Meet the Instruments!

The Flute is a  member of the woodwind family even though it´s made of metal. It´s the  smallest instrument in the band and easily fits into backpack or locker.

While most Clarinets are made of plastic, professional clarinets are made of wood. The  clarinet is slightly larger than a flute but it is still a small  instrument to carry. Making a sound on the clarinet is fairly easy. It´s  also a good instrument for students who haven´t developed a strong  sense of pitch or have difficulty singing the correct notes.

The largest member of the woodwind family is the Saxophone. Saxophones, which are made of metal, come in four sizes.  The appropriate size for beginners is called the "alto" saxophone.

The Trumpet and Cornet are two different instruments but their differences are so trivial, beginning band teachers don´t distinguish between the two. These instruments are the highest and smallest members of the brass family.

The French Horn is a  brass instrument somewhat larger than a trumpet so it’s pitched lower.  It´s a beautiful sounding instrument but beginners should be aware of a  serious difficulty with learning to play the French Horn.

The Trombone,  unlike the French Horn and Trumpet is considered 'low brass' and reads  from the bass clef, opposed to the higher treble clef that is read by  the higher instruments.  The trombone is a brass instrument with a  unique feature. Rather than valves or keys that are pushed with the  fingertips, the trombone uses a slide to change pitches.

The Baritone and  Euphonium  are two seperate instruments but the difference is minor and not  important for a beginning band student. A baritone or euphonium can be  considered a double sized trumpet or a half sized tuba.

Beginning percussionists will learn two (2) instruments - the Snare Drum  is the smallest drum in the percussion section. This is the most popular drum and is used in nearly all styles of music; and the bell kit, aka the Glockenspiel.  The sound is created by striking pieces of metal  with a plastic or wood mallet. The notes are configured like a piano keyboard and usually have the names of the notes printed on each bar.

The Violin is the smallest, and is therefore the highest in pitch.  It is also the most  popular.  It is played with the instrument under the chin while sitting  or standing, and its small size makes it easily transporable.

The Viola is very similar to the violin, only slightly larger, and slightly lower in pitch.  It may be played while sitting or standing, and it's tone is  regarded as mellow and sweet.  Like the violin, it is easily  transportable.

The Cello is much larger and lower than the viola, and must be played while sitting with the instrument between the knees.  Fortunately, cellos are made for students of all sizes.

The String Bass is the largest and lowest string instrument in the orchestra. It is played while standing or sitting on a stool.  It is also made different sizes so that any size student can do well on the bass.