1. Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion & Keyboards
Instrument Families
Strings, Woodwinds, Brass,
Percussion & Keyboards
Prior to beginning this unit: Homework – go to In the first column under “Music information - Theory” Click on “Instruments”. Explore the sounds of the different instrument families. Write down the short sentence that introduces each instrument family and explains how the instruments make sound.

2. Orchestral Strings
Violin
Cello
Yo Yo Ma
Double
Bass
Viola

3. 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?

4. 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)

5. 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

6. Orchestral Woodwinds
Flute Oboe Clarinet Bassoon

7. Woodwinds Characteristics
Sound is produced by…
Instruments are made up of…
Pitch is changed by…
Other common woodwinds are…
Where/How are woodwinds commonly used today?

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Orchestral Brass
Trumpet French Horn Trombone Tuba/Sousaphone

11. 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?

12. Brass Characteristics
Sound is produced by…
Buzzing Lips (creating vibration by blowing Air) into a Cupped Mouthpiece
Instruments are made up of…
Metal Mouthpiece
Valves/slides
Bell
Metal 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

13. Brass Characteristics (con’t)
Other common brass instruments are…
Euphonium
Where/How is brass commonly used today?
Marching Bands, Race Tracks, Outdoors

14. 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

15. Orchestral Percussion
Timpani Snare Drum CYMBALS Marimba/xylophone BASS DRUM Triangle

16. 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?

17. Percussion Characteristics
Sound is produced by…
Hitting one object with another
Instruments are made up of…
Absolutely Anything
Does it Make a Sound when you hit it? Congratulations, you have a percussion Instrument!
Do Percussion Instruments have Pitch?
Pitched Vs. Unpitched

18. Percussion Characteristics
Other common Percussion instruments are…
Drum Set Conga Steel Drum
Where/How is Percussion commonly used today?
Rock & Roll Military Marching bands

19. Keyboards
Keyboard Instruments can come from any of the four instrument families. Keyboards can sometimes be classified in several different categories at once

20. Piano – Both Strings and Percussion

21. Organ - Wind
Not an organ

22. Harpsichord - String
The 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.