Essential Items for Your Music Bag

What to be a model student? Here is a list of some essential items for your music bag:

• Pencil/eraser - Never be without a pencil, you don't want to repeatedly forget an accidental or miss a cut in the music.
• Tuner - It is especially important to be in tune if you're playing within an orchestra. The picture below shows the Trevor James Clip on tuner, read a review here. This particular tuner is very portable and allows you to check the tuning of each note while playing a piece as it clips onto the instrument.
• Practice book/journal - A great place to record what you have to work on and your time spent practicing each week. I would recommend the ABRSM Practice book (shown in the picture below), but an notebook will do the job perfectly. What to know how to keep a practice journal? click here. 
• Manuscript paper/book - Useful for writing out any transpositions. The picture below shows the Mickey Mouse manuscript book. 
• Pegs - essential for busking or outdoor concerts so avoid the embarrassing moment that your music blows away! The picture below shows the K&M Sheet music Clips.
• Portable metronome - Useful if you need to practice a tricky passage on the go.
  

8 Things Every Musician Should Own

This is a small list of a few items I would recommend to all musicians:

1. Metronome
A metronome is essential tool for a musician to ensure correcting timing and tempo. I would recommend downloading 'Metrotime' from the App store for free: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/metronome/id416443133?mt=8

2. Tuner
If you want to make sure you are in tune, a tuner is an essential item. I would recommend the 'Trevor James Chromatic Clip-on tuner': http://thetrumpetplayer.blogspot.com/2013/09/trevor-james-jmt-9006c-tuner-review.html  or download 'Cleartune' for £2.49 from the App store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cleartune-chromatic-tuner/id286799607?mt=8  

3. Music Stand
Get a folding stand to take to rehearsals and I would recommend a more durable orchestral stand for home use - especially if you are using the Arban! Check out K&M stands: http://www.k-m.de/en

4. Practise Book
If you have lessons, then I would definitely recommend getting some sort of practise book. This means that you teacher can write down important things for you to practise. If you don't have lessons then a practise book is still useful the right down things you have practised and what you need to focus on next session.

5. Pegs
If you are a member of ensembles, or busk then pegs are a must for outdoor gigs/concerts to prevent those sheets from flying off into the audience. (They are also useful for keeping the Arban on your stand!)

6. Lots of Sheet Music
Try and have a collection of many different styles of music - useful for sight reading practise too!

7. Recordings of Your Favourite Musicians
Listening to musicians that inspire you can real help to motivate you.

8. An Instrument Stand
I like to keep my trumpet out on its stand all the time. I find that it really motivates me to practise and makes it easier just to pick up and play. Find a suitable sturdy stand that is going to keep your instrument safe. Here is a review of a couple of trumpet stands: http://www.thetrumpetplayer.blogspot.com/2013/01/trumpet-stands.html

Trevor James JMT-9006C Tuner Review

I recently purchased the Trevor James JMT-9006C Clip-on Chromatic Tuner and really like it. It not only is a tuner, but also a metronome - two essential items for all musicians. It easily clips onto the bell of my trumpet (it only works when clipped onto the instrument), so I can check my notes are in tune while playing. It is very good quality, with a very clear display and the screen moves so it can easily be used with any instrument. It also has a backlight option (perfect for orchestra pits etc).

Backlight Function

The metronome function is very easy to use and is loud enough to be heard over the sound of the trumpet (a problem I often find with conventional tuners).

A highly recommended tuner and metronome for any musician. £24.99 from Woodwind Warehouse. https://www.woodwindwarehouse.com/Accessories/Forflutes/TrevorJames/TransposingcliponMetronome-Tuner