Did I just waste my money buying Arban's Trumpet book?

I have used the various exercises and scale in the Arbans book since I began playing trumpet when my teacher insisted I work from the Arbans book. The key for you is to have a teacher help you understand how to play the exercises and gain the benefit from Arbans book. You must have a competent instructor to get the best from Arbans book! Would someone read the Bible without having preacher or minister guide them in the meaning of the Bible? Of course you would have a minister or preacher guide you in the Bible and so you must have a trumpet teacher guide you with the Arbans book. The Arbans book is a lifetime reference book for trumpet players and is a helpful book to learn how to play various trumpet scales,phrases,chords,embellishments and other trumpet techniques! So as far as spending money for the Arbans book....you made a fine purchase that you can work with the reat of your life. So you say lessons are not available in your country? You do obviously have use of a computer so I suggest go to You Tube youtube.com open a free account there and browse the many how to play trumpet videos. You will be suprised how much you can learn from You Tube how to videos. But that is only a start. Browse the internet for other websites that have trumpet lessons. A very good one with many trumpet players is trumpetmaster.com . Good luck to you and don't give up your desire to play trumpet:)

Arban's doesn't replace a teacher, and it doesn't teach you how to play jazz. However, it's one of the standard studies collections that's worked well for over a century, and it's great for getting your "instrument" chops together – IMHO, you haven't wasted your money at all.

To balance things up jazz-wise, I'd be learning some of the great players' solos – either write them out first or just play along by ear, whichever method works for you. Don't spend money on books of transcriptions – it's much better (and cheaper) if you do the transcribing yourself.

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well arban's is one of the most renowned book around but its hard and is for more advanced players. so if you dont have a teacher and your still not that good then yes you wasted your money.