instrument families strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion & keyboards
TRANSCRIPT
Instrument Families
Strings, Woodwinds, Brass,Percussion & Keyboards
Orchestral Strings
Yo Yo Ma
Violin
Viola
Cello
DoubleBass
Strings Characteristics
Sound is produced by… Instruments are made up of… Pitch is changed by… Other common strings are… Where/How are strings commonly
used today?
Strings Characteristics
Sound is produced by…The vibration of the strings by the finger or
bow
Instruments are made up of…Wood, strings, the bow, sound hole, neck,
pegs (frets) Pitch is changed by…
Lengthening or shortening the string by pressing the finger down on the neck (or by the design of the instrument I.e. the harp)
Strings Characteristics (con’t) Other common strings are…
The harp The Guitar
Where/How are strings commonly used today? Orchestral music, Rock & Roll, Weddings (String Quartets), Horror movies
Orchestral WoodwindsFlute Oboe
Clarinet Bassoon
Woodwinds CharacteristicsSound is produced by…Instruments are made up of…Pitch is changed by…Other common woodwinds are…Where/How are woodwinds commonly used
today?
Woodwinds Characteristics
Sound is produced by… Sound is produced by blowing air through a reed or over a hole. In
the case of a reed, the air makes the reed vibrate producing a characteristic sound.
Instruments are made up of… Reeds – single or double Bell Keys
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FLUTE??? Sometimes in music, there are more exceptions than rules.
Pitch is changed by… Pressing a key to change the distance the air has to travel.
The longer the distance, the lower the sound.
Woodwind Characteristics (con’t)Other common woodwinds are…
Saxophone Piccolo Recorder
Where/How are woodwinds commonly used today?Oboe tuning Military Bands Ethnic Music
Jazz/Wind Ensembles
Orchestral BrassTrumpet French Horn
Trombone Tuba/Sousaphone
Brass Characteristics Sound is produced by… Instruments are made up of… Pitch is changed by… Other common brass instruments are… Where/How is brass commonly used
today? Why isn’t Saxophone a Brass
Instrument? Why Isn’t A Flute a Brass Instrument?
Brass Characteristics Sound is produced by…
Buzzing Lips (creating vibration by blowing Air) into a Cupped Mouthpiece
Instruments are made up of…Metal MouthpieceValves/slidesBellMetal Body
Pitch is changed by…Pushing a Valve to change the distance the air has
to travel (The further the distance, the lower the sound)
But if there are only 3 valves to push, how do the instruments produce such a wide range of sounds?○ Partials = natural harmonics of the instrument –
changes according to the pressure of players lips against the mouthpiece
Brass Characteristics (con’t)
Other common brass instruments are…Euphonium
Where/How is brass commonly used today?Marching Bands, Race Tracks, Outdoors
Brass Characteristics (con’t) Why isn’t the Saxophone a Brass
Instrument?Reed Mouthpiece Metal Keys
Why Isn’t A Flute a Brass Instrument?Metal Mouthpiece (no buzzing lips) Keys
Orchestral PercussionTimpani Snare Drum CYMBALS
Marimba/xylophone BASS DRUM Triangle
Percussion Characteristics
Sound is produced by…Instruments are made up of…Do Percussion Instruments have
Pitch?Other common Percussion instruments
are…Where/How is Percussion commonly
used today?
Percussion CharacteristicsSound is produced by…
Hitting one object with another
Instruments are made up of…Absolutely AnythingDoes it Make a Sound when you hit it?
Congratulations, you have a percussion Instrument!
Do Percussion Instruments have Pitch? Pitched Vs. Unpitched
Percussion CharacteristicsOther common Percussion instruments are…
Drum Set Conga Steel Drum
Where/How is Percussion commonly used today?
Rock & Roll Military Marching bands
KeyboardsKeyboard Instruments can come from any
of the four instrument families.
Keyboards can sometimes be classified in several different categories at once
Piano – Both Strings and Percussion
Organ - Wind
Not an organ
Harpsichord - StringThe Harpsichord is characteristic of the Baroque Period.
These instruments are light-weight and portable and during the Baroque and Classical period were often transported to and from parties.
Harpsichords are also sometimes associated with Pirates. Arrgh.