Brass Instruments

Brass instruments, whether it be the trombone, French horn, trumpet, or something else, all function on similar ideas. There are several techniques that can help any person who is learning to play a brass instrument. It is simply not true to say that a great brass player is talented because he or she is a “natural.” Brass students spend a lot of time looking for that secret gimmick that will make them great. Eventually, those learning to play a brass instrument become frustrated, because they cannot find that secret ingredient. The secret is really quit simple: great brass players are created through practice, and the right kind of practice.

The right kind of practice

The fact is, learning to play a brass instrument requires the right kind of practice. Correct practice will focus on correct technique. Sometimes teachers give their students who are trying to learn to play a brass instrument harder and harder pieces to try to learn, thinking that this will force them to improve their skill as they are working above and beyond their abilities. What this in fact does is increase frustration. It does not matter how hard the piece is that you can learn. If the brass student is using poor technique, the student will be a poor player.

Wind Power

The first aspect to correctly playing a brass instrument is wind power. Air is how the brass instrument is powered. Learning how to breath properly is key to learning to play a brass instrument. Practice breathing exercises, and learn to sit with your chest up. This will allow you to completely fill the chest cavity with good, clean air. Keep the shoulders relaxed as well.

Next, the student who wishes to learn how to play a brass instrument needs to focus on learning to control the tongue. The tongue helps to produce the sound. If you are playing lower notes, form your tongue like the “awww” sound, and if you are playing a high note, form your tongue like the “eee” sound. “Tonguing” refers to the use of the tongue to create the separation between notes in a song. Tongue using the tongue against the top of the mouth, behind the upper teeth, but not touching the teeth. Incorrect tonguing causes the flow of the air to slow down, and the player cannot play as quickly. A good tonguing exercise is to practice the “t” and “k” sounds in rapid succession.

Tonguing and correct breathing are the first steps to learning to play any brass instrument. It is essential to learn these two skills correctly in the beginning of learning to play a brass instrument. These skills, if learned improperly, are hard to change. Start off right with correct tonguing and breathing!

These simple techniques, along with the guidance of a good teacher ,will help you along on your path to playing a brass instrument properly.

What is Percussion?