In this video lesson, Nick Drozdoff demonstrates how the overtone series you get when a string or wind column is the same at both ends (for example both ends of a string are fixed or both ends of the wind column are open, like a lute or penny-whistle) give a series of all integer multiples of a fundamental frequency and that when a wind column (true for a string two) is capped at one end, you only get the odd multiples. Next we discuss the fact that the only way you can get octaves is with an instrument that is the same at both ends. However, a trumpet clearly plays octaves. It is demonstrated that this is due to the fact that the trumpet is not cylindrical. It has about 1/3 (actually more, these days) conical tubing. The tapered tubing collapses the odd only series filling in the gaps left behind by the missing evens producing an extremely good approximation of the all integer series.This clip is going to be located both here and on Nick Drozdoff's Science Olympiad page.

1. Why do Light-Weight Trumpets "Play Brighter"?
2. How Does a Trumpet Work?
3. Beats and Multiphonics on a Bass Trumpet
4. Timbre and Harmonics and Pedal Tones as Applied to Trumpet and Flugelhorn
5. On Trumpet Mouthpieces and Tone (Part One)
6. Shattering Glass with the Un-amplified Sound of a Trumpet

Ever wonder how a musical brass instrument such as the trumpet works in terms of physical and scientific phenomena?

In this course, professional trumpeter and Physics teacher Nick Drozdoff gives 10 video lessons explaining the beautiful connection between Physics and Music, focusing on the mechanism behind the trumpet.