How to Play the Cornet

Learning to play any musical instrument can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. Learning to play brass instruments, particularly the cornet, requires a passion for music, dedication and precision. Here are some tips to remember when learning to play the cornet.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Find a quality instrument. Whether purchasing a brand new instrument or renting one from a music supply store to try it out. The sound quality produced is directly related to the quality of craftsmanship put into building the instrument. Purchasing a cheap cornet will lead to poor sound and possibly faulty components. Find a well-made cornet by a reputable name.

2. Tune your instrument properly. Cornets need to have each of their three button valves, as well as both their slide valves, well-lubricated and adjusted to the proper tuning level. Use an electronic tuner until you develop a sense for knowing when the instrument is in and out of pitch. Make cleaning, oiling and lubricating your cornet a regular part of your practice routine.

3. Exercise the necessary muscles. The mouth has numerous small muscles that work together to produce the sound that a cornet makes. Because a cornet only has three valves, every change in pitch and note relies mostly on shifts in mouth placement and strength. Perform "buzzing" exercises to increase the strength of these muscles, and stretch the fingers prior to playing to increase dexterity and improve your overall playing ability.

4. Get a tutor. At least in the beginning stages of learning to play the cornet, the instruction of a knowledgeable tutor is invaluable. A tutor helps you with training exercises to strengthen your muscles, designs a practice regimen to improve tone and pitch and generally helps you learn the basics of cornet playing.

5. Practice, practice, practice. The only way to get better at playing the cornet is to dedicate yourself to improving your skills and practice a lot. Set aside at least an hour a day to practice and work on skills you need to improve upon. Keep a daily log of practice time to keep yourself honest, and if you skip a day, make sure you make it up the next day. Practicing on a regular basis sharpens your skills, and your abilities will grow.

6. Learn from the greats. Be inspired by learning about and listening to some of the great cornet and trumpet players of the past. Check out Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong and their feats of brass genius.