Introduction to Introduction to Woodwind Family:Woodwind Family:

History of the FluteHistory of the Flute

55thth Grade General Music Grade General Music

Miss KresevicMiss Kresevic

Woodwind FamilyWoodwind Family

Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, BassoonOboe, Saxophone, Bassoon

The flute and piccolo are The flute and piccolo are wind instruments that wind instruments that produce sound by blowing air produce sound by blowing air over the mouthpieceover the mouthpiece

Other woodwinds like the Other woodwinds like the clarinet, oboe, saxophone clarinet, oboe, saxophone and bassoon have a reed and bassoon have a reed that vibrates to produce a that vibrates to produce a soundsound

Woodwind Woodwind CharacteristicsCharacteristics Typically the smaller the Typically the smaller the

instrument the higher pitch it can instrument the higher pitch it can produceproduce

For example the piccolo can play For example the piccolo can play the highest pitch in the woodwind the highest pitch in the woodwind family and the bassoon the family and the bassoon the lowest pitchlowest pitch

Woodwind instruments come in Woodwind instruments come in many different colorsmany different colors

For example clarinets and oboes For example clarinets and oboes come in black, whereas flutes come in black, whereas flutes and piccolos are silver, and and piccolos are silver, and saxophones are gold, bassoons saxophones are gold, bassoons are typically brown in colorare typically brown in color

Single Reed & Double Reed Single Reed & Double Reed vs. No Reedsvs. No Reeds

Single reed instruments include the Single reed instruments include the clarinet and saxophone, and the reed is clarinet and saxophone, and the reed is connected to the mouthpiece to produce connected to the mouthpiece to produce soundsound

Double reed instruments include the oboe Double reed instruments include the oboe and the bassoon, and do not have a and the bassoon, and do not have a mouthpiece, only a double reed connected mouthpiece, only a double reed connected to the body of the instrument using to the body of the instrument using vibrations to create soundvibrations to create sound

Instruments that use no reeds to produce Instruments that use no reeds to produce sound include flute and piccolo. The sound include flute and piccolo. The musician must blow air over the musician must blow air over the mouthpiece to create sound.mouthpiece to create sound.

PiccoloPiccolo

Smaller version of the fluteSmaller version of the flute Half the size of the flute Half the size of the flute Notes and fingerings are exactly the sameNotes and fingerings are exactly the same Only difference is that it produces a higher Only difference is that it produces a higher

pitchpitch

FluteFlute

Was first made of woodWas first made of wood Originally had only 5 keys, eventually Originally had only 5 keys, eventually

developed into models with more keysdeveloped into models with more keys Now normally made of metalNow normally made of metal Produces a very bright soundProduces a very bright sound

ClarinetClarinet

Single reed instrumentSingle reed instrument Plays a wide range of musicPlays a wide range of music Is capable of playing wide range of notesIs capable of playing wide range of notes Perfect instrument for many different Perfect instrument for many different

types of music from classical to jazztypes of music from classical to jazz

OboeOboe

Looks similar to the clarinetLooks similar to the clarinet Used mostly for classical compositionsUsed mostly for classical compositions Only difference between clarinet and oboe Only difference between clarinet and oboe

is that the oboe is a double reed instrumentis that the oboe is a double reed instrument In a single reed instrument the reed is In a single reed instrument the reed is

connected to the mouthpiece to produce connected to the mouthpiece to produce soundsound

In a double reed instrument there is no In a double reed instrument there is no mouthpiece, only a thick reed you blow on mouthpiece, only a thick reed you blow on to produce a soundto produce a sound

SaxophoneSaxophone Single reed instrumentSingle reed instrument Depending on the musician can Depending on the musician can

sound mellow or strongsound mellow or strong Has a curved shape compared to Has a curved shape compared to

other woodwindsother woodwinds Gold in color compared to silver Gold in color compared to silver

and black woodwindsand black woodwinds Capable of playing a large variety Capable of playing a large variety

of music from pop to big band to of music from pop to big band to jazz to classicaljazz to classical

BassoonBassoon Largest of the woodwindsLargest of the woodwinds Plays very low notesPlays very low notes ““Backbone of the orchestra”Backbone of the orchestra” Black in color like Oboe and Black in color like Oboe and

ClarinetClarinet Double reed instrumentDouble reed instrument

History of the FluteHistory of the Flute

Oldest known wind instrumentOldest known wind instrument First made 9First made 9thth century BC century BC Has evolved, or changed over timeHas evolved, or changed over time 1919thth century marked great modifications century marked great modifications

for the flutefor the flute

Theobald Boehm Theobald Boehm (1794 – 1881)(1794 – 1881)

Bavarian court musicianBavarian court musician Designed new types of Designed new types of

flutes in 1832 and 1847flutes in 1832 and 1847 Development of the 1847 Development of the 1847

model were also model were also designed by French designed by French makers and copied by makers and copied by Americans & JapaneseAmericans & Japanese

This formed the basis for This formed the basis for the modern flutethe modern flute

Eight Keyed FlutesEight Keyed Flutes(Before 1832)(Before 1832)

Wooden body, one piece and 8 keysWooden body, one piece and 8 keys Used mechanical means to alter flute Used mechanical means to alter flute

fingering positionsfingering positions Sound like a trumpet and not a fluteSound like a trumpet and not a flute Included mechanics that required the Included mechanics that required the

motion of fingers to specific tone holesmotion of fingers to specific tone holes These instruments allowed Boehm to These instruments allowed Boehm to

create a flute with a model other than create a flute with a model other than previous traditional designsprevious traditional designs

Boehm’s Second Model Boehm’s Second Model (1847)(1847)

Circular shapeCircular shape Metal tube instead of woodenMetal tube instead of wooden Was the first commercial flute availableWas the first commercial flute available In Paris & LondonIn Paris & London Germans thought the new tone was less flute Germans thought the new tone was less flute

like than the older flute modelslike than the older flute models Partly for this reason this modernized flute was Partly for this reason this modernized flute was

made with wood more often than metalmade with wood more often than metal

Benefits of the New Benefits of the New ModelModel

Easier to playEasier to play More pleasing to the ear More pleasing to the ear Able to produce broader range of notesAble to produce broader range of notes Easier maintenance/last longerEasier maintenance/last longer Commercially available to a wide range of flute Commercially available to a wide range of flute

players at many different levelsplayers at many different levels Comprised of three pieces which allows a Comprised of three pieces which allows a

musician to tune to other instruments in a more musician to tune to other instruments in a more efficient mannerefficient manner

Fun Flute Fact Check . . .Fun Flute Fact Check . . .(according to today’s lesson)(according to today’s lesson)

1.1. Why is a flute a woodwind? Is it really wood?Why is a flute a woodwind? Is it really wood?

2.2. True or false: Flutes were first developed with 5 keysTrue or false: Flutes were first developed with 5 keys

3.3. True or false: Flutes produce a higher pitch than piccolosTrue or false: Flutes produce a higher pitch than piccolos

4.4. List woodwind instruments that use a reed to produce a sound.List woodwind instruments that use a reed to produce a sound.

5.5. List woodwind instruments that don’t use a reed.List woodwind instruments that don’t use a reed.

6.6. Who was known for creating the modern day flute?Who was known for creating the modern day flute?

7.7. Which woodwind instrument is the oldest?Which woodwind instrument is the oldest?

8.8. Which is the only woodwind instrument to have a curved body?Which is the only woodwind instrument to have a curved body?

9.9. True or false: The largest of the woodwind instruments is the bassoonTrue or false: The largest of the woodwind instruments is the bassoon

10.10. True of false: Theobald Boehm was a Bavarian court musician who True of false: Theobald Boehm was a Bavarian court musician who designed the modern day piccolodesigned the modern day piccolo