Instruments of the woodwind family are used today in orchestras and bands, and can be heard in many different types of music, from classical to jazz.
Woodwind instruments work by blowing air (or wind) across an edge which causes the air inside the instrument to vibrate. This edge can be either a thin piece of cane (called a reed), or be the edge of a hole that the player blows across (like blowing across a bottle). Whilst many woodwind instruments are made out of wood, some are made out of metal. To change notes on a woodwind instrument a player changes how long the tube is by covering holes down its length with their fingers – at a basic level, the more fingers that are covering the holes, the lower the note will be!
Be sure to check back and look out for the most well-known members of the woodwind family!
Woodwind instruments work by blowing air (or wind) across an edge which causes the air inside the instrument to vibrate. This edge can be either a thin piece of cane (called a reed), or be the edge of a hole that the player blows across (like blowing across a bottle). Whilst many woodwind instruments are made out of wood, some are made out of metal. To change notes on a woodwind instrument a player changes how long the tube is by covering holes down its length with their fingers – at a basic level, the more fingers that are covering the holes, the lower the note will be!
Be sure to check back and look out for the most well-known members of the woodwind family!