High BrassHigh Brass

By Cameron Shepherd and Jessica Middleton

By Cameron Shepherd and Jessica Middleton

Trumpet: HistoryTrumpet: History

• One of the oldest instruments

• First was a long tube with no valves, used for signaling in ancient China, Egypt, and Scandinavia

• By Roman times, used for military ceremonies

• One of the oldest instruments

• First was a long tube with no valves, used for signaling in ancient China, Egypt, and Scandinavia

• By Roman times, used for military ceremonies

Trumpet: HistoryTrumpet: History

• First musical use of the Trumpet was in the late 14th Century• This is when it adopted

the folded form

• Late 1700’s, Trumpet became part of the Orchestra

• Valves were invented in 1815

• First musical use of the Trumpet was in the late 14th Century• This is when it adopted

the folded form

• Late 1700’s, Trumpet became part of the Orchestra

• Valves were invented in 1815

Trumpet: Construction

Trumpet: Construction

• Total tube length approx. 1.4m (4 1/2 ft)• Folded twice to a narrow rectangular shape

about 14 inches long• Cylindrical bore, with a flared bell

• Total tube length approx. 1.4m (4 1/2 ft)• Folded twice to a narrow rectangular shape

about 14 inches long• Cylindrical bore, with a flared bell

Trumpet: Construction

Trumpet: Construction

• Most trumpets are made of brass• Either lacquered or

plated with silver, nickel, or, more rarely, gold

• Most trumpets are made of brass• Either lacquered or

plated with silver, nickel, or, more rarely, gold

Trumpet: Construction

Trumpet: Construction

• Three valves, located in the center of the instrument• Valves vary the length of the instrument,

making it possible to access different registers and pitches

• Second Valve: Lowers pitch by 1 semitone• First Valve: Lowers pitch by whole tone• Third Valve: Lowers pitch by tone-and-a-half• Analogy: Railway junction

• Three valves, located in the center of the instrument• Valves vary the length of the instrument,

making it possible to access different registers and pitches

• Second Valve: Lowers pitch by 1 semitone• First Valve: Lowers pitch by whole tone• Third Valve: Lowers pitch by tone-and-a-half• Analogy: Railway junction

Trumpet MutesTrumpet Mutes

• Mutes can be added to the bell of the trumpet to produce various effects• “Straight” mutes and

“Cup” mutes are the most common

• Mutes can be added to the bell of the trumpet to produce various effects• “Straight” mutes and

“Cup” mutes are the most common

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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Trumpet: Key and Transposition

Trumpet: Key and Transposition

• The most common trumpet is the B-flat trumpet• This means that if the

trumpet player plays a “C” as it is notated in their music, it would sound a B-flat

• The most common trumpet is the B-flat trumpet• This means that if the

trumpet player plays a “C” as it is notated in their music, it would sound a B-flat

• Trumpet music is notated in the treble clef

• Trumpet music is notated in the treble clef

Other Kinds of Trumpets

Other Kinds of Trumpets

• Piccolo Trumpet• Half the length of a B-flat trumpet

• An Octave Higher

•Four Valves - hard to play!

• Pocket Trumpet•Same length of tubing as regular trumpet, folded smaller than piccolo trumpet

• Hard to have good intonation and tone clarity

More Kinds of Trumpets

More Kinds of Trumpets

• Bass Trumpet• Invented by Richard Wagner

• More similar to trombone sound

• Rotary-Valve Trumpet• Dark, mellow sound

•Played with keys on the side instead of facing upwards

Trumpet: Sound Production

Trumpet: Sound Production

• The mouthpiece: a shallow cupped shape, made of metal

• Sound produced by buzzing lips into mouthpiece• Resonates the air column, producing sound

• The mouthpiece: a shallow cupped shape, made of metal

• Sound produced by buzzing lips into mouthpiece• Resonates the air column, producing sound

Resources for Introducing the

Trumpet

Resources for Introducing the

Trumpet• http://www.musicked.com• http://www.instructorweb.com/music.asp

• To consider:• Students must be able to support a trumpet

and manipulate three valves to be successful. Also, they must be able to buzz their lips.

• http://www.musicked.com• http://www.instructorweb.com/music.asp

• To consider:• Students must be able to support a trumpet

and manipulate three valves to be successful. Also, they must be able to buzz their lips.

A 4 Minute Trumpet LessonA 4 Minute Trumpet Lesson

Click HereClick Here

French Horn: ConstructionFrench Horn: Construction

• Very Curly!• Approximately 17ft. Worth of tubing in a

single horn• Conical bore which flares into a 27 1/2 -

35cm bell

• Very Curly!• Approximately 17ft. Worth of tubing in a

single horn• Conical bore which flares into a 27 1/2 -

35cm bell

French Horn: HistoryFrench Horn: History

• Developed in 1650 in France as a larger version of smaller, circularly coiled horns

• Used primarily as a hunting horn• Entered the orchestra in the early

1700’s, could play 12 tones of the natural harmonic series

• Developed in 1650 in France as a larger version of smaller, circularly coiled horns

• Used primarily as a hunting horn• Entered the orchestra in the early

1700’s, could play 12 tones of the natural harmonic series

French Horn: HistoryFrench Horn: History

• Gained more flexibility around 1750 when the technique of “hand stopping” was invented• By placing the hand in the bell, a player can

alter pitch by as much as a whole tone

• The invention of valves in the early 19th century revolutionized the horn, and led to the horn we know today

• Gained more flexibility around 1750 when the technique of “hand stopping” was invented• By placing the hand in the bell, a player can

alter pitch by as much as a whole tone

• The invention of valves in the early 19th century revolutionized the horn, and led to the horn we know today

Natural Harmonic Series

Natural Harmonic Series

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

French Horn: ConstructionFrench Horn: Construction

• French horns are generally made of brass, with a smaller, more conical mouthpiece than the “cupped” mouthpiece of the trumpet

• French horns are generally made of brass, with a smaller, more conical mouthpiece than the “cupped” mouthpiece of the trumpet

French Horn: ConstructionFrench Horn: Construction

• On a single, or “F”, horn, there are 3 valves that allow the player to play chromatically over 3 octaves, starting with the B below bass clef

• A double horn, which plays in the keys of both F and B-flat, also has a fourth valve (often referred to as a “trigger”) which allows the player to play on the B-flat tubing

• On a single, or “F”, horn, there are 3 valves that allow the player to play chromatically over 3 octaves, starting with the B below bass clef

• A double horn, which plays in the keys of both F and B-flat, also has a fourth valve (often referred to as a “trigger”) which allows the player to play on the B-flat tubing

French Horn: Key and Transposition

French Horn: Key and Transposition

• An typical horn is pitched in F• This means that when

the player plays a C, the note that sounds is the F below it

• In other words, the horn sounds a perfect 5th lower than what is written

• An typical horn is pitched in F• This means that when

the player plays a C, the note that sounds is the F below it

• In other words, the horn sounds a perfect 5th lower than what is written

• A B-flat horn is pitched in…B-flat!• This means that when

a player plays a C, the note that sounds is the B-flat below it

• In other words, the B-flat horn sounds a major second lower than what is written

• A B-flat horn is pitched in…B-flat!• This means that when

a player plays a C, the note that sounds is the B-flat below it

• In other words, the B-flat horn sounds a major second lower than what is written

French Horn: Sound Production

French Horn: Sound Production

• Very Similar to trumpet - buzz lips into mouthpiece, which resonates air column • Buzzing in a French Horn mouthpiece is

different from buzzing in a trumpet mouthpiece…lips must be tighter and air must be more direct

• Very Similar to trumpet - buzz lips into mouthpiece, which resonates air column • Buzzing in a French Horn mouthpiece is

different from buzzing in a trumpet mouthpiece…lips must be tighter and air must be more direct

Interesting Fact…Interesting Fact…

• Because the range of the horn is so wide with the prominence of the double horn, most professional players eventually find their “niche” on their instrument and specialize in either the upper or lower range

• Because the range of the horn is so wide with the prominence of the double horn, most professional players eventually find their “niche” on their instrument and specialize in either the upper or lower range

Resources for Introducing the

French Horn

Resources for Introducing the

French Horn• http://www.frhorn.com• http://www.hornplayer.net

• To Consider: Horn players must have above-average musical aptitude, due to the fact that tuning is difficult, and a constant responsibility. Also, the size of a students lips and hand/arm dexterity must be considered.

• http://www.frhorn.com• http://www.hornplayer.net

• To Consider: Horn players must have above-average musical aptitude, due to the fact that tuning is difficult, and a constant responsibility. Also, the size of a students lips and hand/arm dexterity must be considered.

The Wide Range of the French Horn

The Wide Range of the French Horn

Click HereClick Here

Trumpet ResourcesTrumpet Resources

• http://www.rit.edu/~mam5183/imm/project1/typesoftrumpets.html

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=gUij8FCg0z8• http://www.infovisual.info/04/036_en.html• http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundexchange/the_orchestra/instruments/trumpets/

• http://www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/square/6766/trumpethistory.html

• http://www.oldbeads.com/china514.jpg

• http://www.rit.edu/~mam5183/imm/project1/typesoftrumpets.html

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=gUij8FCg0z8• http://www.infovisual.info/04/036_en.html• http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundexchange/the_orchestra/instruments/trumpets/

• http://www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/square/6766/trumpethistory.html

• http://www.oldbeads.com/china514.jpg

French Horn Resources

French Horn Resources

• http://www.hornplanet.com/hornpage/museum/history/horn_history2.html

• http://www.frhorn.com/• http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/horn.html• http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/

thesoundexchange/the_orchestra/instruments/horns/

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=5XRkCfsiKlY

• http://www.hornplanet.com/hornpage/museum/history/horn_history2.html

• http://www.frhorn.com/• http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/horn.html• http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/

thesoundexchange/the_orchestra/instruments/horns/

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=5XRkCfsiKlY