Warm-up is a fundamental activity before playing the trumpet, just like muscle stretching before a sports competition. It has to always be done, regardless of your level, and its duration varies according to individual needs.

The 3 most common warm-up mistakes:

• Starting to play the trumpet right away
• Doing breathing exercises mechanically
• Treating the warm-up as something separate from music

Difference between hobbyists and professionals:

• Hobbyist: plays 4–5 hours per week
• Professional: practices 4–5 hours per day and is officially registered as a professional musician (INPS, teachers, orchestra players)

Warm-up for hobbyists:

• Body and breathing exercises (back, tendons, vocal “OH,” variations of inhalation/exhalation)
• Mouthpiece exercises: fifth and octave range, major scale
• Optional addition of a simple melody on the mouthpiece

Warm-up for professionals:

• Advanced mouthpiece exercises over wide ranges
• Trumpet practice: exercises from the Sachs method, alternating legato and articulations