Wind instrument facts for kids
A wind instrument is a special type of musical instrument. It makes sound when a player blows air into it or across a part of it. When you blow, the air inside the instrument vibrates, which creates the musical notes we hear.
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How Wind Instruments Make Sound
Wind instruments work by making a column of air inside them vibrate. The way this air vibrates depends on how the instrument is designed and how the player blows into it. Players can change the notes by pressing keys, covering holes, or changing how they blow. This changes the length of the air column or how fast the air moves.
Types of Wind Instruments
Wind instruments are usually divided into two main groups: woodwind instruments and brass instruments. Even though they are called "woodwind," not all instruments in this group are made of wood!
Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind instruments often have keys or holes that the player opens and closes to change the pitch. They make sound in different ways:
- Some, like the flute, make sound when air is blown across an edge.
- Others, like the clarinet and saxophone, use a small piece of cane called a reed that vibrates when air passes over it.
- The oboe uses two reeds that vibrate against each other.
Common woodwind instruments include the flute, clarinet, oboe, and saxophone.
Brass Instruments
Brass instruments are usually made of metal, often brass. Players make sound by buzzing their lips into a cup-shaped mouthpiece. This buzzing sound then travels through the instrument's tubing. Players change notes by pressing valves or moving a slide, which changes the length of the tubing.
Some well-known brass instruments are the trumpet, trombone, bugle, cornet, and tuba.
Images for kids
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Erke, a wind instrument from Argentina
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The bell of a B-flat clarinet
See also
In Spanish: Instrumento de viento para niños
