:

Or the "old school" 8bit version recorded directly from the old game.

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

One Direction - Best Song Ever

It seems that you just can't avoid boy bands if you have to deal with the young generation... Actually any generation... The Jackson 5, New Kids On The Block, N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Take That... etc...

Of course the kids in my class wanted a One Direction song, so I did this for them:

It's a shorter version with some easy to play parts, targeted at pupils of 10-14 years old playing for approximately one year.
Here is a backing track, so you can play on top of it:

You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

        

And here's the original version:

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Trumpet Aerobics - simple pentatonic scale up and down in a chromatic pattern

Here is a little "doodle" from my "Trumpet Aerobics" daily exercises.
It's a simple minor pentatonic scale up and down in a chromatic pattern. Nothing too fancy, just something that should be in your instrument practicing from day to day. Try different articulations, don't force, keep it comfortable, don't rush.
You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

          

Disclaimer: I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material. All material used here are for informative and educational purposes.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Donna Lee + Melodic Solo Study

There are some jazz standards that scare many beginners or even medium level improvisers (me included). One of them is "Donna Lee" (attributed to Charlie Parker, now appears as composed by Miles Davis) and based on the chord changes of the song "(Back Home Again in) Indiana" composed by Ballard MacDonald and James F. Hanley in 1917.

Roughly, the form can be seen as A-B-Av-C.

Let's start by learning the theme and playing it over a mildly slow backing track.

Here's the lead sheet as PDF in C, B♭ and E♭. Click the image to download it.

I've made a simple solo, medium level, on the "Donna Lee" chord changes. I played it on flugelhorn over a backing track previously linked here. Here's how it sounds:

And here is the music sheet for B♭ instruments. Click the image to download it. 

After you manage to play it on this slow tempo, you might want to try playing it over more backing tracks at a faster tempo. Here are some of my favorites from YouTube:

     

For more useful information about Donna Lee, form, history and context in the jazz culture, see here:

http://www.playjazznow.com/?s=donna+lee

and

http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-1/donnalee.htm

chord progression for C, Bb and Eb instruments + backing track
http://www.learnjazzstandards.com/jazz-originals/donna-lee/
and a "stress free" leson by Steve Neff
http://www.neffmusic.com/blog/product/stress-free-donna-lee-lesson/

By downloading the provided files you accept the following terms:
You may use the provided backing tracks for:

• practice;
• recording/filming yourself soloing on top of it, and posting on YouTube or similar free services;
• use in a live performance/show. 

You may not:

• use it for commercial purposes (put it on a CD and sell it, sell it online, etc)

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Tetris Theme Song

Computer games are probably the most popular entertainment, so, while brainstorming with my pupils we came up with the idea of making a computer game soundtrack concert. Tetris theme song was one of the first to pop out as a request.
Here's how it sounds:
And here is a backing track, so you can play on top of it:

You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

           

"Korobeiniki" is a nineteenth-century Russian folk song based on a poem with the same name by Nikolay Nekrasov. Due to its increasing tempo and the dance style associated with it, it quickly became a popular Russian folk song.
"New Tetris" font used for the Musescore sheet:
https://www.fontspace.com/new-tetris-font-f8802

Outside Russia, "Korobeiniki" is widely known as the "Tetris theme song", from its appearance in Nintendo's 1989 version of the game.
More info about it in Wikipedia.
Here's the original version:

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Marcus & Martinus - Elektrisk

This arrangement has a bit of more Norwegian background.
Marcus & Martinus are two pretty famous Norwegian twin brothers who won "Melodi Grand Prix Junior" (that's the Norwegian name of "Junior Eurovision Song Contest") in 2012 and since then, thet have a pretty successful musical career.
One of their most popular songs is "Elektrisk" (English: "Electric"), and of course my pupils requested a version of it.

After making some cuts, rearranging some parts, ended up with a shorter version which we played with a small group of brass and wind instruments. Top voice was flute, and the bass line was taken by a baritone horn. Now I rearranged the rearrangement and made it for trumpets and band.
Here's how it sounds:
And here is a backing track so you can play on top of it: You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

         

First voice is a bit high for beginners. Originally was written for flute, but a medium level pupil could play it. However, there is an alternate version, one octave lower.
Second voice is pretty easy, while third voice is for very beginners (first year of playing).

If needed, HERE's an arrangement for other instruments (flute, clarinet, horn...etc) which is compatible with the trumpet arrangement and the backing track, but can be used also as a standalone arrangement, without backing track.

Here's the original version:

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Rock The Blues - easy one note tune

This one is for people who start, probably first lesson or second, still, a fun one to play.

After you're able to produce a "buzzing" with your lips, you'll probably be able to play a note on trumpet. That's all we need for this tune. Don't press any piston, just play "au naturel".
Most likely you played a C, so, now count 4 beats (one empty bar) and play that note on the second bar for 4 beats.
Repeat until the backing track ends.

If you managed to play the first variation, here's a more complicated one:

"Swing" means that the first eight note is slightly longer than the second.

Here's an article on Wikipedia about swing. Check it out, it's nice, with video examples and easy theory explained very clear.
If the theory terms are a bit confusing and unknown, just try to catch the rhythm "by ear" from my example. So, listen to this one:

And here is a backing track so you can play on top of it:


Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Adele - Rolling in the Deep

Adele is quite a popular singer between my pupils, so, some of them asked me to make a transcription of "Rolling in the Deep". I took the liberty to rearrange some parts, to cut out some and to simplify the rhythm, but I kept most of the elements that makes it recognizable.

This is targeted at beginners with a modest ambitus and resistance. I work on that with pupils of 10-14 years old who play trumpet for one or two years.
Here's how it sounds:
And here is a backing track so you can play on top of it:

You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

           

Some information from Wikipedia: "Rolling in the Deep" is a song recorded by British singer Adele for her second studio album, 21. The song was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. The singer herself describes it as a "dark blues-y gospel disco tune".
The song reached number one in 11 countries and the top five in many more regions. It was Adele's first number-one song in the United States, reaching the top spot on many Billboard charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 where it was number one for seven weeks.
Here's the original version:

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

The Remix - easy level pop mashup

Technically more of a potpourri of popular themes from mainstream music, transcribed, transposed and arranged for a small group of wind or brass instruments.

• Avicii - Hey Brother 
• Pharrell Williams - Happy 
• Avicii - Wake Me Up 

This is targeted at beginners with a modest ambitus and resistance. I work on that with pupils of 10-14 years old who play trumpet for one or two years.
And here is a backing track so you can play on top of it: You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

 

There is a main part written in B♭ and the bass & chords in real concert pitch (or as some might say "in C").


Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Queen - We Will Rock You

One of the most famous rock songs, "We Will Rock You" is written by Brian May and was recorded and performed by the band "Queen". It has a very catchy and iconic beat; stomp-stomp-clap-pause which is recognizable by all generations.

Who said we can't play rock on trumpet? Here's how it sounds:
And here is a backing track, so you can play on top of it:
You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.
Click the image to download the format you want:

  

Because it goes from C1 to A1 it is suitable for very beginners (age 8-10, first year of trumpet studying). I got pretty good results with small groups, putting them to stomp and clap. 

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Chris Medina - What Are Words

"What Are Words" is a very emotional song from Chris Medina's repertoire, written by Rodney Jerkins, Andre Lindal and Lauren Christy as a tribute to his fiancée who suffered a brain injury as the result of a car wreck and is about promises, commitment and keeping your word.
The song got really popular in Norway and many of my pupils requested me to arrange it for trumpet, which I did and it sounds like this:

And here is a backing track, so you can play on top of it:

You may download the music sheet as PDF, or in MuseScore format, so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize it to your own needs.

Click the image to download the format you want:

          

The highest note is a D2, so it would be pretty easy for a second year of studying trumpet. However, there is a second line, easier.

Here's the original version:

Disclaimer: All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. I don't accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liability, injury or upset caused to or suffered by you as a result of misusing this material.
Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

Welcome

Hi there
My name is Mihai Sorohan and I've been a professional trumpet player for quite a while now. At the moment I work as a trumpet teacher in Norway.
This is a page where I share my teaching resources, my practicing routines, solutions I found while trying to fix my own playing mistakes and maybe interesting finds that concerns trumpet playing.
Some of the lessons are targeted to my pupils, some of them being 8 or 9 years old, studying music just for fun, so, kind of beginner level, while some lessons are targeted to a more professional level. You'll find a search by label function that will direct you to what you're looking for.

Most of the material can be easily transcribed and transposed to fit other instruments, if you need.
All the music sheet are created with MuseScore. I'll provide the project files so you can edit, transpose, transcribe and customize to your own needs.

All materials are properties of their owners, and are used here for informative and educational purposes. Cheers and happy learning,
Mihai

photo by Marina Sorohan