| Modern brass instruments include trumpet, | | | | instruments) often uses the piano as the |
| trombone, baritone, sousaphone (tuba), and | | | | accompanying instrument. An experienced pianist |
| French horn. These instruments create a wide | | | | will be able to help with the ensemble's |
| variety of tones by the player forcing air into the | | | | performance by helping them rehearse the most |
| instrument causing it to resonate in different | | | | challenging passages. The piano, in this case, also |
| ways (at different frequencies). | | | | helps fill out the arrangement and plays a big part |
| There are two different types of brass | | | | in creating the rhythm of the piece. And, as |
| instruments, valved and slide. Valves are used to | | | | mentioned above, the pianist must be aware of |
| change the shape and size of the instrument | | | | the different key of each brass instrument in |
| (causing the player's wind to change its path and | | | | order to communicate effectively with the group. |
| length, causing the instrument to resonate in | | | | For example, if the group includes a tuba, the |
| different ways). Brass instruments with valves | | | | pianist must know whether it is a Bb or Eb tuba in |
| include cornet, trumpet, and French horn. They | | | | order to help rehearse the musician in the most |
| utilize piston valves (cornet), or rotary valves | | | | effective way possible. |
| (French horn). The musician must learn which | | | | Big bands (swing, dance, and jazz) contain a |
| combinations of valves produce certain tones | | | | number of brass instrument and most, if not all, |
| while using their embouchure (the position and | | | | also include a piano. The pianist helps provides the |
| strength of their lips on the mouthpiece of the | | | | chord structure, rhythm, and sometimes the |
| instrument) to make tones lower or higher in | | | | melody of the piece. Big band music can be quite |
| pitch. Slide brass instruments use a slide to change | | | | complex, particularly when it comes to chord |
| the length of tubing and thus the tone of the | | | | structure and progressions. Quite often, the pianist |
| instrument. Most common of this type of | | | | is playing the same chord as the grouped brass |
| instrument is the slide trombone. | | | | instruments while at the same time contributing to |
| Some brass instruments need to be transposed | | | | the rhythm and style of the music. A piano is also |
| for piano. For example, a Bb trumpet or an Eb | | | | very common in jazz combos and vocal groups. |
| alto saxophone. When the written note C is | | | | Interestingly, many brass instruments are not |
| played on a trumpet, it is the same note as an Bb | | | | made of brass at all. Some, like the French horn, |
| on a piano. It's very important for the pianist to | | | | are made of nickel silver or other alloys of |
| be aware of this in order to communicate with | | | | copper, tin, and nickel. Many brass instruments are |
| the trumpet player. The same holds true for the | | | | silver plated (and they produce a distinctive sound |
| pianist when playing with other instruments that | | | | because of this). Although it is rare, some brass |
| are tuned differently such as a French horn or | | | | instruments are gold plated and are prized for |
| alto sax. | | | | their appearance (more so than the somewhat |
| Music for brass ensembles (four to six brass | | | | unique sound they make). |