Musical Performance

Early trumpets and horns were made from natural materials in just the same way as early pipes. However, unlike pipes, trumpets and horns have a thin end to blow through and a thicker, cone- shaped end to carry the sound out into the air. It’s often difficult to tell the difference between an early trumpet and an early horn. Trumpets are usually straight and horns are usually curved.

Early trumpets and horns were traditionally made from wood, animal horn, clay or bone. The long trumpet comes from Tibet. It is so long that the player has to rest the cone-shaped end in a forked tree to play it! The natural horn from Africa is made from an antelope’s horn.

Musical shells

Long ago, people discovered that some giant seashells were excellent ready- made trumpets. In parts of India, a trumpet made from a conch shell like the one is blown at Hindu festival In the Pacific islands of Fiji, the largest shell of all, called a triton, is blown to announce the opening of the local fish market.

Sound cones

Try this experiment to see why cones are good for sound. Roll a large piece of paper or cardboard into a cone shape. Speak into the narrow end. Your voice will be made louder as it comes out of the wider, flared end. You have just made a megaphone. ‘Mega’ and ‘phone’ are Greek words meaning large-voice’. The cone-shaped end of a trumpet or horn, called the bell, pushes the sound forwards, making it louder. We say that the bell amplifies the sound.

Playing the trumpet

You have to use your lips to force air into a trumpet or horn and produce a good sound. Take a deep breath. Tighten your lips together. Now force the air out between your lips.

You will hear a sound like a buzzing bee. That’s the air vibrating as it is pushed out between your lips. It is this vibration that makes the sound you recognize when horns and trumpets are played. Use your cardboard trumpets to blow some loud sounds or shout across the room to your friends!

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