NMC Learning at Home: The Trumpet

The trumpet is one of the superstars of the musical instrument world. In this episode, Evan the Educator looks at the history of early horns, from ancient times to the modern.

Buzz into the end of a cone to make loud noises and explore volume. Then watch a previous episode on the Saxophone vs. Clarinet HERE to learn more about how the cone and cylinder shape of an instrument affects sound waves and overtones. You can also follow along using the featured spectrogram HERE.

Or build your own trumpet by following the steps below:

  • Order a plastic mouthpiece online
  • Buy some plastic tubing from the hardware store (outer diameter should be 5/8″ and inner diameter should be 1/2″)
  • Find a funnel (you can find three-packs at a dollar store)

Support music in Canada by donating to the National Music Centre (NMC). NMC is a registered charity and your donation directly shapes the future of Canadian music by providing music education programs, world-class artist development programs, and one-of-a-kind opportunities for collaboration. Learn more here.

Special thanks to the Rozsa Foundation and Calgary Foundation for their support of the NMC Learning at Home series.