The document summarizes the three main families of instruments in a band - woodwinds, brass, and percussion. It describes the basic characteristics of each family, including how sound is produced and how pitch is changed. It also provides examples of specific instruments within each family and discusses how the size and length of an instrument determines its pitch. Sound clips are included to demonstrate the differences between instruments like the piccolo and tuba.

1. Music and Physics
Karissa Huhner

2. The Woodwind Family
• The woodwind family consists of piccolos, flutes,
oboes, english horns, clarinets, bassoons, and
saxophones.
• With the exception of the piccolo and flute, the
sound is produced by a vibrating reed.
• Different pitches are produced by opening and
covering holes along the instrument

3. The Brass Family
• The brass family typically consists of trumpets, (french)
horns, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas.
• Sound is produced by forcing air through the
mouthpiece.
• With the exception of the trombone, pitches are altered
by pressing or releasing valves.
• All brass players also tighten or relax their lips to change
pitch.

4. The Percussion Family
• The percussion family contains the most instruments.
Some of the standard instruments include the bass
drum, snare drum, timpani, bells, cymbals, and the
triangle.
• Sound is produced by striking some part of the
instrument with a mallet, stick, or hands.
• Not all percussion instruments can produce multiple
pitches. In most cases the pitch of the instrument is
dependent on the size of the instrument.

5. • The piccolo is the highest
pitched instrument in the
band.
• The tuba is the lowest
pitched instrument
commonly found in
bands.
– The contrabassoon can
actually produce lower tones
than the tuba, but it is not
commonly found in bands.
• The sound clip “shows”
the difference in pitch
between the piccolo and
tuba. Listen carefully for
the tuba, it is particularly
low.

6. Sound Examples
• Piccolo
• Oboe
• Clarinet
• Bassoon
• Saxophone
• Flute
• English Horn
Can you match the picture with the name/sound?

7. Sound Examples
• French Horn
• Trumpet
• Tuba
• Trombone
• Euphonium
Can you match the picture with the name/sound?

8. How is the pitch of instruments
determined?
• As was mentioned earlier, the biggest
determining factor in the pitch an
instrument produces is the size of the
instrument.
• The distance that air travels in the
instrument also determines the pitch.

9. Generally…
• The larger and longer an instrument is, the
lower the pitch.
• The smaller and shorter an instrument, the
higher the pitch.

10. One of the easiest ways to see this
is with the trombone.
• The higher the
note is on the
staff, the higher
the pitch of the
note.
• Notice how the
trombone slide
gets longer as
the notes get
lower?

11. Some things you can try on your
own:
• Hold a rubber band
so that it is stretched
between two fingers.
Pluck the rubber
band.
• Now, increase the
distance between
your fingers,
stretching the rubber
band. Pluck the
rubber band again.

12. • What do you notice
about the sound?
Does it sound lower
or higher than before?
• Try the same thing
with rubber bands of
different widths. What
do you notice?

13. Music References
• Beethoven, Ludwig Van. Horn Sonata, Op. 17. III. Allegro Moderato. Albert Linder, horn. Naxos: BIS-CD-47.
Compact disc.
• Donizetti, Gaetano. Concertino for Cor Anglais and Orchestra in G minor. Andante con Variationi. Budapest
Camerata conducted by Laszlo Kovacs. Marco Polo: Donizetti: Instrumental Concertos. Compact disc.
• Handel, George Frideric. Trumpet Concerto in D minor. II Furioso. Miroslav Kejmar, trumpet. Naxos: Famous
Trumpet Concerti. Compact disc.
• Holst, Gustav. Second Suite in F for Military Band. I. March, IV. Fantasia on the Dargason.. Edmonton Wind
Ensemble conducted by Harry Pinchin. CBC Records: Snake Fence Country. Compact disc.
• Marcello, Benedetto. Cello Sonata in F major (arr. for tuba). II. Allegro. Michael Lind, tuba. Naxos: BIS-CD-95.
Compact disc.
• Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Bassoon Concerto in B flat major, K. 191. I. Allegro. Stephan Turnovsky, bassoon.
Naxos: 8.550345. Compact disc.
• Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622. III. Rondo: Allegro. Ernst Ottensamer, clarinet.
Naxos: 8.550345. Compact disc.
• Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Oboe Concerto in C major, K. 271k/ K. 314. I. Allegro aperto. Martin Gabriel, oboe.
Naxos: 8.550345. Compact disc.
• Taffanel, Paul. Fantasy on Der Freischutz. Robert Aitken, flute. Naxos: BIS-CD-166. Compact disc.
• Tubin, Eduard. Alto Saxophone Sonata. III. Allegro vivace. Pekka Savijoki, alto saxophone. Compact disc.
• Vivaldi, Antonio. Cello Sonata No. 1 in B flat major, RV 47 (arr. for trombone). IV. Allegro. Christer Torge,
trombone. Naxos: BIS-CD-95. Compact disc.
• Vivaldi, Antonio. Piccolo Concerto in C major, RV 445. Gunilla von Bahr, piccolo. Naxos: BIS-CD-21. Compact

14. Picture References
• Brass Section. Adamson Military Band. “Brass Section”. 1 October, 2006.
<http://www.adamsonband.co.uk.AboutMain.htm>.
• Percussion. Hyper Music. Hyper Music- Musical Instruments. “Percussion”. 13
October, 2006. <http://www.hypermusic.ca/inst/mainmenu.html>.
• Piccolo. Grahm Nasby’s Online Resources. “Concert Band Instrumentation”. 13
October, 2006. <http://www.grahamnasby.com/misc/concertband-
instrumentation.shtml>.
• Rubber band. Micron. “Amplifying Sound”. 23 October, 2006.
<http://www.micron.com/k12/lessonplans/sound/amplify>.
• Trombone Positions. Sandi. “Trombone Slide Position Chart”. 13 October, 2006.
<http://www.sandi.net/depts/vapa/worksheets/parts_trombone.pdf>.
• Tuba. Grahm Nasby’s Online Resources. “Concert Band Instrumentation”. 13
October, 2006. <http://www.grahamnasby.com/misc/concertband-
instrumentation.shtml>.
• Woodwind Section. Adamson Military Band. “Woodwind Section”. 1 October, 2006.
<http://www.adamsonband.co.uk/AboutMain.htm>.