Playing Brass Instruments & Gear
Trombone, bass trombone and trumpet guides, mouthpieces, care and buying advice.
The Trumpet
The trumpet has one of the longest histories of any instrument — it even shows up in the Bible — and it's kept its…
Instruments & GearPlaying Brass Instruments in Extreme Weather
Weather can genuinely wreck a brass instrument's performance — sticky valves, wandering intonation, sluggish slides. The good news is that most of it is…
Instruments & GearBrass Instrument Sounds: The Science
Ever wonder what's actually happening physically when you play a note? It comes down to two things working together: your lips generating a sound,…
Instruments & GearThe Mouthpiece Maze
Mouthpieces matter — they shape your sound, comfort, range, and endurance more than almost any other piece of gear you own. That's exactly why…
Instruments & GearBrassSupport Lightens the Load for Musicians of All Ages
Holding up a brass instrument for an entire rehearsal is real physical work, and it's easy to underestimate how much that fatigue is costing…
Instruments & GearBass Trombone: How Is It Different?
The bass trombone holds an odd position in an ensemble. On paper it's part of the trombone section, but in practice it often behaves…
Instruments & GearBuying a Brass Instrument — the Do’s and Don’ts
Buying a brass instrument is a daunting task even for people who play one professionally, let alone a parent with no background in the…
Instruments & GearHow Do Brass Instruments Produce Sound?
A brass instrument can't make a sound by itself — the player has to start it. It happens in two stages: the lips create…
Instruments & GearWhat’s the Difference Between a Slide and Valves?
Every brass instrument changes pitch the same basic way: by changing the length of tubing the air travels through. Longer tubing means a lower…
Instruments & GearWhat Are the Instruments in the Brass Family?
The brass family covers a surprising range of sounds and shapes, but every member shares the same basic idea: a player buzzes into a…
Instruments & GearEvolution of Brass Instruments
The brass instruments we play today look nothing like where they started. The earliest ones were natural horns made from animal horns or shells…
Instruments & GearTrombone Slide Lubricants — Which Is Best?
Have you ever pulled your trombone out after a long break and found the slide moving like a rusty gate? That's what slide lubricant…
Instruments & GearRole of the Bass Trombone in a Big Band
Is the bass trombone in a big band just the 4th trombone part, or something more? Listen to any good big band and the…
Instruments & GearTrombone Trigger
A trombone trigger — often called an F attachment — adds extra tubing that lengthens the instrument by about five semitones. Engage it and…
Instruments & GearCare of Your Instrument
A brass instrument will last you a lifetime if you look after it — and most of the damage I see happens when the…
Instruments & GearPlastic Trombone Review
Plastic trombones are a relatively recent development, and parents and students ask me about them constantly. I own both a plastic and a brass…