Did you ever fantasize about playing one of these jazzy trumpet verses in Loius Armstrong’s ‘Dream a little Dream of Me’?
Are your children excited to learn a new instrument that makes them stand out and participate in school concerts?
Choosing to learn the trumpet is a bold decision, difficulties start when you think about which trumpet to get. Let me tell you my friend, you’re off to a bumpy road. But, it’s so worth it.
Unlike other products, where the pricier it is, the better quality you get. Price won’t be much of an indicator here. As many cheap trumpets perform well and some of the most expensive ones are just hyped and overpriced without presenting any real value.
Let’s dive deeper and see how to choose the Best Student Trumpets for Beginners.
Best Student Trumpet Reviews
Now let’s review some of the best trumpets on the market, specifically tailored for beginners.
Best Overall: Jean Paul USA TR-330 Standard Student Trumpet
Let’s start off the list with a trumpet that proves our claim -that you can find an affordable good-performing trumpet-, true. The Jean-Paul TR-330 is an existing proof!
This beautiful brass trumpet with its elegant gold lacquer finish is the real deal. It helps you achieve balance by providing you with a 1st valve slide thumb saddle, in addition to a 3rd valve slide with an adjustable ring.
It seems like Jean Paul’s manufacturers have thought everything through, the trumpet comes with a decent black case with padded straps, so that it’s comfortable and easy to carry to your trumpet lessons.
All the requires accessories are there as well; the gloves, the cleaning cloth, the valve oil, and most importantly a 7C mouthpiece.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Exquisite quality compared to price
- Great customer service
Runner Up: Kaizer TRP-1000NK Standard B Flat Bb Student Trumpet
This trumpet is one of our favorites. It has it all, pure sound, elegant shape, and easy operation. On top of that its price tag is reasonable. Definitely, it provides the best value for a beginner’s trumpet.
Kaizer TRP-1000NK features a 0.464 inches bore and a 5 inches bell. Made especially for student trumpeters, this product comes with a 7C mouthpiece to help them during the learning process.
It comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, in addition to a free-limited-45 days trial. Such options reflect the manufacturer’s confidence in their product.
For stylish people out there, you’ll be happy to hear that this is one of the most beautiful instruments on the list. Available in 7 different colors, you’ll surely find something that appeals to you.
We, personally, love the Lacquer Rose Brass version. The rose gold, brass, and silver fusion is stellar!
What We Like
- Available in multiple colors
- Reasonable price
- 7C Mouthpiece optimal for beginners
Premium Pick: Yamaha Trumpet Bb YTR 2330S Standard
No matter how familiar you are with the world of musical instrument, you must have heard about a Yamaha instrument once or twice in your life. The Japanese company has established a strong position in the music industry market over the years. You can’t go wrong with a Yamaha instrument.
Off to our trumpet here, the Yamaha Bb YTR 2330S. Its weight is well-balanced, which is why it’s best suited for kids who’re trying to learn the trumpet. Vibrant crisp sound is guaranteed, thanks to the two-piece bell.
The downside to this product is its valves. They’re not the best you can get for such a price honestly. Multiple users have reported that they’re clogged or stuck after a while. This can hinder the learning process of an amateur, especially kids.
However, the sticky valves problem will be present to some extent in any entry-level trumpet. That’s the justification for the lower price tag.
Yamaha stands by its products and cares about its customers, they offer a 5-year warranty for this trumpet.
What We Like
- Impressive quality
- Reliable and
- Five-year Yamaha warranty
Best Value: Mendini by Cecilio Gold Trumpet Brass Standard Bb Trumpet
It’s understandable that you as a beginner, or a parent who’s getting a trumpet for their kids to try out, would be looking for an ‘affordable’ trumpet.
Here’s where Menini Brass Trumpet stands out, offering the cheapest price on the market while maintaining a top-notch quality and crisp sound.
Mendini trumpets are ideal for students and beginners; they’re made of sturdy brass and phosphorus copper.
According to the manufacturer’s specs, this is a medium-large trumpet with a 0.46-inch bore and a 5-inch bell. The buttons are easy to use, 3 smooth keys and 3 action valves.
When purchasing this trumpet, you’ll get an all-inclusive package. Featuring a pair of white gloves, a nylon hard-shell case, a cleaning cloth, and a valve oil bottle.
It’s available in 8 distinct colors. Ranging between regular gold and silver, all the way up to red, purple, and blue! Different colors have slight price differences though.
What We Like
- Cheap
- Smooth airflow
- Solid build
- 1-year warranty against manufacturers defects
Fancy Option: Bach TR300H2 American Student Trumpet
If you have some money to spare, or if you’re someone who’s sure of their trumpet practice. Then you should aim for something a bit advanced. This is what Bach TR300H2 is made for.
The renowned brand has been manufacturing premium trumpets since 1925, so this is an indication of what kind of quality to expect of such a trumpet.
The valves are precisely made of Montel metal, with a nylon valve guide for silent transitions. It’s really straightforward to use and sounds like a truly professional trumpet.
You, as a student, will be able to try different sounds and experience the full range of the trumpet’s voices without being afraid of breaking it.
Just like most options on the list, it comes with a durable case that’s interiorly cushioned and padded to protect your instrument, with plenty of space for accessories. It also comes with shoulder straps for added portability.
What We Like
- Comes with a double-walled case & shoulder straps
- Superb quality
Best for Kids: Glory Brass Bb Trumpet
Here’s another affordable trumpet for your amateur trumpeters out there. This Glory Brass Bb trumpet will get the job done, don’t expect more from it!
The standard-sized trumpet is recommended by music teachers as a means of practicing or kids who are learning to play the trumpet. Reasons for this are many; it’s cheap, produces an okay sound, made of solid brass, comes with a 7C mouthpiece, and has all accessories included. For this price, it;s such a bargain.
It comes in 5 colors to suit all tastes. Don’t expect it to sound as rich and profound as a real trumpet, but it produce nice sounds. Most importantly, your kid will explore it fearlessly, which is good at the beginning of his practice.
We’d recommend this trumpet for young kids whose main focus is home practice.
What We Like
- Cheap
- Lightweight
Classic Option: Jupiter JTR700 Standard Series Student Bb Trumpet
Despite being pricey, we couldn’t help but include this amazing trumpet on our list.
Jupiter JTR700 is a world-class trumpet, tailored for learners who aim to thrive in the field of music. It’s built with great attention to detail and eminent intonation, to resemble a real professional trumpet on stage.
The problem of sticky valves isn’t present here and this is Jupiter’s strong suit. The valves are made of stainless steel, this guaranteed smooth operation and reliability. You need not to worry about these wearing out as you age.
It’s available in a lacquered brass or silver plated colors. Both extremely elegant and old-fashioned, in a good way. Honestly, this is a good investment to make if you’re sure your child is going to continue his/ her trumpet practice.
What We Like
- Easy to play with
- Reliable valves
- Crisp sound
Honrable Mention: Hawk WD-T313 Bb Trumpet
One of Amazon’s choice entry-level instruments is Hawk WD-T313 and in our opinion, it deserves this spot!
It looks like it came out of an 80s jazzy night, in all the nine colors it’s available in, this trumpet will catch people’s eyes!
Technically speaking, this is a Bb trumpet with an 0.46 inches and a 4.84 inches ball diameter. It’s made of silver, so it’s so lightweight, these trumpets are manufactured in China.
The lightweight results in relatively faint sounds, but they suffice for practice. You’re not going to a concert with this after all!
It only comes with a case, no other accessories included. The main pitfall is that the manufacturers don’t provide a warranty for this product.
Honorable Mention: Prelude TR711 Bb Lacquered Student Trumpet
Finishing off our list with this prestigious underdog, the Prelude TR711.
It has a two-piece yellow brace bell alongside with a red brass mouth pipe. Moreover, it comes with a 7C mouthpiece from Vincent Bach.
For people who’re familiar with the music industry, this trumpet comes from a trusted name; Conn-Selmer. Maybe this is one of the reasons this trumpet is recommended by many music teachers across the US.
Concerning price, it’s considered mid-range. But, it’s worth its price and it has received positive feedback from reviewers. So, why not give it a try?
What We Like
- Vibrant sound that suits any genre
- Quality valves
Student Trumpet Buying Guide
Okay, it looks nice. Feels good in my hands and the brass color is really appealing.
How as a beginner can I know if this trumpet is the one for me (or your child)?
The key things you want to consider are:
- Intonation
- Bell & Bore
- Valves
- Mouthpiece
Lets take a look at each.
Intonation
Another important thing to try yourself is the intonation, any decent musical instrument should have consistent intonation. Meaning, there are no sudden out of context sharp or flat tones.
Ideally, you should look for a versatile trumpet that works for all genres equally. Some prefer a jazzy vibe as opposed to a Latin one, but we recommend something in between as a starting kit.
Bell & Bore
Bell and bore diameters tell a lot about a trumpet’s sound quality. For a mid-range you’ll find them almost within the same band; about 0.458 to 0.466 inches for the bore and 4.6 to 5 inches bells.
The wider the bore is, the higher the sound it produces. While the wide bell means sharper and richer sounds.
Valves
This is the most prominent part of the trumpet. You should look for smooth valves, with adjustable first and third valves.
Look for people’s reviews to check for valve’s smoothness and whether they clog or not.
Mouthpiece
A trumpet’s mouthpiece is the part of the instrument players put in their lips and it connects them to the main body of the trumpet through a conical cavity.
For beginners, especially kids, getting the right mouthpiece makes a huge difference.
Other Factors to Consider
Cornet vs.Trumpet
When shopping for a trumpet for your kid, you’ll probably hear this advice: Get them a cornet instead.
Why? Because it’s for their small hands.
This is true to some extent, and there’s not much difference between cornets and trumpets, so it isn’t a terrible decision but must trumpet instructors suggesting starting with an actual trumpet whenever possible.
If your kid finds holding the trumpet problematic, you can opt for a cornet first. If not, there’s no need to do so. The earlier you get in business, the better.
Cleaning
You’ll notice that most of the options on our list have a cleaning cloth among its accessories. This is because no matter whether you’re a beginner or a pro you should thoroughly clean your trumpet after every time you use it.
Fingerprints, water stains at the bell, and dust. All need to be cleaned regularly. It won’t take more than 30 to 60 seconds. So, no need to be lazy honestly.
The purpose isn’t just to get a clean shiny trumpet, but to prevent erosion and discoloring on the long run. You want to do that especially if you’re going to invest in a medium to high budget trumpet.
Get Bored? Not problem
The thing with learning a new instrument is that you or your kids might be interested for some time, then after you try out and see how much effort and practice you need to put in, you cave.
It’s a common occurrence when it comes to sports and music. Luckily, if this happens to you, no need to worry about your trumpet. You can resell your used trumpet at a reasonable price.
In either case, you won’t be a loser. Furthermore, there no reason to buy a cheap instrument because you’re afraid your kids aren’t going to like it. Invest in a decent trumpet instead, it’s more likely they’ll love their music practice that way.
Cheaper Price
If a real professional trumpet should be expensive. How on earth are these beginner trumpets so cheap compared to professional ones?
Manufacturers assess our needs and budgets and produce instruments accordingly. Hence, to provide you with an entry-level trumpet, some will cut corners to cut down the price.
This includes using humble valves that are sticky and can be easily clogged. Plus using cheap manufacturing materials for the body itself, which results in poor sound and can easily scratch or even worse, bend or break down.
Beware not to be fooled by the reduced price tags. Even these come at a price!
Wrap Up
There you have it, our top 10 picks for the best student trumpets for beginners, alongside a detailed manifesto on how to choose the one that suits your needs best.
If it were up to us, we’d recommend the Jean Paul USA TR-330 to be our roundup winner. It strikes the balance between quality and affordability just right and we think this should be your priority when you’re looking for an entry-level instrument.
That’s all we have from the Jazzy world of trumpets. We hope we have helped alleviate some confusion off your head!
