The Brass Family
Brass instruments are sometimes called labrosones, meaning "lip-vibrated instruments" because of the way that they are played. To play a brass instrument you must blow directly into the mouthpiece while vibrating your lips. This can be very difficult for new beginners!
Different notes are made by changing the length of the tubing that makes up the instrument. This is easy to see when someone plays the trombone because they push and pull a crook that becomes shorter and longer throughout the song. For other brass instruments, it happens inside, controlled by valves. In the picture above there is a cornet that uses valves.
All instruments in this family, that are played in an orchestra, are made of brass. There are some unusual instruments that are part of this family because of the way that they are played, that are made of wood. A famous example is the didgeridoo from Australia.
Brass instruments are sometimes called labrosones, meaning "lip-vibrated instruments" because of the way that they are played. To play a brass instrument you must blow directly into the mouthpiece while vibrating your lips. This can be very difficult for new beginners!
Different notes are made by changing the length of the tubing that makes up the instrument. This is easy to see when someone plays the trombone because they push and pull a crook that becomes shorter and longer throughout the song. For other brass instruments, it happens inside, controlled by valves. In the picture above there is a cornet that uses valves.
All instruments in this family, that are played in an orchestra, are made of brass. There are some unusual instruments that are part of this family because of the way that they are played, that are made of wood. A famous example is the didgeridoo from Australia.
The photo of a cornet on this page is from: http://www.ombmusic.co.uk/.