3._Family_of_instruments_pkg

Family of Instruments

Categories of Instruments

• Instruments can be categorized based on how sound is produced:

  • Aerophone: Sound produced by a vibrating column of air.

  • Idiophone: Simple solid instruments producing sound by being struck, scraped, or shaken.

  • Membranophone: Sound produced by striking or rubbing a skin or membrane stretched across a resonating air chamber.

  • Chordophone: Sound produced by striking, rubbing, or plucking a tight string.

  • Electrophones: Instruments that produce sound with the aid of electricity.

Additional Instrument Classification

• Instruments can also be categorized as:

  • Brass

  • Woodwind

  • String

  • Electronic

  • Keyboard

  • Percussion

Types of Instruments

Woodwind Instruments

• Single Reed:

  • Clarinets

  • Saxophones

• Double Reed:

  • Oboes (including English horns)

  • Bassoons

• No Reed:

  • Piccolos

  • Flutes

Brass Instruments

• Trumpets

• French horns

• Trombones

• Baritones

• Euphoniums

• Tubas

Percussion Instruments

• Definite pitch: Producing specific notes when struck.

  • Timpani

  • Xylophones

  • Vibraphones

  • Orchestra bells

• Indefinite pitch: No specific note produced.

  • Bass drum

  • Snare drum

  • Woodblocks

  • Maracas

String Instruments

• Violin

• Viola

• Cello

• Double bass

• Acoustic guitar

• Mandolin

Electronic Instruments

• Electric guitars

• Synthesizers

• Computers (MIDI)

• Piano

• Organ

• Harpsichord

How Sound is Produced by Selected Instruments

• Flute/Piccolo: Aerophone, Woodwind

• Clarinet: Aerophone, Woodwind

• Saxophones: Aerophone, Woodwind

• Bassoon: Aerophone, Woodwind

• Trumpet: Aerophone, Brass

• Trombone: Aerophone, Brass

• Drums: Indefinite pitch, Percussion

• Xylophone: Definite pitch, Percussion

• Guitar: Chordophone, String

• Violin: Chordophone, String

• Cello: Chordophone, String

• Keyboard instruments: Electronic or acoustic family, Piano, Organ

The Orchestra Layout

• Typical symphony orchestra includes:

  • Percussion (Blue): Timpani, Snare drum

  • Brass (Yellow): Trumpets, Trombones, French horns

  • Woodwind (Green): Clarinets, Oboes, Flutes

  • Strings (Red): 1st violins, 2nd violins, Violas, Cellos, Double basses, Harp

  • Conductor: Directs the performance.

Facts about the Orchestra

• Orchestration: The art of arranging music for an orchestra.

• Ensemble: A group of instruments playing together.

• Chamber Orchestra: A small orchestra.

• Conductor: The person directing the orchestra.

• Instrumentation: The collection of instruments performing a piece.

• Polyphony: Multiple voices played together, providing a harmonious musical texture.

Crossword Instrument Clues

Across

1. Percussion with stretched skin (Drum type)

2. High pitched woodwind (Flute or Piccolo)

3. Brass instrument without valves (Trombone)

4. Low pitched double reed woodwind (Bassoon)

5. Woodwind without reed, usually made of metal (Flute)

6. Mid-range double reed woodwind (Oboe)

7. Common name for harmonica (Mouth organ)

8. Brass instrument with valves and circular coils (Trumpet)

9. Large deep percussion with stretched skin (Bass Drum)

Down

1. Largest in the string family (Double Bass)

2. Single reed instrument made of brass (Saxophone)

3. Keyboard instrument (Piano)

4. Double reed woodwind instrument (Oboe)

5. Brass instrument with valves (French Horn)

6. Stringed instrument (Guitar)

7. Stringed instrument which rests on a floor while being played (Harp)

8. Highest pitched in the string family (Violin)

9. Percussion instrument clashed together in pairs (Cymbals)

10. Instrument with many strings which is not played with a bow (Harp)