These are instruments that use wind (blowing) to make music (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon). They are usually made out of wood or metal, shaped long and straight some gradually flare to shape a “bell”. The sound is made by blowing across a hole (flute / piccolo) or pressing a reed between the lips and blowing to create vibration through the inside column. By pressing the keys over the fingering holes (closing or opening doors) along the hallway of the instrument, the musician changes the nature of the tube and these changes produce all the tones within the instruments range. The last open hole acts as the end of the instrument; the forced air escapes and achieves the note. When all holes are closed, this is the deepest note of the instrument, when many are open; the pitch is determined by the one closest to the vibration source. Lip and breath techniques also modify the sounds.

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flute Flute
This is one of the oldest instruments and is recorded in many historical cultures. Many of the modern flutes are made of silver, some are 14K gold. A flute is played by blowing across the mouth hole, not into it. The vibrations are caused by the air getting “caught” on the far rim of the opening, then being forced through the length past the key openings. Sweetly melodic, the flute has always been a popular instrument of orchestras and as a solo feature.

Experiment: Hold a glass soda bottle against your lower lip and with tightened lips, blow firmly straight across the hole (not down into it). The note will echo in the bottle, though you do not have finger holes, you may change the note by how much liquid (or space you have in the bottle).
Piccolo
Named for the Italian word for “little”, this instrument is slightly longer than two coloring markers and is considered especially difficult to play. Because of its small size, it plays one octave higher than the range of the flute. Producing the highest notes of all the instruments, one piccolo can sing out above the entire orchestra. Beethoven was the first to add the piccolo’s voice to a symphony. Since Tchaikovsky and Berloiz played the piccolo themselves, they composed more works featuring it.
oboe Oboe
Believed to be fashioned in France in the 1600s, the oboe is made from an African black wood that is so dense, it won’t even float in water. Although the flute has been around longer, the oboe joined the common orchestras sooner. Producing a charming, sometimes haunting melody, the oboe is often featured for its special voice.
clarinet Clarinet
Also made from African black wood, the clarinet gained its popularity in the late 1700s and made its way to a permanent part of the orchestra by the 1800s. The clarinet can produce the widest ranges in personality of all the woodwinds, from the smooth hum of a low register to the gentle singing of its highest notes, and to all sorts of spirited exclamation and flourishes, including honks and shrieks.
bassoon Bassoon
It would be 8 feet long if it didn’t make a U-turn at the bottom to create two parallel columns.

The bassoon is made of rich maple wood, and has between 17 – 22 keys. Since the musician has only 10 fingers, the keys are engineered with elaborate mechanisms to allow the musician to apply a number of fingering systems to cover its ranges. Some are very complex combinations to achieve exactly which holes are to be covered or uncovered as the music is played.