In this Trumpet Tune piano lesson, we break down William Duncombe’s classic Grade 1 piece. This is a fantastic study in articulation and precision, requiring the student to imitate the crisp, bright sound of a trumpet on the keyboard.

From the Archives: This is another lesson from my “Theory Kitchen” days. This piece might no longer be part of a current syllabus, however I notice that pieces tend to reappear periodically in different syllabi. In short: no harm learning it.

Lesson Chapters & Technical Highlights

This is a detailed 35-minute breakdown. Use these timestamps to jump to the specific Trumpet Tune piano lesson segment you need to practice:

  • [00:01:27] – The Sideways Shift: Why you should move the hand laterally rather than tucking the thumb, and how broken chord exercises help.
  • [00:02:59] – Coordination Hack: A tip on singing the melody while playing the left-hand part to internalize the piece.
  • [00:11:16] – Articulation Contrast: Practicing the legato right hand against the staccato left hand in bars 5 and 6.
  • [00:12:35] – Introduction to Polyphony: How to split the right hand into two “voices” for the passage in bar 7.
  • [00:21:43] – The Finger-Change Strategy: A close-up look at swapping fingers (1-3 to 2-4) on the same chord to maintain a legato line.
  • [00:34:12] – Full Practice Playthrough: The piece played at a slow practice tempo (80 BPM) with voiceover reminders.
  • [00:35:28] – Performance Speed: The final version at 120 BPM.

Key Practice Pillars

To master this Trumpet Tune piano lesson, focus on these three pillars:

  1. Sideways Confidence: Don’t be afraid to shift the hand. In bars 2 and 3, changing fingers on the same note (E and G) is the secret to a smooth transition.
  2. Separation of Hands: Bars 5-7 are the “busy” spots. Practice the right-hand polyphony quaver-by-quaver before trying to add the left hand.
  3. Supple Wrists: Keep the fingers firm for that “trumpet” sound, but keep the wrist supple to allow for gentle plucking in the piano sections.

Preparing for your first exam?

This lesson is a staple in my Library. If you are preparing for Grade 1, these technical foundations will serve you for years to come.

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