The Case of the "Stumping Slides"

  I remember from my earlier years always having problems remembering which way the slides went. This can seem even more overwhelming on the horn, seeing as we have so many more than anyone else. People will comment on how you're sharp or flat, and then you're stuck not knowing what to do.

Which way to you pull/push the slides if you're sharp/flat?

  This is a rule for every slide, no matter what: you push in if you're flat, and you pull out if you're sharp. This might seem a bit confusing but there actually is some simple science to support why this happens.

  As you pull the slide out, the brass instrument is actually getting longer, and vice versa for pushing in. As you change the length of a brass instrument, it changes the pitch. Here are a couple easy ways to remember this...

• If you take a string and make it longer, like on a guitar or violin, the pitch will go down. The same is true if you make it shorter, the pitch goes up.
• Look at a trombone, all they are is one big slide. As they go out with the slide their pitch will go down. Then when they bring it back in, it raises back up.

  I hope these couple examples help to remind you which way your slides need to go the next time your band director is yelling that the brass are sharp. Even better, if the person next to you doesn't know, now you get to be the smart person telling them the right way to do it.