What are the six types of instruments?

The great majority of musical instruments fall readily into one of six major categories: bowed strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, keyboard, and the guitar family, the first four of which form the basis of the modern symphony orchestra.

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How long should a pianist practice?

between 30 minutes to 4 hours Pianists should practice between 30 minutes to 4 hours per day. Beginners will benefit most from shorter practice...

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What is the easiest songs to play on the piano?

Seven Easy Piano Songs for Beginners Twinkle Twinkle. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is always popular, especially with young students, but adults who...

Last updated Aug 2, 2018

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Brass instruments are also activated by blowing into them, although instead of using a form of reed over which the mouth is placed, the lips are placed against or inside the cup of a metal mouthpiece, and made to vibrate against its inner rim. In order of descending pitch, these are:

Trumpet

one of the most ancient of all instruments. Played horizontally via a series of valves on the top of the instrument which are opened and closed in various combinations to create different pitches. Occasionally, the piccolo (higher) or bass (lower) trumpets are heard (and the trumpet’s ‘popular’ cousin, the cornet), although more common nowadays in ‘authentic’ Baroque orchestras (which use instruments of the correct period or copies thereof), is the ‘natural’ or valveless trumpet. The more notationally limited bugle is rarely heard away from its traditional military context.

French horn

another ancient instrument, descended from the use of animals’ horns (hence the name) in pre-historic times. The modern instrument is the most outwardly complex, consisting of a basic tube, rounded into a compact shape culminating in a conical bore or bell, into which a series of valves are centrally set. Before the valve system had been developed, the changing of basic pitch was facilitated by the insertion of a variety of crooks which altered the length of the basic tube, and the changing of certain notes by holding the hand in a variety of subtly differentiated positions within the bell. In a popular context the term ‘horn’ invariably refers to the saxophone, and for the cor anglais see ‘oboe’ under the woodwind section above. Traditionally, the French horn section is seated away from the rest of the brass family.

Trombone

descended from the medieval sackbutt, it is the only popular orchestral wind instrument which operates without the use of a valve or key system. The trombone is easily recognisable by its extended elliptical shape culminating in a conical bore, and its distinctive use of a hand-operated slide held out in front, in order to change pitch. The slide can be moved to any one of seven main positions, each of which facilitate a different series of notes. The tenor and bass trombone are occasionally seen (especially the latter), although the alto and double-bass are extreme rarities.

How much do private piano lessons cost UK?

The national average cost for piano lessons ranges from £25 to £35 for an hour's lesson. Sep 16, 2020

Last updated Mar 19, 2021

How long does it take to be a decent pianist?

If you want to be a professional classical performer, you're looking at a minimum of 10 to 15 years of concentrated study with a master teacher,...

Last updated Feb 23, 2021

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What should a first year piano student do?

After six months of piano lessons For many people, after 6 months of piano lessons, they find that they can read most of the notes on the staff and...

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Are 61 keys good for beginners?

If you are a beginning piano student, a 61-key keyboard should be a good fit for all of your needs. It should also fit easily into small spaces....

Last updated Feb 15, 2018

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What are stacked notes called?

triad A triad is a three-note chord whose notes can be arranged in thirds. A triad can always be “stacked” so that its notes are either on all...

Last updated Dec 17, 2020

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Can you clean your keyboard with bleach?

DON'T use harsh cleaning products like bleach or ammonia on your keyboard. Make sure to always check the ingredients of the product you're planning...

Last updated Oct 2, 2020