Trumpet Articulation

There are a couple of possible things going on here. when we are having problems with Trumpet Articulation.

Physical:

Improper chop setting (too tense creates a seal that will not let air out).
Not timing the elements of the attack together (breath, tongue, air support, air flow).
Sensation (the student does not yet feel the note but relies on sound to make the proper pitch.) A drill combining sight singing and playing can help here.

Mental:

Nerves (I’ve seen people who were so concerned about being wrong that they could not play a scale in front of another person.) This is a tough one and takes a great deal of time.
Being unsure (A sensation drill can solve this.)

Timing:

This is a pretty big reason why trumpet players miss the first note of phrases. We get a mismatch between setting the embouchure, taking a breath and tonguing the note. Taping your foot to the beat is the 1st step to fixing this. The next step is setting and breathing 1/2 a beat before we play. Practice tap your foot and on the upbeat of 4 put the mouthpiece to your lips, take a breath and play 1 note. Working on this timing will be a huge help to your playing especially in a concert or band setting.

Both physical and mental:

This is most likely the case here. Work on the sensation drill and on setting up drills. Play a note remove the horn from the lips. Then reset the embouchure and play a note. This can be used to play hundreds of initial attacks and will lead to more confidence.

Working on your Trumpet Articulation is a huge part of playing well.

Pops