FLUGELHORN Guide

History of the Flugelhorn

It is widely accepted that the flugelhorn was derived from the bugle design by Michael Saurle in the early 1800's. Flugelhorns were named from the German word Flügel which means wing or flank in English. In the beginning, flugelhorn was primarily used on the battlefield to organize the flanks in an army.

Flugelhorn - Photo by aaltonen 

Appearance and Use

Flugelhorns are a member of the horn family and a brass instrument that resemble trumpets but with a wider bore. The appearance of the flugelhorn has also been compared to a cornet, although the trumpet is probably a closer comparison. The flugelhorn traditionally has three valves and uses the same piston valve system of other brass instruments. Four valve and rotary valve version exist but they are not the norm. Some modern flugelhorns include a fourth valve as this is becoming more popular. Today the flugelhorn is used in jazz, brass band, and popular music applications. The tone is considered to be fat and mellow compared to a trumpet. The actual sound probably falls somewhere in between a trumpet and a horn.

Choosing a Flugelhorn

Resources about the flugel horn are hard to find as this is a truly unique brass instrument. If you have a local music instrument store that happens to sell flugelhorns you are lucky and probably want to try one out there. For most people, the best option for locating a flugelhorn will be on the internet. Flugel horns are expensive compared to other brass instruments but you will find that they are worth the price for the true brass instrument player due to the unique sound and playing qualities. It is possible to find good deals on the flugelhorn if you use the proper resources on the Web.

For a complete flugelhorn guide visit http://www.flugelhornguide.com for information, articles, and shopping information. Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Getzen TRUMPETS Have Visual and Sound Appeal For Marching

When marching band season rolls around, it's not enough just to sound good, band members are putting on a visual show, too and most marching band musicians take pride in the look of their band instrument. Getzen trumpets not only sound great, they look great, too! For those trumpet players who switch to a flugelhorn or baritone horn for marching season, Getzen has them covered as well.

Getzen offers an extensive selection of trumpets. Student trumpets fall into the 300 and 400 series. One of the more popular student trumpets is the 390. They're workhorses, are sturdy, and most importantly, make great music. For the more advanced student, the 490 has a red brass bell, and its distinctive look will draw plenty of attention at parades or football games. The Getzen Capri 590 is an intermediate level trumpet that is available in silver plated finish, as are all Getzen instrument.

Getzen doesn't leave the committed trumpet player behind who goes professional, either. The Renaissance line is based on the prestigious Bach Stradivarius trumpet line. This has a more symphonic sound. Another line of professional Getzen trumpets is the Eterna series: the Eterna I, Eterna II, the 700, the 900, and the 1200. The Eterna was the instrument played byTonight Show bandleader Doc Severinson for years. The Eterna 700 is the most affordable Eterna model - suitable for the amateur who wants to get his or her hands on the best trumpet without breaking the budget. The Eterna 700S is a silver plated option. For those who turn pro or those who only want the very best, Getzen makes custom C and B-flat trumpets as part of their Edwards handcrafted line of instruments.

Trumpet players know that having a great sounding, great looking trumpet like a Getzen is a confidence boost that helps them play their very best.

Keith has a passion for the Getzen Trumpet and is also a fan of the Conn Trumpet. Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Correct Breathing for WIND and BRASS PLAYERS

Details of a wind instrument.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A correct deep breathing technique is essential to playing any wind or brass instrument, but there are many misconceptions surrounding the way to breathe and what parts of your body are doing the work and what you should be doing in order to support the airflow.

And when I say support I mean a way of producing a constant and equal airflow that will produce the best sound on your instrument. A good analogy would be blowing the flame of a candle and keeping the "bend" of the flame constant as you blow across it rather than one quick breathe which blows the candle out.

Personally I was always told to support using the diaphragm, but actually this is impossible as the diaphragm deflates as you breathe out.

So what does the diaphragm do...? the muscle contracts and pulls downwards when we breath in, and returns to its original position when we breath out. Obviously this is a difficult theory to teach because we don't have X-ray vision and can't see what's happening inside our bodies while we teach someone or are playing our instrument. And this is where the misconception arouse from. The diaphragm really isn't that involved in breathing when playing a wind instrument, it's actually an involuntary muscle, we have no control over it at all! So how you can you possibly support using your diaphragm??

The truth is that the diaphragm is used on the inhale and the abdominal muscle group is used to ‘support’ the air on the exhale.

To find out if you are breathing correctily place your hand on the 'spongy' feeling area just below the V of the rib-cage. This is essentially the top edge of the abdominals. Then simulate a short, loud cough, or laugh. You should see and feel the muscle jump outwards along with the sound.

Next take your instrument and play a note that only requires one hand if possible (G on the sax, low C on the clarinet, middle C on the bassoon, etc.) Then place your free right hand back on the abdominals, pushing in slightly, and feel what it does when they play the note. They should feel the muscle pushing steadily out against the hand.

Hidden Danger

There is one thing you have to be aware of when learning this deep breathing technique!

When you push with your abdominal muscles your entire body tenses up and this tension particularly affects the throat and jaw, closing them off so that the air does not get through properly and you get a strangled sound.

So you need to be aware of being relaxed everywhere but your abdominal muscles. This may take some practice.

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

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TUBA - Music-Instruments of the World

Tuba - Music-Instruments of the World

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How to Play the TRUMPET - Learning a Brass Instrument!

A trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet
behind, and a flugelhorn in background
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Learning trumpet can be a very rewarding experience, it can also be one very frustrating experience as well if the student doesn't have a good teacher showing them the specifics of how to produce sound.  The most basic and fundamental part of playing any instrument is creating sound.  For a drummer, it starts with learning how to hit the head of the drum, the piano player - how to position their hands and which finger to use, etc.  But neither need to learn how to produce these sounds... the instrument does it for them.

Brass players are not nearly as fortunate!  Each player must start by getting their lips to buzz.  This is essentially blowing air through their lips and allowing the lips to vibrate.  Sounds simple, and it is... but it's not easy!  Especially if someone isn't given clear instructions on how to achieve this!  What I tell all of my beginning students is to think of keeping your lips in a relaxed closed position and to think about a kiss or a puckering action from the corners only!

Once I have a new student "free lip buzzing" (no mouthpiece, no horn), then we can move on to just the mouthpiece.  What this does is suddenly makes things easier for the student because the mouthpiece offers more support for the lips and a lot more resistance for the air.  Once we've achieved a good buzzing pattern with the mouthpiece, we then move to creating actual notes with the horn.

I believe that by giving the student a good solid foundation to fall back on, they will not be hindered by or plagued with embouchure problems in the future.  They will have a solid foundation for playing based on relaxed lips that are free to vibrate and air being pushed from the abs!

Keith Fiala / Anna Romano For private trumpet lessons, ways to overcome range or sound problems, or to get a solid start on playing a brass instrument, please visit Brass Player Solution to contact Keith Fiala. Article Directory: EzineArticles

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