Woodwind

Flute and Piccolo

The Flute is one of the smallest of the woodwind family of instruments and has a high pitch range of notes. Originally made from wood, the modern flute is more commonly made from metal. It is played by blowing across an open hole with other holes and keys operated to alter the pitch of the sound. The Piccolo is  smaller and sounds a whole octave higher than the flute. Both of these instruments are played in the wind band and orchestra with the flute more common in small wind ensembles, folk groups and jazz.

Oboe

The Oboe is a "double reed" instrument which produces a sound by blowing through two shaped reeds bound closely together. Like the flute the notes are changed using a system of holes and keys. The oboe has a distinctive "yearning" sound quality. It is used in small ensembles and is a key member of the upper woodwind sections in the orchestra and wind band.

Cor Anglais

The Cor Anglais or English Horn is more specialist instrument. It is usually played by an oboeist who uses it in a wind band or orchestra when required. Like the oboe, it is a double reed instrument, however it is piched lower and has a darker more mellow sound.

Bassoon

The Bassoon or "Fagott" is the lowest piched of the double reed woodwind instruments. They have an extensive range of notes and a distinctive hollow charming sound. They are usually played in pairs as part of the woodwind section in the orchestra as well as the wind band. They are also used in small chamber ensembles.

As with other large instruments, young players can often find the bassoon a little cumbersome at first. For this reason Durham Music service also provides the "Mini Bassoon" as an introduction to the full sized instrument

The ContaBassoon is a specialist instrument which is an addition to the woodwind section in symphonic wind bands and large orchesras when required. It is at very low pitch a full octave lower than the bassoon.

Clarinet

The Clarinet is arguably the most well known of all the woodwind instruments. It is different from the oboe in that it uses a single shaped reed bound to a mouthpiece to produce its sound. It is made traditionally from black hard wood but can be reproduced in plastic. Like nearly all woodwind instruments it uses a system of holes and keys to produce an extensive range of notes. A very agile and versatile instrument, the Bb pitched clarinet is the most numerous instrument in the wind band along with one high clarinet piched in Eb. They are played usually in pairs in the orchestra where they can be found also pitched in A. The clarinet is also at home in small ensembles and is common in traditional jazz and as a supplement to a big band saxophone section.

The Bb Clarinet is one of a whole family of clarinets. Other more specialised clarinets taught by Durham Music Service are the Alto and Bass Clarinet

Saxophone

Although made from laquered brass or silver plate, the saxophone is classed as a woodwind instrument. Like the clarinet it uses a mouthpiece with a single reed and a system of keys to change the notes. The saxophnes come in a range of sizes and pitch. The two most common are the Tenor saxophone pitched in Bb and the smaller Alto saxophone piched higher in Eb. They make up the saxophone section in a wind band or big band along with a very low pitched Eb Baritone saxophone. The Saxophone is a poular instrument for the jazz improvisor and is common in pop and rock music.

The classical Saxophone quartet is made up of baritone, tenor, alto and the high pitched Bb Soprano Saxophone.

Other woodwind instruments used by Durham Music Service are the Recorder and the C Clarinet. and the Chalumaeu Clarinet  However, these instruments are only taught in very large groups as part of the  "wider opportunities/" programs for schools