5th Grade General Music Matthew Stefanski The Brass Family 5th Grade General Music Matthew Stefanski

What’s a Brass Instrument? 3 Parts to a brass instrument Mouthpiece Bell Tubing

2 Types of Brass Instruments Conical Cylindrical Tubing remains close to the same size until it reaches the bell Produces a “brighter” sound Tubing expands from mouthpiece all the way to the bell Gives a “mellow” sound

Trumpet Very versatile Cylindrical Instrument Trumpets can play in many different ensembles such as Marching Bands Jazz Bands Orchestras Brass Quartet/Quintet Drum and Bugle Corps Rock and Pop Bands Brass Choirs Did not always have 3 valves: The trumpet plays the highest in the brass section The oldest trumpets date back to 1500 BC and earlier.

Cornet Plays in the same register Often referred to as a conical trumpet Has 3 Valves like trumpet The difference is that cornet produces a more mellow sound because it is CONICAL

French Horn Lower register than the trumpet Its conical bore is responsible for its sound, often described as "mellow" 12 feet of tubing coiled Can play in: Orchestras Brass Quintets Wind Ensembles Concert Bands Woodwind Quintet!? Jazz Bands (rarely) Smallest Mouthpiece

Mellophone Used only in Marching Bands Drum and Bugle Corps Brass Bands Jazz Bands (rarely) Like the cornet, Mellophone is often referred to as a conical French Horn

Trombone means “Large Trumpet” NO VALVES Uses a long slide to adjust pitch Plays lower than French Horn Can play in many ensembles such as Marching Bands Jazz Bands Orchestras Brass Bands Brass Quintet Unique sound comes from slide and cylindrical build

Baritone and Euphonium Closely related to trombone Recent addition to the brass family 3 or 4 valves Usually 3 or 4 valves Used a lot in Brass Band Marching Band Drum and Bugle Corps Plays in Marching Bands Drum and Bugle Corps Brass Bands Wind Ensembles Cylindrical Conical tubing makes mellow sound Plays in same register as trombone

Tuba The largest and lowest pitched of all brass instruments Recent addition since the mid-1800’s Conical tubing = mellow tone Used in Orchestras Brass Ensembles of all sorts Marching Bands Drum and Bugle Corps Anywhere from 3 to 7 valves

Sousaphone Sometimes referred to as a marching tuba Was designed by request of John Philip Sousa in 1890 Conical Mainly used in Marching Bands

FLASH REVIEW French Horn Mellophone Trumpet Cornet Conical Cylindrical Very mellow sound Middle register Trumpet Cylindrical Brighter sound Used in Marching Bands Cornet Conical Same register as Trumpet Cylindrical Plays highest

Tuba Baritone Euphonium Sousaphone Trombone Conical Largest and Lowest Low Register Cylindrical Low Register Sousaphone Trombone Cylindrical “Marching Tuba” Cylindrical NO VALVES

Pop Quiz Which instrument is it? 1 2 3 4 #1 Euphonium #2 Trombone #3 Tuba #4 French Horn

Reference Images provided by Google images Most from www.music.vt.edu Most sound bites provided by http://www.macleans.school.nz/students/music/instruments.htm “Caravan” for mellophone example provided by Bluecoats’ 2005 show CD Information provided in descriptions provided by: The Teaching of Instrumental Music. 3rd ed. Colwell & Goolsby. 2002 Pearson Education, Inc.