The Woodwind Family
Woodwind instruments make sound when you blow air into them. The air vibrates inside the instrument, creating beautiful tones. They are called woodwinds because many of them were originally made from wood (though some are now made of metal).
Here are the main woodwind instruments:
Flute: A shiny silver tube you hold sideways. You blow air across a hole near one end. It sounds bright, clear, and sparkly, like a bird singing.
Clarinet: A black tube with a mouthpiece that has a thin piece of cane called a reed. The reed vibrates when you blow on it. Clarinets have a warm, smooth sound.
Recorder: A simple wooden or plastic tube that many kids learn as their first instrument. You blow into one end and cover holes with your fingers to change notes.
Saxophone: A shiny brass-colored instrument (but it is a woodwind because it uses a reed!). It has a cool, jazzy sound.
To change notes on a woodwind, you cover and uncover holes with your fingers. Covering more holes makes lower notes. Opening more holes makes higher notes.