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The Ergonomic Trumpet Player:
Hand Position in Trumpet Artistry

As I have watched trumpet students audition for honor bands in South Carolina over the past years, one striking similarity has jumped out in my experience. No matter what the age or background of the student, the players who are more relaxed, produce more characteristic tone, and thus, have a better audition are the students who have been told or naturally discovered that they are more comfortable holding the instrument when the angle of the valve body closely approximates the angle of the left forearm.

Close analysis of this observation brings several facts to mind:

1.  The human wrist is most relaxed with the arm when it is straight - utilizing the muscles of the forearm to fully support the instrument.

2. Students who insist upon holding the valve body perpendicular to the floor invariably "crunch" the left arm into the left rib cage thereby restricting the ability to breath and creating unnecessary tension in the body.

3. Unnatural or binding positions for the arms create tension in the shoulders, neck, throat and jaw producing a negative impact on the production of a full, relaxed, characteristic trumpet tone.

4. Tension of any abnormal amount in performance tends to reduce the overall musicality of the performance. 

Think of the last time you performed with a large amount of physical or mental tension. Was it your best presentation? Did you gain a high degree of satisfaction from the performance? Did you communicate completely and accurately the musical content of the composer’s or arranger’s work? There can be exceptions to these generalities, but I am certain most people would have to answer a resounding "NO!" to all of these questions.

In the interest of student performance, progress, and satisfaction, make certain to check your young trumpet players for correct, relaxed hand position. If you give this one factor the same attention as the use of the infamous third-valve slide, you will hear a remarkable improvement in the tone quality of that section. The beneficial by-product of this increased relaxation will be a mental attitude more conducive to progress.

Wouldn’t it be worth the time to carefully examine the hand position of all of your instrumental students in the interest of tone quality? You and the students will be the winners for the extra effort and attention to an often overlooked detail.

John R. Spitler
Director of Bands
Moultrie Middle School
Mount Pleasant, SC