You may have heard this phrase: “Arban’s is the Bible of the trumpet.”
If you have not had the chance to dive into its pages, don’t worry: this post will unpack some of what the book has to offer.
In a post like this, it is almost impossible to display all the aspects of the book—but we will offer you a starting place. Ultimately, working out of this book will be beneficial to you for as long as you play the trumpet.
Before looking at the book itself, you might ask the question:
- Who was Arban?
- Why is his method book so important?
Jean-Baptiste Arban: A Brief Biography
Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825-1889) was known as the “most brilliant cornet player of his time.” His performances established the cornet as one of the most popular solo instruments. Arban’s popularity lasted throughout the mid to late 1800s, and he went on to establish a class for cornet at the Paris Conservatoire in 1869.
Arban dedicated the last years of his life to teaching and improving the intonation/construction of brass instruments. He passed in 1889, but left a legacy for trumpet players across the world.
The Method Book
In 1864, the Grande Méthode Complète pour Cornet à Pistons et de Saxhorn (the first version of what we call the “Arban’s Book”) was first published.
There have since been many editions, including one edited by Tom Hooten and Jennifer Marotta. Carl Fischer currently publishes this edition, among others. While editions may differ slightly in ways, they will all provide the foundation Arban intended.
Check them out! This book is worth the investment.
How do I use the Arban Book?
This ultimately depends on your experience level. In general, each section of the book has a preface that describes the skill being addressed (including instruction on proper technique), followed by a set of progressive exercises. The exercises usually start with simple musical ideas that explore the skill being addressed—then progress in difficulty throughout the section.
In other words: It is okay—even recommended—to move around the book! You do not have to play the sections in order.
Each section will address a specific aspect of playing. Play the exercises within each section in order, but you can skip around and play the larger sections out of order. An exception to this are the Characteristic Studies, which are near the end of the book.
Beginners might find middle and later sections of the book too difficult because of range and other factors, but intermediate and advanced players should regularly work from throughout. For beginners (or advanced players working on transposition), check out the “First Studies.”
What Different Skills Does the Arban Book Cover?
Nearly every single aspect of the trumpet (cornet) is covered in the book’s pages.
- First Studies—pg. 11
- Studies on the Slur—pg. 39
- Major Scales—pg. 59
- Minor Scales—pg. 75
- Chromatic Scales—pg. 76
- Studies on Intervals—pg. 125
- Triple Tonguing—pg. 155
- Double Tonguing—pg. 175
- “The Art of Phrasing,” 150 Classic and Popular Melodies—pg. 191
- 14 Characteristic Studies—pg. 285
These are just a few of the many sections of the Arban book. We encourage you to get one and check them out for yourself—you will be glad you did!
Don't know where to start? Email sam@trumpetwarmup.com and we'll do our best to help!
Double Tonguing
Below appears an example of how Arban will explore a skill. In this case, what appears are the first 3 exercises from the section on “Tonguing in Double Staccato”—more commonly known as “Double Tonguing.”
As one can observe from this example, each exercise introduces a new aspect to the skill being focused on.
From exercise 11 to 12, Arban increased the repetitions of the double tongue from groups of 4 to groups of 6. From exercise 12 to 13, he introduced a more elaborate scale pattern and added additional repetitions. His approach uses systematic elaboration and is present in nearly all sections of the book. In general, each exercise will be slightly more challenging than the last.
These progressive changes allow the player to improve their skill in a particular context before increasing in difficulty. This systematic approach guides the student through progressive skills in a cohesive and clear way—which results in regimented improvement.
At trumpetwarmup.com, we have videos that elaborate on these concepts and utilize the Arban book.
Here's a preview of “Arban's Double Tongue with Ansel Norris”—FULL VIDEO COMING SOON!!
Final Thoughts
Many, if not most, of the world’s best trumpet players use this book regularly—or have studied from it for years. It is one of the most important starting places for pedagogy regarding the trumpet or cornet. As you continue your study in the trumpet, we cannot recommend owning this book enough—it is absolutely essential.
Dive into the “Bible” of trumpet and see what it has to offer!
As always, happy practicing and have fun!
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