Reddit reviews Technique of Orchestration, 6th Edition

Here are the ranges of typical orchestral instruments. C4 is the The as middle C, C3 is the octave below middle C, and C5 is the octave above.

The things that a computer can make a trumpet sound do and what a trumpet (or any instrument) can do is VERY different. I would suggest picking up an orchestration book from your school's library. This one is pretty basic, and this one is really good..

But the best way to find out what an instrument can and can't do is to ASK A PERFORMER. Almost every instrument is different (has its own tendencies) and every performer is different (mouth, hand span, etc).