1. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
Brass
Family

2. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
The Brass Family
- Made of brass tubing
- Has a cup-shaped mouthpiece and a bell
- Produces sound by buzzing lips and blowing air
into a mouthpiece
- Also produces sound by changing valves
or slide position

3. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
The Brass Family
Mouthpieces
Come in different shapes and sizes to fit
different instruments and mouth sizes

4. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
TRUMPET
Click hear to listen to the Trumpet
- 4 ft of tubing
Highest pitch of brass instruments
Changes pitch by use of valves
CORNET
How is the cornet different from and similar to the trumpet?
It is smaller and easier to play

5. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
FRENCH HORN
Click here to listen to the French Horn
- Has rotary valves
(moves up and down to
channel air into different
tubes)
- Uses “hand-stopping”
technique
- Descendent of hunting horn
(not to be confused with English Horn—a woodwind instrument!)

6. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
TROMBONE
Click here to listen to the Trombone
Has a moveable slide
- Plays glissando
(Moving quickly from note to note)

7. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
TUBA
Click here to listen to theTuba
Sousaphone
How is it
different
from the
Tuba?
 it is used in
marching bands
instead of the tuba
because it is
easier to carry
-16 ft. of
tubing
Largest and
lowest brass
instrument

8. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
MUTES
Click here to see a
video about Mutes
- These mutes are typically
made out of aluminum, brass,
or copper metal
Used to soften sound of
brass instrument

9. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
A brass player can produce notes two ways:
a. _____________________
b. _____________________
buzzing lips
valves or slide
A longer tube on a brass instrument will cause the
instrument to have a ________ pitch.
lower

10. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
higher
4. A shorter tube will result in a _________ pitch.
Trumpet:
a. How many feet of tubing? ______ 4
b. __________ pitch of all brass instruments
Highest

11. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
Trumpet: (continued)
c. Descendant of the _________ trumpet
Herald

12. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
Trumpet: (continued)
d. What do the valves do? ________________________
They change the pitch.
The trumpet is especially good for playing
________ and _______.
loud
high

13. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
French Horn:
a. The French Horn is the descendant of the
__________ horn.
Hunting

14. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
French Horn: (continued)
b. Why does the French Horn player keep his or her
hand in the bell?
Balance
1. ______________________
Mute (soften the sound)
2. ___________________________

15. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
French Horn: (continued)
c. A French Horn player can obtain a muted sound
by hand stopping, which is __________________________
_______________________________________________.
Putting your hand all
the way in the bell (this changes the pitch)

16. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
7. Trombone:
a. The moveable ________ enables the player to
glide from note to note.
slide
Moving quickly from note to note is called a
____________.
glissando

17. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
8. Tuba:
a. _____ feet of tubing 16
The tuba is the _________ pitched brass
instrument and the __________ in size.
lowest
largest

18. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
8. Tuba: (continued)
c. A __________________ is actually the tuba that is
used in the marching band.
Sousaphone
Why is a Sousaphone used in the marching band?
____________________________
It has shoulder supports.

19. Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)
1. Questions and Notes:
All brass instruments can soften their sound by
using a ________.
mute