The Brass Family
All of the instruments in the brass family that are found in the orchestra are made of brass. Sound is made when the player buzzes his or her lips into the mouthpiece. Air travels through a series of tubes and the sound comes out of the large opening called the bell. Most brass instruments have valves or a slide to allow the player to play different pitches (high and low sounds.)
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To watch a short YouTube video featuring some of the instruments in the brass family, click here.
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trumpet
The trumpet is the smallest instrument in the brass family and so it plays the highest pitches. It has a clear, bright sound and can be very loud! It has three valves which the player presses in various combinations to change the pitch.
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To see and hear the trumpet, click on the following songs:
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french horn
The French Horn is made of brass just like the trumpet, but its shape gives it a much more mellow sound. It is played with the bell pointing downward and the musician places one hand in the bell to soften the sound. Like the trumpet, the French Horn has valves to change the pitch.
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To see and hear the French horn, click on the following song:
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trombone
The trombone is the only member of the brass family that uses a slide instead of valves to change the pitch. When the slide is pulled out, the tube becomes longer and the sound goes lower.
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To see and hear the trombone, click on the following songs:
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tuba
The tuba is the largest member of the brass family and so it plays the lowest pitches. It has a deep, rich sound. It is played sitting down. The instrument is held on the player's lap with the bell facing up.
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To see and hear the tuba, click on the following songs:
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Flight of the Bumblebee - Rimsky-Korsakof
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Activities
colouring and activity sheets
listen and draw
Listen again to one of the songs on this page. Draw a picture of what you imagine as you listen.
write
Write a few sentences about your favourite brass instrument. Why is it your favourite? Does it remind you of an animal or another sound? What have you learned about this instrument? What else would you like to know about this instrument?