Grade 9, Western Music Self- Learning Pack (Term III) 2020

Competency 5.0- Exhibits awareness of structure, sound production and tone

quality of musical instruments
Competency Level 5.1- Defines and describes the woodwind instruments of the
orchestra, a) on seeing b) on hearing
Activity 5.1.1- Identifies the tone quality of the Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe,
Bassoon, Double Bassoon and Cor-Anglais

Woodwind instruments

Woodwinds are a type of musical instruments that make their sound when a musician
blows air into or across the mouthpiece. They get their name from the fact that most of
them were once made of wood. Today many are made of other materials such as metal or
plastic.

1. Piccolo
2. Flute
3. Clarinet
4. Oboe
5. Bassoon
6. Double Bassoon
7. Cor-Anglais

These instruments can be categorized according to their reeds

Without reeds Single reed Double reed

Piccolo Clarinet Oboe
Flute Bassoon
Double Bassoon
Cor-Anglais

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Ministry of Education
 Grade 9, Western Music Self- Learning Pack (Term III) 2020

Piccolo

• The Piccolo is the smallest and highest pitched

instrument in the Woodwind family.
• It is a transposing instrument. Piccolo is half the size
of the flute (13 inches) and plays an octave higher
than the written notes.
• In the orchestra, one of the flute players will usually play piccolo if that instrument
is required.
• Playing range of notes:

Flute

• The Flute is held horizontally and is about 26 inches

long.
• The sound is produced by blowing across the mouth
piece.
• The flute is probably the oldest of all instruments that produce pitched sounds
(not just rhythms), and was originally made from wood, clay or hollow reeds like
bamboo.
• Some special modern flutes are made of silver, gold or platinum but flutes are
generally made out of other metal mixtures.
• There are generally 2 to 4 flutes in an orchestra.
• A standard flute is a little over 2 feet long and is often featured playing the melody.
Players’ fingers open and close the keys, which change the pitch
• Playing range of notes:

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Ministry of Education
 Grade 9, Western Music Self- Learning Pack (Term III) 2020

Clarinet

• It is a single reed woodwind instrument used in

Orchestras and bands.
• Clarinet in B flat sounds a Major 2nd lower than the
written notes.
• Clarinets come in a number of different sizes, and the standard B-flat clarinet is
just over 2 feet long.
• Some musical works require the clarinetist to play several types of clarinets in the
same piece.
• There are 2 to 4 clarinets in the orchestra playing both melodies and harmonies,
and they have a dark rich sound in their lower notes, while the upper part of the
clarinet's range is bright and resonant.
• The clarinet is played by blowing through the reed, and using your fingers to
change the pitches by opening and closing the keys.
• Playing range of notes:

Oboe (Hautbois)

• The Oboe is made of wood, and is a non-transposing

instrument.
• It is used to sound the tuning note A to tune the other
orchestral instruments.
• The playing position is similar to that of the clarinet.
• There are usually 2 to 4 oboes in an orchestra and they produce
a wide range of pitches.
• Playing range of notes:

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Ministry of Education
 Grade 9, Western Music Self- Learning Pack (Term III) 2020

Bassoon

• This instrument is low in pitch.

• It is sometimes referred to as the clown of the
orchestra because of its comical sounding
notes.
• It is 8 feet long, bent in two, for convenience and a player uses a neck sling.
• There are 2 to 4 bassoons in an orchestra and they have a roughly similar range to
that of the cello. Bassoons usually play lower harmonies.
• Playing range of notes

Double Bassoon (contrabassoon)

• It is the largest and the lowest sounding woodwind

instrument.
• It is a transposing instrument sounding an octave lower
than the written notes.
• It is 16 feet long, bent four times for easy handling and uses
a neck sling.
• The contrabassoon is the “grandfather” of the wind section
and is so much larger than a regular bassoon.
• Playing range of notes

Cor- Anglais (English horn)

• This is a transposing instrument, sounding a
5th lower than the written notes.
• The bottom end of the English horn opens out
into a rounded bell shape, which gives it a
warmer, fuller sound.
• The English horn is closely related to the oboe that uses a double reed, and is
played in the same manner.
• Playing range of notes:
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Ministry of Education
 Grade 9, Western Music Self- Learning Pack (Term III) 2020

Answer the following questions.

1. Which instrument sounds the tuning note for the orchestra?

…………………………………………………
2. Which instrument is known as the “Clown of the Orchestra”?
…………………………………………..
3. What are the highest and lowest pitched instruments in the woodwind section
Highest: …………………………………….
Lowest: …………………………………….
4. Name the transposing and non-transposing instruments in the woodwind family
Transposing: …………………………………………..
Non- transposing: ………………………………………………….
5. Which instrument is also known as the English horn? …………………………………
6. Give another name for the double bassoon …………………………………….
7. categorize the woodwind instruments separately under the following:
No reed Single reed Double reed

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Ministry of Education