Trumpet

Brass INSTRUMENT

INSTRUMENT INFORMATION

The trumpet is part of the brass family of orchestral instruments, a family which also includes the trombone, french horn, and the tuba. The body of the modern trumpet is made of metal, typically brass, tubing, which is curved and bent into the instrument shape that we see today. Modern trumpets typically have three metal valves that the player presses down in various combinations to create different pitches on the instrument. The trumpet also has a mouthpiece, onto which the player buzzes their lips to start the flow of air through the instrument to create a sound. The player can also vary the pitch of the sound by varying the shape or tension of their lips when buzzing on the mouthpiece. The sound comes out of the instrument at the end of the tubing, where the metal flares out, a part that is called the bell.

MEET THE INSTRUMENT

In the following video (2:51), Terry Szor presents the trumpet, and details how this instrument is constructed. This video can be enjoyed along with your children in class:

After watching this video, you can engage the children in discussion about what they remembered or noticed about the trumpet. Children may share ideas about other instruments that it reminds them of, or other music or sounds that they have heard before. Some questions that may initiate a discussion:

• Do you remember some of the names of the parts of the trumpet?

• What did Terry do to make sound on the instrument? (Terry shares more about this on the final video on this page as well).

• What is the trumpet made of?

• Does this remind you of any other instruments that you have seen before?

MUSIC

In the following videos, Terry performs two different pieces on the trumpet. You may choose to play these videos together in the same class session, or play them over several days to create multiple music experiences for the children.

With each experience, you can watch and listen along with the children. While listening, you may notice that the children move their bodies along with the music, and naturally show what they hear through bouncing, clapping, dancing, patting their legs, or almost any other movement that you can imagine! This is part of their music learning, and you can encourage them to move while they listen.

After you watch and listen to each video, depending on the age of the children, you may initiate a discussion about what they heard and saw. Children often feel more comfortable contributing if the questions are specific; abstract questions (such as “how did it make you feel?”) may be difficult for the young child to answer. Some questions that you may consider are:

• Was the music fast or slow? Loud or soft? Smooth or choppy? (etc.)

• Did this music remind you of other music or sounds that you’ve heard before?

• What kinds of movements did you make when you were listening?

And, after you have listened to both pieces, the children may be able to make comparisons:

• What was the same about these pieces of music? What was different?

Listening Experience #1 (1:17)

Terry shares a march called American Patrol, composed in 1885 by American composer Frank White Meachum (1856-1909). A march is a piece with a strong beat that was most often written for military bands and for marching.

More About the Trumpet

Making Sound on the Trumpet

In the following video (1:32), Terry shares more about how he makes sound on the trumpet. This video can be enjoyed along with your children in class:

ABOUT THE MUSICIAN