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Wind Instruments for Beginners
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Didgeridoos
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The immense variety and richness of the family of wind instruments as we know it today goes back to a development history thousands of years old. Archaeological finds made from antler and animal bone, which date back more than 40,000 years, can be identified as the first aerophones, i.e. flute-like wind instruments. Over the course of development the materials changed from bone and clay to wood, metal and also plastic, which is what most wind instruments are made from today. The principle of sound production and pitch alteration, however, has remained the same since pre-Christian times.
Historical woodwind instruments
From the pan flute to the recorder
Among the ancient Egyptians the flute was the most popular wind instrument, as can be clearly seen on old stone reliefs. It was initially used as a transverse flute. The blowing technique was probably the same as that still used for pan flutes today.
Several transverse flutes bundled together produced the first pan flutes. The differently sized tubes were then connected with wax or cords. This instrument later became widely played in ancient Greece as a favourite of shepherds.
A similar development probably took place in South America at the same time. Finds show that people there were making music on flute-like instruments at an early date.
Another developmental form of the flute was the fipple flute. The sound is produced when the airstream passes through a narrow slot and hits a sharp edge. The fipple flute developed into the recorder, which in the 16th and 17th centuries was the only flute played and known in European countries. The recorder remains one of the most popular school instruments to this day.
Double-reed instruments
A double-reed instrument that had a place in ancient Greek musical life was the aulos. While the aulos was formerly classified with the flutes, it can now be proven that it was a double-reed instrument similar to the shawm. Early forms even had an overblowing hole. The aulos consisted of two parallel pipes that were bored cylindrically. The instrument "quinted" – in other words it overblew into the twelfth, much like clarinets do today. The sound was very bright and piercing. Without doubt the aulos is one of the most important predecessors of our modern woodwind instruments.
From the shawm to the saxophone
The shawm is a double-reed instrument of the Arabs that was introduced into Europe via Spain. The name comes from the double reed used (lat. calamus = reed, stalk; fr. chalumeau).
Built in families, the shawm group was called "bomharde" or "pommern" (fr. bombarde = bombard). Alto, tenor, bass and contrabass pommers were used. From the alto pommer the modern oboe developed, which may be regarded as the oldest instrument of today’s woodwind family. Similar instruments are already known from pre-Christian times. It took many centuries, however, before they were developed into their present form.
In the Baroque era the dulcian was a popular instrument. Like the pommers it also used a double reed. Its use is first documented in northern Spain, where it was often played together with the small drum as dance accompaniment. The dulcian is the predecessor of the modern bassoon, although the bass pommer also influenced its design.
From the French shawm Johann Christoph Denner developed a completely new instrument in 1690: the clarinet, which quickly became very popular because of its wide range. Another very popular modern woodwind instrument, the saxophone, derives from the clarinet and was invented by the Belgian Adolphe Sax in 1840.
Modern woodwind instruments
This is how the family of woodwind instruments known and loved today came about, which includes the flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet and saxophone, as well as of course the recorder. At session we offer everything in our comprehensive wind-instruments range, from simple starter instruments to professional-class models, plus a wide and useful selection of accessories such as reeds, mouthpieces, instrument cases and stands. Our service packages also include a free check-up and adjustment service one year after purchase of the instrument. Here you will also find valuable tips on cleaning and Care of woodwind instruments and Care of brass instruments in our brochure available for free download.
For even more information, tips and tricks on wind instruments and accessories check out our Guide to wind instruments.
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