The Brass Band

Students playing brass band instruments are often misunderstood by music teachers and can have trouble fitting in to school music programs. One reason for this is that low brass instruments in the brass band are played in treble clef - pretty much the same as trumpet music. Also the tenor horn is often quite unknown - it's a horn, but is pitched in E flat. This section gives you an overview of the layout of the brass band and the instruments used.  

There are some instruments used within a brass band that are played in other ensembles: the trombone, baritone horn, euphonium and tuba are also played in concert bands and orchestras, the difference being that in the brass band these instruments read transposing treble clef. An exception to this in the brass band is the bass trombone, which remains in bass clef and concert pitch. The cornet and flugelhorn are played in the brass band, but are also used in other ensembles, particularly jazz. Exclusive to the brass band is the soprano cornet, a small high-pitched cornet in E flat, and the tenor horn, also pitched in E flat. The tenor horn has an upright bell and resembles a small euphonium or tuba.