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The trumpet. A jazz instrument, a brass band instrument, a marching band instrument...
Its never ending. So you want to learn how to play it.

Firstly, if you are a beginner, do not go out and buy the flashiest trumpet you can find. Find a trumpet that is suitable for beginners. I would say Yamaha are the best make for beginners.

Secondly, do not try and pick up a trumpet and expect to be able to play it straight away like a piano. Learning embouchure's for trumpet takes time so don't get frustrated if you do not get it first time.

Lets start with the embouchure. Put your lips to the mouthpiece of the trumpet. the mouthpiece should be positioned in the center of your lips with your lips firmly pressed together. To make the sound, make a buzzing position with your lips, almost as if you are blowing a raspberry. it will take sometime before you get the hang of it. one thing to remember is never puff out your cheeks. it will not produce the right sound and can damage the inside of your mouth.

After sometime trying out playing, it should result in a tuning note either a G or a C. Once this has been achieved, hold the note for as log as possible, keeping it steady and not puffing your cheeks. a relaxed embouchure will produce a C. if you tighten your lips it will produce a higher note but do not try this straight away.

Taking care of the instrument is a vital part in making sure your trumpet playing is at its best. Firstly, the valves will need to be oiled as to stop them sticking down and preventing notes being played. they should be unscrewed, cleaned with a cloth, and then oiled with some valve oil that should have been supplied with the trumpet. secondly, the slides should be greased with some Vaseline or some slide grease to stop them sticking. thirdly, the mouthpiece and tubing can be cleaned by running it through warm soapy water and the through clean water. And lastly the exterior. All trumpets are made from brass and therefore can be cleaned with a duster after use. If it is silver plated, then it can be cleaned with some polish on a clean duster.

Whether or not to stand or sit is also a vital part in the playing of a trumpet. If you are standing, you should stand with your legs bout shoulder width apart. Your elbows should be spread out to allow room for breathing, and the angle of the trumpet should be determined by the angle of your lower jaw. if you are sitting, the angle is the same and you should be sitting up to allow breathing, not slouching as this will make it difficult to breathe.

Once you have mastered these, you are ready to move onto some harder stuff. If you want to listen to some famous trumpet players, some examples are:
Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard and Arturo Sandoval.

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