Curated OER
Exploring the Brass Family
Third graders explore the four basic instruments of the Brass Family in the four lessons of this unit. The French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba are inspected as students develope a familiarity with their sight and sounds.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University: Why Was the Valve Invented?
Dr. Ericson holds firm to his beliefs that the valve was not invented as "a mere crook changing device." Dr. Ericson embraces the idea that the "co-inventors of the valve clearly intended to perfect the brass instruments by making them...
Arizona State University
Arizona State University: What Was the Omnitonic Horn?
This Arizona State article suggests that the omnitonic horn and valved horns were invented in the same era and for the same reasons. However, further reading points out the differences between the two. The explanation for their invention...
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Horns
A wonderful resource covering many aspects of the French horn. Most explanations are made with video and audio clips of members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be sure to check out the players tips and tricks section.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Trumpets
An excellent resource covering many aspects of the trumpet. Most explanations are made with video and audio clips of members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be sure to check out the players tips and tricks section.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Trombones
A valuable resource covering many aspects of the trombone. Most explanations are made with video and audio clips of members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be sure to check out the players tips and tricks section.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Tubas
A terrific resource covering many aspects of the tuba. Most explanations are made with video and audio clips of members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be sure to check out the players tips and tricks section.
Other
The Brass Crest Cornet
Ignore the ads and find excellent info on the cornet. Provides a physical description, tone, its role in the brass band, cornet vs. trumpet, and the soprano cornet.
Arizona State University
Arizona State Univ.: Horn Folklore & "Urban Legends"
This Arizona State University article more appropriately falls under the heading of literature, but Dr. Ericson's statement in the first paragraph, "I am amazed by the rather large body of plausible sounding folklore which has been...
Arizona State University
Arizona State University: Natural Horn & Its Technique
Arizona State's descriptions of the horn are broken up by illustrations of the horn, players, and music. There is a big discussion of crooks (not the kind that go to jail), but the kind that are made when you bend metal! The author notes...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: The French Horn
Here is a web page introducing the French horn. Included is a brief history of the instrument as well as audio clips and pictures.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Brass
A lesson that familiarizes students with the brass family of instruments in an orchestra. Students will identify each instrument by sight and sound, as well as, name the instruments in order from highest to lowest sound.
Music Education
Learn About Instruments: The Brass
Besides providing general information on various brass instruments, such as the French Horn and trombone, one can listen to sound clips of these instruments being played.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Tuba
Read about the brass family, and the tuba in particular. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the tuba by itself and with the orchestra.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Trombone
Did you know that the trombone has about nine feet of tubing in it? Read more about trombones and the rest of the brass family of the orchestra at this resouce.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: French Horn, Brass Instrument
Visit this resource to find out how the French horn is played. Read more about the brass family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the French horn on its own, or with the orchestra.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Trumpets and Cornets
Learn more about the trumpet and cornet at this web page. Provided is a brief history of these brass instruments.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Orchestral Instruments
This is a brief introduction to the various instruments on the modern orchestra. It is broken into sections based on the instrument families. Each instrument is briefly defined.
BBC
Bbc Orchestras: Guide to the Orchestra
Enjoy learning about the different instruments of the orchestra with this well designed website. Divided into the various families, you can read about the instruments as well as listen to them.