One of the earliest choices the parents of any trumpet player make is whether their child will begin playing on the trumpet or cornet. Sometimes that choice is a foregone conclusion: Little Johnny was given the trumpet or cornet that was gathering dust in your Uncle Herbert’s attic for 40 years, so naturally that’s what he will play! However, when give the choice, parents should at least consider starting their child on the Bb cornet instead of the Bb trumpet.

Why start on the cornet instead of the trumpet? And what is the difference between a trumpet and a cornet in the first place? For the purposes of a young beginner, the trumpet and the cornet are virtually indistinguishable. Plenty of excellent trumpet players began on the trumpet, and plenty began on the cornet. That said, the trumpet does have disadvantages that can lead young beginners to develop certain bad habits. In many cases, those bad habits are very difficult to correct and could have been avoided by starting on the cornet.

In what ways are trumpets and cornets similar?

In many aspects, the Bb trumpet and cornet are virtually indistinguishable. They both have a mouthpiece of about the same size and shape, and their metal tubing is about the same length to produce a similar range of pitches. Trumpets and cornets have the flared bells characteristic of all brass instruments, and, in the United States, nearly all trumpets and cornets have three piston valves (as opposed to the rotary valves more popular in Europe).

In what ways are trumpet and cornets different?

Compared to the trumpet, the cornet is more compact and held closer to the body than the trumpet. The bore (internal tubing diameter) of the cornet is also more conical than the bore of the trumpet, which is more cylindrical. As a result, the cornet has a mellower, less penetrating tone than the trumpet. If you’d like to see and hear these subtle but important differences for yourself, please watch the following video:

(Download video: Tpt_v_Cornet_Part1)

 

Should I start my son or daughter on the trumpet or the cornet?

As mentioned, plenty of excellent trumpet players began on the trumpet rather than on the cornet. Thus, parents should not fret too much about the “trumpet vs. cornet” issue if they already have their hands on a good beginning instrument for their child. However, because starting on the trumpet can lead to certain bad habits, we at Front Range Academy of Music recommend starting aspiring trumpet players on the cornet whenever possible.

Because the trumpet is held farther out from the body than the cornet, some young people have a difficult time holding up the instrument for extended periods of time. As a result, young beginners often hold the trumpet at an angle that droops too far to the ground, leading to embouchure problems. Young beginners may also squish their elbows in towards their chests to support the trumpet. This restricts breathing, an obvious problem for any brass player. For a visual demonstration of these problems, please see the following video:

(Download video: Tpt_v_Cornet_Part2)

 

If you have any questions about renting or buying a trumpet or cornet for your son or daughter, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would also be happy to schedule a free trial lesson. Happy practicing!