The Modern Pedagogical Potential of the Baroque Natural Trumpet

Due to a break in its practice and pedagogy during the Classical and Romantic Eras, many misconceptions regarding the Baroque natural trumpet remain today. As newly discovered instruments and pedagogical materials have become known and disseminated, a resurgence in the performance of the natural trumpet has occurred, but its practice is still often conceived as wholly separate from modern trumpet technique. This study clarifies long-held misconceptions about the natural trumpet, describes its physical, pedagogical, and technical traits in comparison with the modern trumpet, and demonstrates that its concurrent practice with the modern trumpet is not only possible, but significantly beneficial. Qualities unique to the Baroque natural trumpet bestow upon it tremendous pedagogical potential for its simultaneous study with the modern trumpet. The possible benefits of this concurrent practice include increased embouchure strength, efficiency and endurance, the elimination of even badly entrenched negative habits, stronger fundamental abilities, and a better understanding of the performance of Baroque trumpet music. The plausibility of these pedagogical gains is evidenced by both modern and Baroque pedagogical literature, the scientific principles behind playing both types of trumpet, and the experiences of professional trumpeters who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency on both instruments