Many players over analyze everything.  It is not my intention to do so here with this topic.  However, many beginners and "comeback" players lack confidence and/or have problems with their mouthpiece placement and "attack."  By attack, I mean the articulation or commencement of the tone after inhalation.  While the term "attack" is commonly used in trumpet literature such as Arban's method, I prefer the term, "release," as it more accurately describes what actually happens at the start of the tone.

I offer the following as a prescription for overcoming the physical hesitation and mental anguish associated with this topic.

Every time you place the mouthpiece on the lips in practice, do it in this order:

1. After standing or sitting with proper posture, relax.
2. Take a few slow, deep breaths while concentrating on the task.
3. With mouthpiece in horn, raise horn in front of face with mouthpiece off mouth.
4. Moisten your lips before placing the mouthpiece.
5. Form your mouth in a relaxed position with lips gently together as in pronouncing "MMM."
6. Place the mouthpiece at least 1/2 on each lip with a preference towards more on the upper lip but no more than 2/3 on upper lip.
7. Let the brunt of the pressure lie on the lower lip, although, if you let the air do the work, pressure will be minimized.
8. Breath through the corners of your mouth without letting the center of your lips separate one from the other. It will take some experimenting with moving your tongue in during inhalation, but you will find after awhile that you will be able to inhale lung-fulls of air quickly and remain relaxed.
9. Immediately after the end of inhalation, place the tip of your tongue lightly in the position I recommend  for "K" Tongue Modified.
10.Commence your "Attack" (Release, actually).
11.All subsequent breaths must be taken in the same manner.
12.Stick to this order of events every time.

Trumpet Related Articles        Check out Fundamental Flexibility Studies by Matt Graves