The term 'PLAYED THE TRUMPET' can be summarized by two crossword solutions: 'BLEW' (4 letters) and 'BLARED' (6 letters). 'Blew' is a verb that means to produce a current of air with the mouth or an instrument, while 'blared' is a verb that means to make a loud, harsh sound. Both words refer to the act of playing a trumpet, which is a brass instrument that produces sound when air is blown through it.