What Is a Youth Brass Band?

A youth brass band consists of a group young musicians who play brass instruments. The specific age of musical group members may vary, but in most instances, members of youth musical groups can range in age from toddlers to adults in their early twenties. Members of a youth brass band perform musical concerts in schools, concert halls, or other venues.

Brass bands include musicians who are able to play brass instruments, such as the trumpet, trombone, tuba, French horn, euphonium, and flugelhorn. Although saxophones are often made of brass they are regarded as wind rather than brass instruments, so saxophonists are not usually found in brass bands. A large youth brass band normally has at least one musician to play each kind of instrument, whereas small bands may only feature people who are able to play two or three different instruments.

The tuba is the largest brass instrument and makes the deepest sound. In many instances, the tuba player in a youth brass band sets the tempo of the song by playing short notes in a staccato pattern. A euphonium looks similar to a tuba but has a higher pitched sound.

French horns are spiral shaped instruments that extends to 17 feet (5.18 m) in length if unraveled. Regarded by some musicians as the toughest instrument to play, French horn players usually play the instrument with their right hand placed inside its bell. The French horn is often used in tunes intermittently and, like the tuba and euphonium, the French horn player does not usually play the main melody of the music that the band performs.

Trumpets are the smallest brass instruments and the most versatile. Typically, a youth brass band features several trumpet players, and these musicians normally play the main melodies. A flugelhorn is a German instrument that resembles in a trumpet in terms of appearance and sound. The trombone is larger than the trumpet, and musicians play it by sliding an extendable section of the instrument in and out of its main body. A trombone can be used like a tuba to set a tempo or to carry the melody.

A youth brass band normally features a number of musicians who have different levels of ability. Experienced band members normally perform solos that are accompanied by the whole band. The least experienced members of the band are usually assigned to play simple sections of music until they have developed the skills that are necessary to take on more challenging pieces of music. Youth brass bands are often found in schools or organized by municipalities and civic groups.