Topic 2: Musical Instruments and Voices

The Voice (Singing)

• The most f____ and n____ way for humans to m____ m_____

• E____ is e____ through w____, known as l____

• D____ c____ produce d____ m____ of singing (e.g. Asian singing tends to be more nasal than its Western counterpart)

• D____ g____ also employ d____ t____ during singing (e.g. Country singers frequently utilizes twang to create a bright sound while rock and metal singers utilize rasp and scream to create a rough and distorted vocal texture to convey its rebellious nature)

Range

• ___ octaves in a t____ voice

• ~____ octaves in an u____ voice

Pitch

• M___ voices tend to have a l____ register because they have l___ and t____ vocal folds

• W_____ have a h____ register

Classification

• SATB

• May also include m___ s____ (female) and b____ (male)

familiar, natural, make music

emotion, expressed, words, lyrics
different cultures, different methods

different musical genres, different techniques

2+, trained, 1 1/2, untrained

male, lower, longer, thicker
women, higher

mezzo soprano, baritone

Name the 6 categories of musical instruments in Western music.

1. strings

2. woodwinds

3. brass

4. percussion

5. keyboard

6. electronic

Instruments in the Orchestra: How They Produce Sound

1. String family: String vibrations

• Using the f____ of a b____, p___, or s_____

• Smaller instruments with s____, t____ strings make h____ sounds (e.g. the violin)

• Larger instruments with l____, t____ strings make l____ sounds (e.g. cello, double bass)

2. Woodwind family: Vibrations in a column of air

• B____ across the edge of a h____ (e.g. flute, piccolo)

• B____ a___ to make r____(s) vibrate (e.g. clarinet, oboe)

3. Brass family: Air vibrations

• V____ the l____ against a m____ m____ (e.g. trumpet, French horn)

4. Percussion family: Hitting, scraping, or shaking

• May have a d___ or i____ p____ (e.g. Definite: timpani, Indefinite: bass drum)

friction, bow, plucking, striking
smaller, thinner, higher
longer, thicker, lower

blowing, hole
blowing air, reed

vibrating, lips, metal mouthpiece

Factors Affecting Instrument Sound

1. S____
   Larger = l____
   Smaller = h____

2. R_____
   Low = d___ and r____
   High = b____ and p_____

1. size
   lower
   higher
   
   

2. register
   dark, rich
   brilliant, piercing

Name the 2 single-reed woodwinds in the orchestra.

1. clarinet

2. bass clarinet

Name the 4 double-reed woodwinds in the orchestra.

1. oboe

2. English horn

3. bassoon

4. contrabassoon

Name the 4 standard string instruments in the orchestra.

1. violin

2. viola

3. cello

4. double bass

Name the 4 standard woodwind instruments in the orchestra.

1. flute

2. oboe

3. clarinet

4. bassoon

Name the 4 standard brass instruments in the orchestra.

1. trumpet

2. french horn

3. trombone

4. tuba