The musical term ‘con sordino’ refers to the use of a mute. There are many kinds of mute available, all of which alter both the volume and timbre of the instrument played. Brass mutes can be made from aluminium, brass, copper, plaster, cardboard, and sometimes plastic, all of which have their own tone. In recent years, ‘silent’ practise mutes have become popular, allowing players to hear their instruments through headphones without annoying the neighbours. Clearly this can be of great benefit to a practicing musician, not to say the members of his or her family! In this guide we will try to steer you through the different models available, to help you make an informed choice.

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