Meet the Instrument Families!
There are 4 instrument families in the band and orchestra. Each family has their own unique sound and way that they create sound! Lets meet the families!
Meet the instruments!
Violin
[V-eye-oh-lynn] Smallest and HIGHEST pitched member of the family. Held on the shoulder and can be played sitting or standing.
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Viola
[Vee-oh-la] Second smallest and MEDIUM HIGH pitched member of the family. Also held on the shoulder and can be played sitting or standing.
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Cello
[Ch-ell-oh] Second largest and MEDIUM LOW pitched member of the family. Uses a peg on the floor and can only be played sitting down.
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Bass
[B-ay-sss] Largest and LOWEST
pitched member of the family. Also uses a peg on the floor and is usually played standing or sitting on a tall stool. |
How they work!
Pipe Instruments
Single Reed Instruments
Double Reed Instruments
How they work!
These instruments work in two ways, either by blowing air over a small opening (pipe style instruments) or by using a reed made from bamboo (single or double reed instruments). As the air moves over the opening or between the mouthpiece and the reed, [or the space between two reeds for the double reeds], it vibrates the air inside of the instrument. When you want to change the pitch on the instrument you press down the keys to cover holes in different combinations to create specific tones on the staff.
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(Instruments are not proportionate in size)
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Here are some close up pictures of single reeds and how they attach to the instrument!
The single reed is thin and attaches to the mouthpiece of the saxophone or clarinet with a ligature
Here is a close up of the double reeds and how the attach to their instrument.
The double reed is two thin reeds back to back with a tiny amount of space between them for air to pass through. The Bassoon reed is larger and fits on the bocal [bow-cal], while the Oboe reed is wrapped inside a small piece of cork and goes inside a tiny opening in the top of the instrument.
Trumpet
Smallest member of the family. Uses valves to change pitch.
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French Horn
Second smallest member of the family. Uses rotary valves to change pitch.
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Trombone
Second largest member of the family. Uses a slide and stops at specific positions to create pitch.
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Tuba
Largest member of the family. Uses valves to change pitch.
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How they work!
These are the different sizes of mouthpiece!
(from left to right) Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba |
The brass family instruments get their name from the material they are made from. They are made from a metal called Brass. They all use a special mouthpiece that is shaped like a cup. In order to make sound on them you put your lips tightly together and make a "buzzing" sound with your lips! Watch this band director teach her students how to make sound on their mouthpieces! Try to make a buzz yourself! |
Most of the brass family instruments use VALVES to help change pitch. Unlike the woodwind instruments there are only 3 VALVES! Most of the change in the tones comes from how fast or slow you blow air into the instrument and vibrate your lips as well as different vavle combinations.
Faster vibration = higher pitch Slower vibration = lower pitch |
Pitched Keyboard Instruments
Glockenspiel
This is the highest pitched keyboard instrument. It uses either a brass mallet or a plastic mallet. The bars are made from metal, usually aluminium.
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Xylophone
This instrument has middle to high pitches. It uses a plastic or rubber mallet to strike the bars. The bars are made from wood or synthetic wood.
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Vibraphone
This instrument has middle to high pitches. It uses a plastic mallet wrapped in chord to strike the bars. The bars are made from metal and it has a special pedal to let the sound ring for a long time.
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Marimba
This instrument has low to high pitches. It uses a rubber mallet sometimes wrapped in special yarn to strike the bars. The bars are made from wood or synthetic wood.
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Chimes
This instrument has medium rang pitches. It uses a special hammer (not the building kind) to strike the top of the tube. The tubes are made from metal or brass and has a special pedal to let the sound ring longer. It sound like large bells!
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How they work! - Keyboard Percussion
Keyboard percussion instruments work by striking the center of the bars with different types of mallets! Different mallets give the instrument different sound. Softer mallets give them a gentle and warm sound, while harder mallets give the them a sharp bright sound! The sound will last longer on instruments with metal bars than instruments with wooden or synthetic bars.
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Drums
Snare Drum
The snare drum has a very light crisp sound. Its sound is created by striking the top head while the vibrating air inside vibrates the snare wires that are stretched across the bottom head. You strike the drum with wooden sticks.
Bass Drum
A very LARGE drum, the bass drum creates a low deep sound. It is played using a large mallet to strike the head. Different sizes of mallets help to create different effects on the drum
Timpani
The timpani are made from large copper "kettles" with a head stretched over the top. You can change their pitch be moving the pedals up or down to change the pitch! They use a wooden mallet with a cotton wrap to strike the head.
Accessories
Crash Cymbals & Suspended Cymbal
Cymbals are made from brass that is flattened thin and shaped to create a *CRASH* or a *WOOSH* sound! The Crash Cymbals are smashed together to create sound while the Suspended Cymbal is attached to a stand and is struck or rolled with a pair of mallets or sticks.
Woodblock
Made from a solid block of wood, they carve a small cavity for the air to vibrate inside of it. It is struck on top of the opening with a rubber mallet or wooden stick.
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Tambourine
Made from wooden hoop with a head stretched over the top and small jingles create the sound of this instrument. You use your hand to strike the head.
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Triangle
The triangle is a solid piece of metal that is suspended from a piece of string and is struck with a metal beater. It create a very bright *DING* sound when struck.
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Listen to them here!
When all of these families come together in the orchestra or band, they create BEAUTIFUL music! They can be performed in smaller ensembles like Chamber Orchestras, Quintets, or Quartets, Jazz Combos, or even performed solo!
When composers are writing music, they have to think about the unique sound that each instrument can create and how they can find NEW ways to use these instruments to tell stories through music!
When composers are writing music, they have to think about the unique sound that each instrument can create and how they can find NEW ways to use these instruments to tell stories through music!
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Follow the link to explore each of the instruments and even some we didn't get to talk about through the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's website!
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