About Brass Instruments

Trumpet

• it is the smallest member of the brass family

• it has three valves and is cylindrical in shape

• valveless trumpets have been around for thousands of years and were originally used for ceremonial purposes

• famous trumpeters: Rafael Mendez, Wynton Marsalis, and Jens Lindemann

Piccolo Trumpet

• this is a special trumpet that is half the length of the regular trumpet

• it is used to play very high, bright notes

• it includes a fourth valve to help play some lower notes

• famous piccolo trumpeters: Maurice Andre, Erik Schultz, and Fred Mills

French Horn

French Horn

• it is conical in shape which gives it a mellower sound than the other brass instruments

• it is played with the right hand inside the bell allowing the player to change the sound by changing his/her hand position

• they come with either three or four valves

• valveless horns have been around for hundreds of years

• used as hunting horns, worn over the shoulder by horse riders

• famous french horn players: Phil Farkas, Froydis Ree Werkre, and Barry Tuckwell

Trombone

• it is cylindrical in shape and has a moveable slide used to alter the length of tubing

• it is capable of creating a powerful, majestic sound

• of the modern instruments in the brass family, it is the oldest it was invented about five hundred years ago with very little change ever since

• famous trombonists: Arthur Pryor, Christian Lindberg, Alain Trudel, and Joseph Alessi​

Tuba

• the largest member of the brass family and is conical in shape

• it is capable of very deep, resonant tones

• it can have up to five valves but the most common ones have only three

• it is the newest instrument in the brass family, invented in 1835

• famous tubists: Arnold Jacobs, Charles Dallenbach, Patrick Sheridan, and Sam Pilafian