The decision to learn a musical instrument is a big step, but deciding to learn a less 'obvious' instrument can often require more courage. Yes, the guitar and the piano can both sound amazing and you allow yourself a lot of flexibility, but there's nothing quite like the joy of playing as part of an ensemble. There is something intensely satisfying about performing as part of a group, relying on yourself and others to create a great sound together, whether it be part of a ska band, playing Madness covers at weddings or playing Beethoven's symphonies as part of a full orchestra.
That's why I started learning brass instruments in the first place. At school, I was told that my 'lip would suit playing the Eb tenor horn'. I since realised that the school just needed a tenor horn in the concert band, but nevertheless, I was hooked. Here's a quick guide to help you on your way to Brass stardom.
Cornets and trumpets are in the highest register of brass instruments and are very popular across most genres of music. Cornets are mainly used in brass band ensembles, though Bb cornets are also occasionally found in wind orchestras and were sometimes used by romantic period composers in orchestral music.
Trumpets are found in many more styles of music. Orchestras and jazz bands being the most frequent appearances. They are also used as backing instruments for many more popular artists.
Flugelhorns are mainly used in jazz and brass bands, due to their warmer tone. This is attributed to the bore and bell being much larger than on trumpets and cornets.
The horn section make up the alto voices of the brass family.The french horn sits lower in the register than the trumpets and is made up of a large, circular tube. The tone is very warm and intense.You may be familiar with the sound if you are a fan of the Rolling Stones. The beginning of their well known hit, "You can't always get what you want" features a stunning french horn solo that beautifully shows off the tone of the instrument.
Trombones are the only brass instruments to not use valves. Instead, the player uses the slide to adjust the pitch. Extending the length of the slide produces a lower tone. They are widely used in orchestras, brass bands, jazz ensembles and also in popular music.
All of these instruments are available in our Piano department at Rose Morris, so come along and see if we've got the right Brass for you.
