Top 6 Best Student Trumpets: Perfect Picks for Budding Musicians

You've made a decision to get into the wonderful world of music. Well, that's one of the best decisions in your life! Music is, after all, one of the best forms of expression. And among the abundance of great instruments that we have to choose today, you've decided to go with a trumpet. Although the instrument has its challenges, it's extremely fun and it can be heard in many different genres. Although many associate it with classical or jazz music, it's not uncommon to see the instrument finding its way in many other genres, even hard rock and other related styles!

But, of course, if you're a beginner, you're most likely wondering about what's the best trumpet for a beginner. After all, you'll need to think of many different features and will have somewhat of a limited budget when you're just starting out. You can't just go out there and buy a professional-level instrument when you've just decided to take up your first lessons. And the choice might not be that easy, especially knowing that there are so many trumpets out there which makes it difficult for a beginner to filter it all out. But this is exactly why we decided to do some research for you and bring you the list of the best student trumpets that you can find today.

Top 6 Best Student Trumpets

Best Budget Trumpet: Eastar ETR-380 Student Trumpet

So we start things off with one simple and affordable trumpet, Eastar ETR-380. The company in question is pretty big in the world of trumpets, so it's no surprise that we've included it here. ETR-380 is a standard Bb trumpet that's pretty great for beginners. Right from the very first notes that you play on it, you immediately realize that it has a very bright and enjoyable tone. This is why it's a great choice for those who are aiming to play lead trumpets in orchestras and bands. In fact, it's tone and qualities can serve you well, even past the beginner stages.

Looking over at build quality, we're pretty surprised to see some of the features with such a cheap instrument. For instance, welding is done pretty well. The valves are also top-notch, at least for this price level.

Of course, it's far from a professional-grade instrument, but it's still more than worth the price. It's all rounded up with a nice-looking design. This trumpet will definitely turn some heads. It's not that like we'd expect anything else from a manufacturer like Eastar. What's more, it comes with a hard case and a very useful trumpet care kit. If you're a beginner on a budget, you can't go wrong with this one.

Best for Intermediate Players: Jean Paul USA TR-330 Student Bb Trumpet

For many years now, Jean Paul USA have worked hard to become one of the best wind instrument and trumpet brands out there. In their great arsenal of instruments, we've decided to take a closer look at TR-330 trumpet. This one is designed as a student instrument, with its features as well as price level aiming at beginners and intermediate players. It's really easy and comfortable to play, and you'll be able to hit any notes accurately and with ease.

TR-330 has a yellow brass lead pipe and it's designed in such a way that it helps you produce very bright but vibrant and full tones. And even if you're performing outside, everyone will be able to hear you loud and clear. Once you get your hands on this instrument, all there's left to do is practice and get better at it.

But since it's really done well, we'd argue that Jean Paul USA's TR-330 is a great instrument for intermediate students. Of course, you can get it even as a beginner, but it will show most of its qualities later on when you get to a slightly higher level.

The instrument also comes with a quality carrying case and a very useful lesson book. So it's definitely a great deal considering its price.

Best for Classical Music: Shoenbach STR-300 B-Flat Trumpet

You won't often find a classical instrument manufacturer that does a great job like Shoenbach. In their great collection of quality-made instruments, we would single out their STR-300 trumpet as one of the best options for music students. The instrument is not exactly in the cheapest category, but it's also not that expensive as well.

But considering its build quality, design, and sound, it's definitely worth the money and our praise. This standard Bb trumpet will be all that you need as a beginner or an intermediate player who's keen on becoming a professional-level musician. It's so great that we'd advise it for those who are looking for a nice long-term instrument.

Now, it's particular build and tone quality are what made us decide that STR-300 is the best option for those who are into classical music. Yes, it can find its place in other genres as well, but this bright and slightly soft tone makes it a great choice for classical music settings. It's also a very light instrument, making it very comfortable for beginners.

Best for the Money: Mendini MTT-40 Intermediate/Advanced Bb Trumpet

Despite an abundance of so many diverse instruments and instrument models these days, it's still hard to find something that's affordable and really great. It's not impossible, of course, but it's still not that easy. After some research and digging, we've realized that Mendini MTT-40 is a pretty great trumpet considering its relatively low price.

Okay, it's not exactly in the budget category, but the price is surprisingly low considering the instrument's overall qualities. The tone is relatively warm, although it keeps all the high-end qualities in there. This makes it a pretty diverse instrument as it can be used in many different genres.

The instrument's valves are pretty smooth, and the instrument features 2-piece nickel valve casings. We also have nickel tuning slides that will help you in precisely adjusting your pitch. Overall, the trumpet might look a little bit unusual compared to other trumpets, but it's still pretty great-looking.

MTT-40 also comes with a carrying case, a care kit, as well as a digital chromatic tuner. And this is another surprise considering its price tag.

Best for Beginners: Windsor MI-1001 Student Bb Trumpet

For quite some time now, Windsor have been making some great instruments of all kinds. As far as trumpets go, we would single out their MI-1001 on this list. Once again, we have a fairly cheap trumpet here, making it a great deal for the price. Of course, this one is not exactly the instrument you'd want to use as an advanced player. Well, you can, but it's not the best one for that purpose. But it's still a great one, and we'd argue that it's pretty much a go-to trumpet for those who are just starting out.

If you're an absolute beginner who's just about to play their first notes on an instrument, Windsor's MI-1001 is definitely something you would want to look into. It's pretty comfortable to play, it's light, and it's far from an expensive one. What's more, it also sounds decent and will be enough to get you practicing and learning as a beginner.

The only downside is that it's advisable that you get a new one when you reach an intermediate stage. It's not like you cannot use it, but there are plenty of better options for those higher levels. On the other hand, this one is a perfect choice for those initial stages of playing, both because of its lower price and overall features.

Best Overall: Jupiter JTR700R Student Bb Trumpet

Lastly, we would like to mention Jupiter and their JTR700R trumpet on this list. Now, this is a more serious instrument. Yes, it's a student trumpet, but it's enhanced with a few important features. In fact, it's dubbed as an "enhanced student trumpet". And, to be fair, in our opinion, it's the best student trumpet that you can find today.

The instrument has stainless steel pistons and a 4.8-inch rose brass bell. It's super comfortable and easy to play, which is not that easy to find in the student instruments category. This is all followed by an amazing and rich tone. It's so great that you can use it for pretty much any genre that you prefer.

However, this comes with its price. This is not exactly the cheapest trumpet out there. The price is justified, but it's something that you should bear in mind. This trumpet should be considered if you're really serious about becoming a great musician. We would recommend it for intermediate players who also need an instrument that will serve them past this level. In fact, it's a semi-professional trumpet that can do a great job in both live or studio settings. It's not cheap, but you just can't go wrong with it.

Things to Consider When Buying the Best Student Trumpet

Choosing the best student trumpet is not exactly the easiest task. However, it's not an impossible one either. This is why we looked into some of the main features of this instrument and have decided to share a few thoughts on what you should consider when buying a student trumpet.

Price

Since you're looking for a student trumpet, there's no need to spend a lot on it. Of course, if you're really serious about it and want to become a professional-level musician, then going over the $500 mark is justified. But you'll be able to find some great stuff even if you go below $200 or even $150.

Build Quality

If we're talking about student trumpets, you don't need some super high-quality level. Even a decent trumpet will be enough. After all, you'll be using it for only a few years. However, if you're looking for something that will serve you for a while, then you'll need to think of some better quality instruments as well. This, however, usually comes with higher prices.

Sound

The trumpet is known for its piercing tone that manages to "push" through the mix of all the other instruments. This is why a brighter tone is usually favored, especially when we're talking about lead trumpet players. However, you should take care that your instrument's tone is not too "thin" and that it covers other parts of the audible spectrum as well.

If it's not intended as a lead instrument, then you can also go with a slightly "warmer" tone. But at the same time, good trumpets should always have an accent on the higher mids and the high-end of the spectrum.

Conclusion

Overall, the trumpet is not the easiest instrument to learn, despite its overall simple features. There's a lot of practice involved, and you have to use different lip aperture techniques in order to use the full range of the instrument. And that's not exactly easy, especially knowing that you have only three pistons at your disposal.

This is why it's important to get a trumpet that's not difficult to play. It should be light, with a soft piston action. And all of the instruments that we mentioned above will serve you well. Just look into them and see what suits your needs.