| Choosing a brass musical instrument to start | | | | incorporates bugles, trumpets, flugelhorns and |
| playing may seem quite a daunting prospect. | | | | cornets. There are subtle differences between |
| There are several factors to keep in mind such | | | | these instruments in appearance, sound and |
| as cost, the player's physical size and weight | | | | playing technique. Buglists are sought after by |
| capabilities and availability of teachers of that | | | | brass bands, particularly military bands. |
| instrument (there are some very good online | | | | Trumpets |
| databases to assist you in finding qualified | | | | The trumpet is a popular choice of brass |
| teachers in your area). The key consideration to | | | | instrument. It is ideal for the beginner. Trumpets |
| bear in mind when choosing a brass instrument is | | | | are used in a wide variety of music genres, which |
| that playing it should be fun! It's a good idea to | | | | should help to keep learning interesting. Trumpets |
| choose your instrument according to which genre | | | | are convenient to transport and store and are |
| of music you like. For example, if you want to | | | | relatively inexpensive. |
| play jazz, there is no sense in learning the | | | | Flugelhorn |
| euphonium, whereas trumpets are popular in all | | | | Like the trumpet and cornet, the flugelhorn |
| genres. Some musicians get a kick from playing in | | | | belongs to the bugle family of brass musical |
| an orchestra. Others opt to go solo. It's a good | | | | instruments. It is similar to the trumpet but its |
| idea for the budding musician to keep in mind at | | | | sound is slightly sweeter. Flugelhorns are widely |
| the outset an idea of the general direction he | | | | used in a variety of music types, from classical to |
| would like to go in. After all, what started out as a | | | | traditional brass band music, and are very popular |
| hobby may flourish to become a lucrative career, | | | | in jazz. |
| and what better than to be paid for playing the | | | | Cornets |
| music you love! | | | | The cornet is similar to the trumpet, but with a |
| Musical Genres | | | | slightly more melodic sound. Cornets are ideal for |
| A classical symphony orchestra will usually feature | | | | beginners because they are more compact than |
| tenor trombones, a bass trombone, a tuba, | | | | trumpets, which makes them easier to hold. |
| trumpets and horns. | | | | Cornets are a vital component of a traditional |
| A traditional brass band will incorporate a soprano | | | | brass band but, like the trumpet, their musical |
| cornet, euphoniums, a bass trombone, a | | | | range is extensive. Cornets are relatively |
| flugelhorn, baritones, tenor trombones, tubas, | | | | inexpensive to buy. |
| cornets and tenor horns. | | | | Euphoniums and Tubas |
| Big bands used in swing and jazz will usually | | | | These instruments can be enormous and tend to |
| incorporate trumpets, tenor trombones and a | | | | be quite expensive. However, euphoniumists and |
| bass trombone. | | | | tubist are becoming few and far between and so |
| Solo instrumentalists are used in a variety of | | | | are always in demand. Tubas can be so big that |
| music genres, from pop to folk to blues. | | | | you may struggle fitting it into the boot. |
| Brass Instruments Types | | | | Euphoniums are smaller scaled and have a |
| There are two families of brass musical | | | | wonderful range. These instruments are |
| instrument in modern music: valved and slide. | | | | elementary to the classical symphony orchestra |
| As the name suggests, valved instruments use a | | | | and the traditional brass band. |
| set of valves which the player operates with his | | | | French Horn |
| fingers. Valves are usually piston valves, but may | | | | A french horn is both a beauty to behold and a |
| be rotary valves as in the case of tubas and | | | | delight to the ear. A good French horn will be quite |
| horns (rotary valves require special care, for | | | | expensive and challenging to learn. French horn |
| example they must be cleaned by an expert - | | | | players quite a rarity. No classical orchestra would |
| see the cleaning section for further details). Most | | | | be complete without half a dozen, however, |
| modern brass instruments are valved instruments, | | | | meaning that players are much in demand. |
| including the flugelhorn, cornet, trumpet, | | | | Trombone |
| euphonium, French horn, tuba and tenor horn. | | | | Despite this instrument's impressive range, |
| Slide instruments incorporate a slide to change the | | | | trombonists are becoming an endangered species! |
| length of tubing, and thus raising and lowering the | | | | Though the trombone is a reasonably priced |
| note. Trombones are the main family of slide | | | | instrument, its slides are very delicate and must |
| instruments (bar the valve trombone, which is | | | | be handled with great care. The trombone is easy |
| mostly used in jazz pieces). | | | | to learn and there is great demand for |
| Bugle | | | | trombonists to play in classical, swing, jazz and |
| The bugle category of brass instruments | | | | traditional brass bands. |