The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Flutes
Everything concerning the flute can be found at this site. Learn about its construction, range, articulations, effects and more. Also be sure to check out the players tips and tricks.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Oboes
Explore the many aspects of the oboe. This site explains its construction, range, articulations, effects and more. Be sure to check out the videos of the players tips and tricks.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Clarinets
A fantastic resource covering many aspects of the clarinet. Most explanations are made with video and audio clips of members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be sure to check out the players tips and tricks section.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Bassoons
A wonderful resource covering many aspects of the bassoon. Most explanations are made with video and audio clips of members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be sure to check out the players tips and tricks section.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra: A User's Manual Saxophones
An excellent resource covering many aspects of the saxophone. Most explanations are made with video and audio clips by members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be sure to check out the players tips and tricks section.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan: Instrument Encyclopedia: Transverse Flute
In addition to providing general information on the transverse flute and references for further reading and research, this lesson includes an audio file so that you can hear "the sound of a baroque wooden flute."
Other
Pay the Piper: The Bassoon
Learn about the Bassoon, "the largest member of the woodwind family," at this website. The site is geared toward young students who are thinking about playing a musical instrument.
Other
Pay the Piper: The Saxophone
This is a site to read about the advantages and disadvantages of playing the saxophone. The page gives great background information about this woodwind instrument.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Saxophone
Read more about the saxophone, and the characteristics of the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the saxophone play with the orchestra.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Piccolo, Woodwind Instrument
Read about the woodwind family and how it is divided. Learn about the piccolo and how it is played. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the piccolo on its own and with the orchestra.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Oboe
Learn about the oboe and how it is played. Read more about the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the oboe on its own or with the orchestra.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Flute
Read about the flute, how it produces sound, and how it's made. Learn about the woodwind family and the differences in the divisions in the three branches of this family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the flute alone, and...
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: English Horn
Use this resource to learn about the English horn and read about the woodwind family. Use ReadAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the English Horn by itself and with the orchestra.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Clarinet
Use this resource to learn about the clarinet, and the characteristics of the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the clarinet alone and with the orchestra.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Bass Clarinet
Use this resource to learn about the bass clarinet, and read about the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the bass clarinet on its own and with the orchestra.
Other
North American Saxophone Alliance
Although membership is required in order to participate in the North American Saxophone Alliance Discussion Group, non-members can view this website for archived discussions and upcoming events. Also included are links to information on...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Woodwind
This lesson helps students identify the woodwind family of instruments in an orchestra by sight and sound. The students will also identify which instruments have a single reed, double reed, or contain no reed.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Woodwind Instruments and Pitch
In this lesson, students will enjoy making their own woodwind instruments. They will also discover how the instruments change pitch based on the length of the airpipe.
Other
The Origin of the Name "English Horn"
This site gives you a detailed description of how the English Horn was named.
Music Education
Learn About Instruments: The Winds
This tutorial teaches students about the flute, piccolo, and saxophone. It features sound clips so that you can hear examples of each instrument being played.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Contrabassoon
Learn about the contrabassoon, a member of the woodwind family of instruments. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the contrabassoon.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Orchestral Instruments
This is a brief introduction to the various instruments on the modern orchestra. It is broken into sections based on the instrument families. Each instrument is briefly defined.
BBC
Bbc Orchestras: Guide to the Orchestra
Enjoy learning about the different instruments of the orchestra with this well designed website. Divided into the various families, you can read about the instruments as well as listen to them.