Erik Veldkamp knows that trumpet players should use a drone daily to improve their playing. It provides a stable reference pitch, helping you develop better intonation and pitch control. Additionally, practicing with a drone allows trumpet players to focus on tone quality and phrasing without the distraction of accompaniment, but with the accountability of a pure and unwavering reference note.

Drone Air & Flow Studies ensure that trumpeters benefit significantly from using a drone while working on airflow and lyrical studies. You can expect to gain:

Consistent Airflow Control: Drones provide a stable pitch reference, allowing trumpet players to focus exclusively on their airflow and breath control. When practicing lyrical passages, maintaining a consistent and controlled stream of air is essential for achieving a smooth and expressive tone. The drone’s sustained sound helps players refine their breath support and control, ensuring a steady and even airflow throughout their performance.

Intonation and Pitch Centering: Even during lyrical studies, intonation remains a crucial aspect of trumpet playing. The drone serves as a reference pitch, helping players develop an acute sense of pitch and pitch centering. This is especially important when playing slower, melodic passages, where any deviation in pitch is more noticeable. Using a drone encourages trumpet players to maintain pitch accuracy while focusing on the expressive aspects of their playing.

Tone Shaping and Dynamics: Lyrical studies often involve subtle changes in tone color and dynamics. With a drone as a reference, trumpet players can experiment with various tone-shaping techniques, such as vibrato and dynamic control, while keeping the pitch stable. This allows for greater musical expression and creativity while ensuring that the fundamental pitch remains accurate.

Phrasing and Musicality: Playing along with a drone can help trumpet players develop a better sense of phrasing and musicality in lyrical passages. They can practice shaping musical lines, adding subtle nuances, and crafting a more emotive performance without worrying about pitch inconsistencies. This enhances their ability to convey the intended mood and emotion of the music.

Using a drone while working on these 8 chapters of lyrical studies will help you refine your breath control, intonation, tone shaping, and overall musicality. It’s a valuable tool for developing a more expressive and controlled playing style, particularly in lyrical and melodic contexts.

To the left, you’ll find samples that you can play on Bb or C trumpet with the audio below. Give it a try, then grab an immediate PDF download above.

Your download includes:

1. Drone Air and Flow Book
2. MP3 Play-Along Drones (Bb Trumpet)
3. MP3 Play-Along Drones (C Trumpet)

Shop The Series

Veldkamp, Drone Flexibility Studies
Veldkamp, Drone Air & Flow Studies
Veldkamp, Drone Articulation Studies
Veldkamp, Drone Scale & Chord Studies

Listen to Erik Perform Study 8.1

Listen to Erik Perform Study 8.3

Listen to Erik Perform Study 8.6

Drone for sample pages (Bb Trumpet)

Drone for sample pages (C Trumpet)