Free Introductory Lesson
Trumpet Lessons in Colorado Springs, Taught by a Colorado Symphony Trumpeter
The trumpet is the bold, brilliant voice of the brass section. It plays the big melodies in marching band, the fanfares in orchestra, the solos in jazz, and the horn lines in funk, ska, and salsa. Rocky Mountain Academy of Music teaches private trumpet lessons at our studio on North Academy Blvd near Union, for first-year band students, jazz players, and adults alike. Learn trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn from James Liverman, who performs with the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Springs Philharmonic and spent 17 years as a principal trumpet in U.S. Army Bands. Your first lesson is free, so you can meet your teacher and see how lessons work before you commit. Trumpet players from Academy District 20, Widefield D3, and Manitou Springs D14 come to us to build range and endurance for band, jazz band, and auditions.
Who Trumpet Lessons Are For
- Kids and teens in school band who want to keep up, move up a chair, or prepare for honor band, jazz band, and all-state auditions
- Beginners picking up their first brass instrument
- Marching band students who need more range and endurance
- Students preparing for college music auditions
- Adults starting fresh, or getting back to the horn they played in school
What You’ll Learn
Lessons are built around your goals and the music you love, whether that’s classical, jazz, Latin, funk, rock, or ska. Most students work on:
- Breathing and tone. Strong, relaxed air support is the foundation of a full, centered trumpet sound.
- Embouchure. Forming the lips correctly is the biggest factor in range, endurance, and accuracy, and it’s where a teacher makes the biggest difference.
- Building range and endurance safely, without pinching or pressing too hard
- Lip slurs and flexibility, for clean, smooth playing across the horn
- Scales, arpeggios, and articulation, including double and triple tonguing as you advance
- Reading music. We break hard pieces into manageable parts so you can learn them faster.
- Jazz skills. You’ll work on swing feel, playing by ear, and improvisation.
- Audition preparation for honor band, jazz band, all-state, and college auditions
Weekly lessons keep you progressing steadily, and a teacher can catch embouchure and breathing habits early, before they lead to plateaus or sore chops.
Meet Your Trumpet Teacher
James Liverman
A trumpet player with over 32 years of experience who regularly performs with the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, and has performed throughout the United States and Europe.
17 Years in U.S. Army Bands
James served as principal trumpet for the U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus, the 4th Infantry Division Band, the 101st Airborne Division Band, and the 77th Army Band, and has performed as solo cornet and flugelhorn with the Western Missouri Brass Band, Fountain City Brass Band, and the Colorado Brass. Read James’s bio
Book Your Free First Lesson
Tell us a little about the student, and we’ll email you within 24 hours to find a time. Prefer a call or text? Just let us know.
After your free lesson, private lessons start at $149 per month for a weekly 30-minute lesson, with no long-term contract. Rather talk? Call 719-722-0248
“I haven’t played consistently since high school and wanted to start over with trumpet lessons. I’m 47 years old and felt a bit weird going to trumpet lessons, but everyone there was great. The owner was great, my instructor was awesome and it was a pleasure being around other music lovers. I took advantage of their free entry class and am very glad I did. … There is no contract. You can do month-to-month. Very cool place and people.”
Trumpet, Cornet, and Flugelhorn
Most students start on the standard B-flat trumpet. Some school bands use the cornet, which plays the same notes with a mellower sound. Jazz players often add the warm, dark flugelhorn. The fingerings are the same on all three, and we teach them all.
A Little Trumpet History
Trumpet-like instruments are more than 3,000 years old. Two were found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt. For centuries, trumpets were used mainly for signals and ceremonies. Baroque composers like Monteverdi, Vivaldi, and Bach wrote dazzling trumpet parts for players who could only use their lips to change notes. Valves were invented in the early 1800s, letting trumpeters play every note of the scale, and today’s B-flat trumpet has about 4 ½ feet of tubing and three valves.
In the 20th century, the trumpet became the lead voice of jazz. Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Randy Brecker each changed what the instrument could do. Since then, you’ve heard trumpets everywhere from salsa and ska to funk, rock, and pop horn sections.
Play With Other Musicians
The trumpet shines in a group. Our students can join one of our jazz ensembles to learn standards and practice improvising, play horn lines in our rock band program, and perform in student recitals. We also teach trombone, baritone, and tuba, and many brass students take piano lessons to strengthen their music theory and ear training.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can my child start trumpet lessons?
Most students start around age 9 to 11, often when they join school band and their adult front teeth have come in. Adults are welcome at any age.
Do I need my own trumpet?
Yes, you’ll need an instrument to practice at home. Many families rent one through their school or a local music store. We’re happy to help you choose.
How can I play higher notes?
High range comes from air support, embouchure strength, and efficient technique, not from pressing the mouthpiece harder. A teacher can give you exercises that build range safely, so you don’t hit a wall or hurt your lips.
Should I start on trumpet or cornet?
Either one is a great place to start. The fingerings and music are the same. Most students play whichever their school band uses, and switching between them later is easy.
How long are lessons, and what do they cost?
Choose 30, 45, or 60-minute private lessons. Your first lesson is free, and lessons start at $149 per month for a weekly 30-minute lesson after that, with no long-term contract.
Schedule Your Free Trumpet Lesson
Meet James, talk about your goals, and see if lessons are a good fit. Call us at 719-722-0248 or send us a message to book your free introductory trumpet lesson.
Rocky Mountain Academy of Music · 5426 North Academy Blvd, Ste 101 · Colorado Springs, CO 80918