Exploring instruments

On this page you can learn about musical instruments, how they work and how they are played. There are some ideas for creating your instruments at the bottom of this page...

TRUMPET

The trumpet is the highest pitched member of the brass instrument family. The earliest examples of trumpet-like instruments date as far back as 1500BC and were found in places as widely spread as Egypt, Scandinavia and China. They were used to signal in battle or whilst hunting and were simple straight or curly metal tubes with a bell shape at one end. They began to be used as musical instruments in the 15th Century but it wasn't until the addition of valves in the 19th Century that modern trumpets evolved.

Here are some links to famous trumpeters, have a listen...

Maurice Andre Alison Balsam Louis Armstrong Miles Davis

PIANO

The piano is a versatile instrument that can play as a soloist (the main instrument in a piece of music) or as an accompanist (the background instrument that supports others). The piano evolved from earlier keyboard instruments such as the organ and harpsichord, with the first modern piano appearing in 1700. Since then it has changed very little but it has found it's way into every genre and style of music from classical concertos and sonatas, to boogie woogie, jazz and pop music. The enduring popularity of the piano has led to the invention of other keyboard instruments like the electric piano and the synthesizer.

Here are some links to famous pianists, have a listen...

Lang Lang Martha Argerich Oscar Peterson Ólafur Arnalds

ORGAN

(Or Pipe Organ to give it its proper name and not mix it up with electronic organs). The first instruments similar to the Organ were created in Ancient Greece in the 3rd century BC and by the 6th century AD Byzantine organs were using similar mechanisms to what we see in the modern pipe organ. From 800AD they became the instruments of choice for European church music due to their grandeur and large sound. The Winchester Cathedral organ built in the 10th century required 2 men to play it and 70 men to blow it. It's sound could be heard throughout the city.

Here are some links to famous organ pieces, have a listen...

Bach : Toccata and Fugue (1707) Widor : Toccata (1879)

Messiaen : Transports de Joie (1933)

THE ORCHESTRA

An orchestra is a large instrumental ensemble of between 50 and 100 musicians.

In the videos below the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with conductor Grant Llewellyn introduces us to the 4 orchestral families - STRINGS, WOODWIND, BRASS and PERCUSSION. As you watch the videos have a think about which instrument you’d like to play and do a bit more research about it. Perhaps you could draw us a picture or tell us about your favourite instrument music@bedford.gov.uk (make sure you ask an adult first though!). We might put your ideas and pictures on our website.

AMAZING MUSICAL INVENTIONS

Not all instruments were invented hundreds of years ago. Incredible new instruments are still being invented now.

Watch this amazing video of a huge music box that uses marbles to play instruments. The machine is powered by a hand-crank, and works by raising steel marbles through the machine into feeder tubes, where they are then released from height to fall on musical instruments below. The instruments include a vibraphone, bass guitar, cymbal, kick drum, high hat and snare drum. Look REALLY closely, can you see the Lego Technic beams and stud connectors triggering the pins? Do you have a box of Lego or other toys you could get creative with?

Have a look at this next video 'Pipe Dream’ for even more inspiration.

Send us your designs or even some photos to music@bedford.gov.uk (make sure you ask an adult first though!)

We might put your ideas and photos on our website.

MAKE YOUR OWN INSTRUMENTS

MIGHTY MUSIC MAKERS

Watch the videos and see how her Mighty Music Makers take up YolanDa's challenge and create musical instruments with items found around the school, in a market, at home and in an allotment. These activities are a great way to get creative.

Click here to go to BBC Mighty Music Makers.

We recommend this activity for years 3 and 4.

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