WOODWINDS The instruments in this family create a sound when the reed inside them vibrates. Most woodwind players blow into a piece of cane in the mouthpiece, called a reed, to make notes. The first woodwind instruments were all made of wood, but today some, such as the saxophone, are made of metal. You can hear many of these instruments playing classical music in an orchestra. The woodwind section usually includes flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons and sometimes a saxophone. Today many of these instruments also play other types of music including folk, rock, pop and jazz.

COR ANGLAIS Cor anglai is French for English horn, but no-one knows, how it got its name, as it is not a horn, nor it is English. It is a member of the oboe family, and plays lower notes than the oboe, making a soft sad sound. The cor anglais has a curved brass tube at the top called a cook, which holds the reeds. The instrument has finger holes covered by small metal caps called keys.

FLUTE I will finish explaining this instrument, the flute. These instrument creates a sound when the air inside them vibrates. The longer the instrument, the lower notes it plays. Most early woodwinds instruments were made of wood, but today many are made of metal or plastic. You can hear some of these instruments playing classical music in an orchestra. The woodwind section of an orchestra includes flutes and a piccolo, playing alongside with clarinets, oboes, bassoons and sometimes a saxophone.

Other flutes play traditional or classical music from many different parts of the world, or can be heard in dance, folk, rock, pop and jazz bands. Do you know how many parts a concert flute has? The concert flute has several keys, which look like small metal caps, on the middle joint. The flautist holds these down to make different notes. The concert flute plays in the wind section of an orchestra. Its highest notes are strong and bright, while its low notes are round and mellow. The first flutes were wooden, but today most flutes are made of metal: there are even silver and gold flutes.