Woodwind Family Woodwind Family Characteristics Originally made from

Woodwind Family

Woodwind Family Characteristics • Originally made from wood • Mouthpiece: fixed hole, single reed, double reed • Single column • Keys to cover holes in the body • Bell

More About the Woodwind Family • Woodwinds are any instrument that is played by forcing air past a vibrating reed or across an opening • Woodwinds are made of all kinds of materials, but mainly wood and metal. • A reed is a small piece of cane wood that is used on the mouthpiece – Single reed – Double reed is different in that both sides are cane, rather than part of a mouthpiece

Clarinet • • • Popular woodwind instrument Can play a range of notes from high to low Single reed Held vertically Bell

Saxophone • The saxophone looks like it ought to be a brass instrument, it’s in the woodwind family because the player uses a reed. • Single reed instrument • Used in jazz music • Easier to play than the other woodwinds • Bright sound • Held vertically

Oboe • • Looks a lot like the English horn Snake charmers used this instrument Double reed Held vertically

English Horn • Double reed • Held vertically • Funny shaped bell “Egg Head” • Look a lot like the oboe

Bassoon • Largest in the Woodwind family (Almost 8 feet long) • Plays the lowest sound in the family and orchestra • Held vertically • Double reed

Flute • Originally made from wood but is now made out of silver-nickel • Played by blowing the breath across the opening • Plays high pitches (but not as high as the piccolo) • Held horizontal (to the side)

Piccolo • Piccolo mean “little flute” in Italian • Smallest in the Woodwind family • Plays the highest pitches in the Woodwind family and the entire orchestra • Played horizontally (to the side) • No reed just a fixed hole

Single Reed • Clarinet • Saxophone

Double Reed • Oboe • English horn • Bassoon

No Reed • Piccolo • Flute

Woodwind Family Sound • Woodwinds are played by blowing into them through the reed or across the top of a hole cut into the instrument. The noise comes from the vibrating air resonating inside the tube. • To change the pitch, the player opens or closes holes cut into the instrument with his/her fingers or by pushing levers (keys) that cover the holes.