From the light tones of the flute to the deep resonance of the bassoon, woodwind instruments are a true joy to listen to. They bring clarity to the orchestra, harmony to the marching band, and happiness to anyone listening. If you want to learn how to play, take woodwind lessons in Nutley, NJ, to sharpen your skills.
What Makes Woodwind Instruments Unique?
The sounds that come from woodwind instruments happen when the player’s exhaled breath splits across a sharp edge. With flutes, that sharp edge comes from the hole the player breathes into. With reed instruments, like the clarinet or saxophone, the sharp edge comes from the reed installed in the mouthpiece of the instrument. As the air goes across the reed, it vibrates.
Flutes are the oldest identified musical instruments in history. The oldest examples date back over 40,000 years. The earliest flutes were made from bone and hollow reeds. Modern flutes are made from various metals, including nickel and copper.
Reed instruments come with one or two reeds. With the double-reed instrument, the player blows air in between the two reeds, producing sound vibrations. With a single-reed instrument, the reed vibrates against the frame of the instrument to make sound. Historians believe the double-reed design developed before the single reed, likely from the end of a split cane.
Some of the less common woodwind instruments include the harmonica, panpipes, crumhorn, shawms, and bagpipes.
Learning to Play the Woodwind Instruments
Learning to play woodwind instruments requires practice and the ability to control your breath. You have dozens of instruments to try out, ranging from concert oboes to a full set of bagpipes. The good news is that you can enjoy woodwind lessons in Nutley, NJ, to learn an instrument or improve your skills. Nutley School of Music offers quality music instruction in a friendly environment.
