Choosing a Musical Instrument For Your Child - A Parents' Help guide to Brass
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Many people find themselves thrown into the arena of musical instruments they know nothing about when their young children first begin music at school. Knowing the basics of proper instrument construction, materials, deciding on a good store in which to rent or get yourself a dvd instruments is extremely important. Just what exactly process should a parent or gaurdian follow to make the best selections for their child?
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Clearly the first task is to choose a device. Let your child their very own choice. Kids don't make developed solid relationships . big decisions about their life, and this is a big one that can be very empowering. I'm also able to say from personal experience that kids have a natural intuition as to what is good for them. Ultimately, my strongest advice is always to put a child into a room to try a maximum of 3-5 different choices, and permit them to make their choice based on the sound they like best.
These details are intended to broaden your horizons, to never create a preference, or to put you in a position to nit-pick within the store! Most instruments are really well made these days, picking a respected retailer will help you trust recommendations. Ask your school and/or private music teacher where to shop.
Brass instruments are manufactured all over the world, but primarily in the us, Germany, France, and China. Once we talk about brass instruments, were referring to members of the Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, and Tuba families.
MATERIALS
There's two basic kinds of materials found in brass instrument construction. The foremost is clearly brass, and also the second is nickel-silver.
Brass utilized for instruments is available in three types:
Yellow Brass (70% Copper, 30% Zinc)
Gold Brass (85% Copper, 15% Zinc)
Red Brass (90% Copper, 10% Zinc)
These kind of brass are all employed for instrument construction. Each also features a certain tendency towards a particular quality of sound - however this is a very subtle distinction, and should not be used as an exclusive gauge for picking your instrument.
Yellow brass is most frequent and can be used for most parts of your instrument. It possesses a very pure quality of sound, projects best of the three alloys, and stands up very well at high volumes.
(Gold brass can be extremely popular, mainly because slightly more complex quality of sound, and personal feedback. Usually a player hears themselves a little better using gold brass, however the trade off is a very slight decrease of projection. This more 'complex' quality is very attractive to the ear, but can get harsh at high volumes if your player is not in command of all of their technique. It is just like the transition to screaming from singing - you will find there's point at which you can easily go too far. Gold Brass is not used for the whole instrument (in The united states, but a lot in Europe). We primarily use it for the bell (the location where the sound comes out), along with the leadpipe (the first stretch of tubing inside your instrument). The leadpipe usage has become common for student instruments, since it resists corrosion well, the industry concern for teenagers whose body chemistry is volatile, as well as students who rarely clean their instruments.
Does of Red brass. This is a very complex sound, not often used in student instruments. Red brass appears almost exclusively within the bell of an instrument. The reason is , its less stable nature in sound production at loud volumes. That being said, it can produce a marvelous sound when healthy against the rest of a highly designed instrument. An illustration is the famous 88H Symphonic Trombone, which was a staple of the north american niche for over 60 years.
One other material that is used to produce brass instruments is nickel-silver. Interestingly, there is no actual silver within this material. Most often it is just a combination of Copper, Nickel, and Zinc, in varying combinations. I love to think of it as brass with nickel added. Its name hails from its physical resemblance to silver, rendering it ideal for things like brass instruments, as well as the coins you probably have in your wallet.
This is a very important part of your instrument. Unlike brass, it tends to be very hard. This makes it ideal for use on instruments to:
Protect moving parts
Join two tubes plus a ring (called a ferrule)
Placed on parts of the instrument which come into a lot of contact with the hands to protect against friction wear through the hands.
Companies use nickel silver in numerous ways, and on various parts of the instrument. These construction details are minimal, but here are several suggestions to look for which will help the stability and strength of student instruments:
o The outsides of tuning slides. This really is good, because it protects parts that regularly need to be moved from damage.
o The interior tubes of tuning slides. Perfect for student instruments (and common on european instruments), this protects against corrosion.
o Joint between tubes. When used as a ferrule, this can be a various shapes and sizes, at the discretion in the designer. Sometimes the inside of the ferrule is regulated to improve shape (taper) through to a larger consecutive tube. Some erogenous student instruments just fit expanded ends of brass tubing together.
o Parts how the hands touch. Brass is definitely eaten away, albeit slowly, by normal body chemistry, so a student instrument which includes these areas in nickel-silver can be an asset for longevity. There are exceptions to this rule, specifically Trumpets, whose valve casings are usually made of brass alone.
MOUTHPIECES
Mouthpieces for brass are usually referred to as 'cup' mouthpieces, and tend to be made of brass, but plated in silver. Brass on its own can cause irritation, and it is mildly toxic to be in such close proximity towards the lips, whereas silver is mostly neutral. There are cases where some people are allergic to silver, but a majority of often the allergy is because a dirty mouthpiece. The recommended test because of this is to use an alcohol based spray cleaner, from the music retailer which is specifically intended for mouthpieces, and to clean the mouthpiece before each use. This may be beneficial, anyway. If the irritation persists, think about a gold-plated mouthpiece, or being a last resort, plastic. Note also that not all companies incorporate a good quality mouthpiece using instruments. Be sure to talk with your retailer to make sure what you are getting is exactly what you should be using for your student.
As with instruments, mouthpieces come in a dizzying array of shapes and specifications. Issues that you have never heard of, like Rim, Throat, inner diametre, Backbore, etc., may confuse you.((To produce matters more complex, there is no standard system for identifying sizing in mouthpieces. This can be difficult for the parent to digest, and in many cases frustrating. How big or small if the various parts be?
Usually, schools start kids on small mouthpieces for the reason that it is easy to get a response away from them. The downside on this is that small mouthpieces can translate to a very bright sound, and will actually hold a student back from developing the free blowing of air that is essential to developing a good sound. There is a generally accepted order of progression from bare beginner to solid student. I suggest getting the second mouthpiece from the very beginning. This will produce a bigger/fuller sound, and can encourage more air to be used right from the start. Don't let the numbers throw you here, the 2nd mouthpiece is the bigger one. The bracket indicating numerology will be the company that makes the mouthpiece, suggested here only for comparison.
Trumpet: 7C, 5C (Bach numerology - for strong players consider also 3C)
Horn: 30C4, 32C4 (Schilke or Yamaha numerology)
Trombone: 12C, 6½AL (Bach numerology - for strong players consider also 5GS)
We have left Tuba off the suggested list because there are many factors that can into play for your student. Physical size plays an element, and often the condition of the instrument used, as well as the size of the instrument. These vary so greatly from student to the next which a personal consultation with your qualified music retailer is strongly recommended. Kids generally start the small mouthpiece (24AW is but one in the Bach numerology), try not to get off that even though they should. There are a number of really excellent mouthpieces available, however it is hard to beat the Perantucci Mouthpieces. A PT48 or PT50 is helpful for the advancing student, and also the professional, but remember that as students grow and alter, so may their mouthpiece needs.
Just like instruments, it is a very good idea to try 3-5 at the local retailer.
When or what reason must i not buy a new mouthpiece?
Kids often look for the short-cut. Not being able to play high or low enough is a challenge and frequently the kid looks for an instant answer, or has witnessed a colleague playing something else entirely. Often, when your child approaches you in regards to a new mouthpiece, it could very well be the time for it. Ensure you ask lots of questions regarding what they do and do not like regarding their mouthpieces so you can discover from your retailer if it is a good request. Make sure you know what they already have. The best changes to make will be the subtle ones. Small variations a mouthpiece design might help get the desired result, and not sacrifice some or all other areas of playing. The kids that make the big changes just to get high notes often give the biggest price of their tone, tuning, and technique.
Other considerations
For Trumpet, I recommend having 1st and 3rd valve slides with rings or saddles for action-packed. These are helpful for tuning.
For Trombone, for early beginners, a nickel-silver slide is a great idea, as slide repairs are costly.
For Horn, get a double horn. It is 4 valves, and offers much more choice to the player permanently tuning, and development in the future. Horn is tricky, so helping using this type of is a good endorsement of your respective child's chances.
For Tuba, try to get one that fits your youngster, and on which all parts - including tuning slides - will be in a state of good repair. Push the school if it is a good school instrument. If your kid can handle a big instrument, acquire one.
Brass instruments need consistent maintenance to operate well. Be sure you know what lubricants to use on what parts of your instrument. Trumpet, a rather simple instrument, needs 3 different lubricants; tuning slide, 1st/3rd valve slide, and pistons. I recommend synthetic lubricants. They are going to hold up slightly better against forgetful students that don't do the regular maintenance.
Cleaning. Once every 12-18 months use a professional cleaning. Otherwise clean in your house once a month using gentle soap and lukewarm water (domestic hot water will cause your lacquer to peel of your horn), and a flexible brush from your retailer.
Avoid cheap instruments. With musical instruments you get what you spend on. There are a lot of instruments via India and China now. The majority are excellent, while many others ought not even have been made. Your local, respected dealer must have those that are reliable, and can stand behind them. Your big-box Costco, Wal-Mart, BestBuy, and e-Bay doesn't have any expertise in these matters, and operations for their bottom line only. Avoid these places. They cannot possibly offer you the continued assistance, service, or repair a developing and interested student will need. If you choose this route, obtain american-made instruments (and Japan). This is a major separator of good from bad. Individuals who make brass in the united states are generally very well trained and a part of a history of excellent brass making, specially those in the Conn-Selmer family of companies. Any local, trusted retailer will assist you to guide you in the choices available, don't forget that just because it says USA, or Paris about it, does not mean it was stated in these places. Manufacturers are now sometimes making these things part of the 'name' of the instrument.((Simply how much should I spend?
This is the big question. Be aware that popular instruments, like Trumpet, are cheaper because they are made in greater quantities. Some instruments, like Horn and Tuba, are challenging and time-consuming to produce, making them more expensive. Below is a list of acceptable pricing (during the time that this is being written) for brand new student instruments that works for both American and Canadian currency.
Trumpet: $400-600
Horn: $1600 and up (Get a double horn, or else you be back to buy another, soon!)
Trombone: $400-$700
Tuba: $2300 or over
When should I get a better instrument, and Why?
Six decades ago, there were no 'student' and 'intermediate' instruments. Manufacturers were just coming to the realization that there was a growing, post-war market that was changing to guide a more commercial label of instrument making. Today, instruments are engineered to acquire to buy three times. First as a beginner, then as an advancing student, and lastly as a professional. Clearly, this is a model that makes a lot of money for manufacturers.
For the best reasons, I often encourage parents to start with the better instrument, or even a good used intermediate or professional instrument. Starting on better tools are like starting on that slightly larger mouthpiece; receiving a bigger, better sound is encouraging. The better construction and materials combination of these better instruments will even leave more room growing. So what are the right reasons? Here is a list that works not merely as guide in order to to choose the right instrument, but also for what you should watch for to help musical growth:
-Going to some school with a strong music program.
-Getting private lessons, or has asked for some. (Check with private teacher for recommendations prior to buying, this will help.)
-Practicing without parental encouragement
-Has no less than 4 years of playing before them.
These factors are great indicators of if you should buy, and if they should buy intermediate or professional. In the event the bulk of these are unclear, think about rental for a year to determine if they get any clearer, and supplement with regular (weekly) private lessons.