Directions: Read the following information, view the videos, and complete the assignment at the end.
The Woodwind Family
Think about a coach blowing a whistle to get your attention. The noise may sound harsh. It is not too different
from original woodwind instruments. The first woodwind instruments were hollow pieces of wood: one end was
open and the other end was closed. By blowing into the open end, people made whistles. Over time these
instruments became more complicated. Since they were made of wood, they became known as the woodwind
family.
Today, woodwind instruments are made of wood, metal, plastic or some combination. They are all basically
narrow cylinders or pipes, with holes, an opening at the bottom end and a mouthpiece at the top. Keys cover
the holes of most woodwind instruments. They are played by blowing air through the mouthpiece (that's the
"wind" in "woodwind") and opening or closing the holes with your fingers to change the pitch.
The mouthpieces for some woodwinds, including the clarinet, oboe and bassoon, use a thin piece of wood
called a reed
, which vibrates when you blow across it. The clarinet uses a single reed made of one piece of
wood, while the oboe and bassoon use a double reed made of two pieces joined together. The smaller
woodwinds play higher pitches, while the longer and larger instruments play the lower notes.
The woodwind family of instruments includes these basic instruments, from the highest sounding instruments
to the lowest: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone.
The Woodwind Family:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEt1Mm8sSkA
The flute:
The flute is the oldest of all instruments that produce pitched sounds (not just rhythms), and was originally
made from wood, stone, clay or hollow reeds like bamboo. Modern flutes are made of silver, gold or platinum.
A standard flute is a little over 2 feet long and is often featured playing the melody. Flutists play by holding it
sideways with both hands and blowing across a hole in the mouthpiece, much like blowing across the top of a
bottle. Their fingers open and close the keys, which changes the pitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLUjWLHZDfY
