how to take a lesson for brass instruments

• Prepare yourself throughout the week by practicing daily - duh!
  
• Warm up before your lesson by playing a little bit at home before the lesson or at least fluttering your lips and buzzing your mouthpiece. It is more difficult to play a brass instrument cold. If you warm up before your lesson you will sound better, play more confidently, and you might not have to do those boring warm up excercises at the start of the lesson.... :-)
• Don't be afraid to ask questions during the lesson and suggest songs that you would like to learn. Teachers like it when the student gets involved.
• Keep your horn clean and in good playing condition. Players often forgot that a poorly maintained instrument can adversely affect your sound and the instrument's resonance. Oil your valves before the lesson. I've often joked with a student after they've spent part of their lesson oiling their valves, "well, gee, that was nice, remember your paying me to watch you oil your valves"!

Written by Ron Barrow (brass instructor)