Brass
Why Choose the Cornet?
Cornets are lovely mellow instruments.
More compact than a Trumpet
There is no assembly required.
Minimal day to day care needed.
The only consumbable is valve oil which lasts a long time and is inexpensive.
They are fairly light and easy to carry.
About the Cornet
Cornets are thought to have originated by adding valves to a Post Horn in around 1816. They sound more mellow than Trumpets and consequently were often asked to play melodic passages. The earliest cornets were made of wood but modern versions are now usually made of brass.
If we were to unravel the tubing we would find it is around 2 metres (6 1/2 feet) long.
The notes are changed by pressing down different combinations of the valves. This adds and subracts different lengths of extra tubing, effectively make the pipe longer or shorter.
Cornets and Trumpets are quite similar. They both belong to the brass family and are played by blowing into a mouthpiece and pressing down valves to change notes.
The cornet is more compact than the Trumpet meaning it is often chosen by smaller pupils. There is no requirement to swap from cornet to trumpet when pupils grow, as cornets are played in many types of band in their own right including concert bands, military bands and probably most famously brass bands as featured in the film 'Brassed Off'.
Listen to the Cornet
More useful information
Cornet maintenance is fairly minimal. Periodically you will need to oil the valves to keep them moving freely. From time to time wash the instrument inside and out with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
To avoid clogging up the instrument try not to eat or drink anything sugary before playing.
Remember to return it to its case each time after you've finished playing.
For more information on looking after your cornet click here.
