Instrument Families of the

Symphony Orchestra

Brass
Family
 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
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
The Brass Family

Mouthpieces

Come in different shapes and sizes to fit

different instruments and mouth sizes
 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
 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!)

 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)
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
TUBA
Click here to listen to theTuba

Sousaphone
-16 ft. of
tubing How is it
-Largest and different
lowest brass from the
instrument Tuba?
 it is used in
marching bands
instead of the tuba
because it is
easier to carry
 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
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra
A. The Brass Family (continued)

1. Questions and Notes:

2. A brass player can produce notes two ways:

a. _____________________
buzzing lips

b. _____________________
valves or slide

3. A longer tube on a brass instrument will cause the

instrument to have a ________
lower pitch.
 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 pitch.
4. A shorter tube will result in a _________

5. Trumpet:

4
a. How many feet of tubing? ______

Highest pitch of all brass instruments

b. __________
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra

A. The Brass Family (continued)

1. Questions and Notes:

5. Trumpet: (continued)

Herald trumpet
c. Descendant of the _________
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra

A. The Brass Family (continued)

1. Questions and Notes:

5. Trumpet: (continued)

d. What do the valves do? They change the pitch.

________________________

e. The trumpet is especially good for playing

________
loud and _______.
high
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra

A. The Brass Family (continued)

1. Questions and Notes:

6. French Horn:

a. The French Horn is the descendant of the

__________
Hunting horn.
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra

A. The Brass Family (continued)

1. Questions and Notes:

6. 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. ___________________________
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra

A. The Brass Family (continued)

1. Questions and Notes:

6. 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)

_______________________________________________.
 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:

slide enables the player to

a. The moveable ________
glide from note to note.

b. Moving quickly from note to note is called a

glissando
____________.
 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:

16 feet of tubing
a. _____

lowest pitched brass

b. The tuba is the _________
instrument and the __________
largest in size.
 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 __________________
Sousaphone is actually the tuba that is
used in the marching band.

d. Why is a Sousaphone used in the marching band?

____________________________
It has shoulder supports.
 Instrument Families of the
Symphony Orchestra
I. Four Families of instruments in the Symphony Orchestra

A. The Brass Family (continued)

1. Questions and Notes:

9. All brass instruments can soften their sound by

mute
using a ________.