Hi all,

I am going to apologise in advance for this post as I know nothing about brass instruments ! (I did try baritone once at school but stuck with violin)

My sister-in-law bought a cornet for her daughter a couple of years ago but like most 14 yo girls (now 16), discovered make-up, boys etc and gave up.

So she is looking to sell it and thought of me. With my boys already learning piano and picking up violin we were thinking of keeping it for a few years until the boys are older and see if they took an interest. They are only 2, 4, & 6

Is it true that learning brass isn't recommended until approx age 7 - 8?

Also, she doesn't know what type of cornet it is.
Is there a Bb and Eb cornet/trumpet ?

All I know is that it has the name Amati Kraslice on it and it is brass not silver. She paid about £248 new 2- 3 yrs ago.

We were thinking that maybe they should try different brass instruments to see which suited them when and if they come to play one.

I just don't like to see instruments disappear. I tend to collect them in case the kids do decide to take it up.
That way, if they don't like it, at least they have had a go with little or no cost at all.

Hope that makes sense !

Thanks,

Fiona

£248 is very very little for any brass instrument (VERY VERY LITTLE) and it's probably not a great instrument.

There's one basic fact that all brass players will know - the larger the instrument, the largest the embouchure - the more puff you need, but the easier it is to play. Hence a trumpet is harder to play than a horn, assuming that one can get the puff out for the horn.

I think trumpet is very hard to learn at 7, or so I have been informed.

Thanks for information David. I never realised that.

What would be a suitable brass instrument for a 7ish year old ?

The brass lessons at school start at around 7yo. That's assuming he'll want to join the school brass band.

He's piano and violin on the go at the moment.

Thanks,

Fiona

Cornet is fine, easier than trumpet due to the point of resistance being shorter. Age 7-8 yep i see no problems with that. Go for it. Amati are not very good horns, yamaha had a good spell but i would'nt recommend them at the moment as the last 2 i played on were dogs, but one of my students has a yamaha and its really nice. Olds made some great cornets, as did Boosey and Hawkes. Not the 400's or Westministers though. Look for the older Emperors or Imperials they are both quite nice horns.

Thanks Tenorclef.

I shall make a note of that for future reference.

Fiona

EXCUSE ME!!!!!!!

i dont want to sound rude, but just because it is said that it's not suitable to play trumpet at 7, doesn't mean that you cant try.

i picked up trumpet when i was 6, i got my grade 5 when i was 10, and really i dont think it matters if there is no progress at young age if the student enjoys what he/she is doing.

music is about enjoyment more than anything, not age restrictions.

sorry......

just thought i'd make the point!

jaime

I dont think it is true that the cornet or trumpet can not be started at age 7 or less. I started the cornet when i was 6 and am still playing it now for my music A levels.

I often play the horn and baritone and think these are equally as difficult as trumpet/cornet no brass instrument is harder than the other

Actually the French horn is regarded as the most difficult of all the brass instruments to play due to the partials being so closer together. For example C, D & E can all be played in open postion, then of course their is mastering rotor valve system from F to Bb. A beautiful instrument to look at not my personal favourite though.

I have found that some trumpet teachers don't like to take on pupils until they have lost their front milk teeth, which probably explains the recommended age of 7. I didn't take up the trumpet myself until I was 12 though, so it wasn't a problem for me.

I would say a good age to start trumpet would be about 8. Most children start learning in year 4 so they will be at the age of about 8

A good instrument to start on in my opinion is the tenor horn