Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion & Keyboards Instrument Families Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion & Keyboards Prior to beginning this unit: Homework – go to http://www.musictechteacher.com/musicquizzes.htm. 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.

Orchestral Strings Violin Cello Yo Yo Ma Double Bass Viola

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 Woodwinds Flute Oboe Clarinet Bassoon

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?

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 Brass Trumpet 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 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

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 Percussion Timpani 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 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

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

Keyboards Keyboard 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 - 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.