Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments
This post, “Fun with Music: Brass Instruments”, is written in collaboration with Shannon Wijnker, who used to blog on Mamamusing. Shannon is a music teacher and mother of four.
What is your favorite woodwind instrument; flute, saxophone, recorder or some other? Are you aware of all the woodwind instruments available for your playing and listening pleasure. I would suggest reading either “Woodwind (Instruments and Music)” by Daniel Nunn (for the younger child) or “Wind Instruments (How the World Makes Music)” by Anita Ganeri (for older children). You will see more details about these books below in the Story Time section.
Playtime
Craft
Musical Outings
Story Time
Games Online
Related Posts
Playtime
When you were younger, did you ever make a whistle with a blade of grass? That blade of grass works like the reed in a woodwind instrument. When you blow over the blade of grass it vibrates which causes the air to vibrate and the result is a whistling sound. If you have never done this here is what you do. Take a wide piece of grass and place it between your thumbs. Place your mouth over your knuckles and blow. Were you able to make a whistling sound? Sometimes it takes practice, just keep working on it. This is a fun thing to teach your children, they will think you are amazing.
Shannon from Mamamusing shared that a recorder is great for children to experiment with (and it is a woodwind instrument). You can find them very inexpensively at the dollar store. She also says, “Remember that it’s not just about making a beautiful sound, but playing and exploring the concept of sound. Children learn best by constructing their own concepts and ideas, and by trial and error. They will learn how to create a variety of sounds. Some of which they will like and some they will decide they don’t. Your concept of what is acceptable sound may vary from theirs. But be patient and let them explore.”
“A great resource for teaching them music (and how to play the recorder) is a magazine called “The Recorder Classroom”. I believe there are 4 issues printed so far. You can download both the music and accompanying mp3s online. They are fun to play and I find my students are motivated to learn the music, when they have great accompaniments to play along with.”
“As a child, this toy (by Fisher Price) was a great way to experiment with sound. I don’t know if you can still buy it in stores, but if you find it at a garage sale, or used online – it is a great toy! Or the saxoflute is another great option, because the child can build their own instrument with the various plastic pieces of tube. The sound created (high or low) will depend on the pieces they choose to use.”
*** You can find the Fisher Price version on eBay, as it has been discontinued by Fisher Price. You can find a similar toy on Amazon.com The Quercetti Saxoflute
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Craft
Wind Instrument Made from Straws
This craft is adapted from Learning Ideas – Grades K -8
Materials Needed:
Drinking straws
Cardboard
Glue
Ruler
Scissors
Duct Tape
Instructions:
1. Cut 2 rectangular pieces of cardboard. (approx. 5 by 2 inches) I used scrap cardboard from an old box.
2. Cut the straws in varying lengths. I used 3”, 4”, 5”, 6” & 7”. You can use more straws and different lengths if you would like.
3. I didn’t trust simply trying to glue the straws into place because it has been my experience that plastic straws and glue are not long time friends so I glued down duct tape (sticky side up) to help secure the straws into place.
4. Let the glue dry completely then place the straws on the tape, in order of length.
5. Place the second piece of cardboard on top (having all ready glued the tape into place).
6. Since I used scrap cardboard I then added some brightly colored duct tape to decorate my wind instrument. Your child could color or paint it if you would like.
7. To hear the different sounds the instrument makes you need to blow across the top of the straws not straight into them.
Musical Outings
Take your children to any place that live music is being played. In Indianapolis, you can find many places that give free outdoor concerts during the summer. Maybe you have the same opportunities in your area. Outdoor concerts are a great way to introduce your children to live music because they can sit in their own lawn chair, on a blanket or even get up and dance around a little. Maybe you have older children or neighbors that participate in a school band. Take your children to see them. Expose your children to many types of music. Take the time to talk about what they are hearing, how it makes them feel and the different instruments they are seeing and hearing.
Shannon from Mamamusing wants you to know: “In London, there are several outdoor concerts and festivals in Victoria Park during the summer. One of the best is Sunfest (beginning of July). You can check out a video of my kids enjoying the multicultural music and dancing byclicking here.”
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Story Time
Below you will find books that discuss the many different types of woodwind instruments and some are devoted to one type of woodwind instrument. Have fun exploring and learning about woodwind instruments with your child.
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Give your child the opportunity to learn about clarinets with this interesting book by Pamela K. Harris. The book covers many aspects of the clarinet; from the way it is made to how it is played. The illustrations are pictures of actual clarinets and people playing them. Enjoy learning about this special woodwind instrument; the clarinet.
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
This book has a lot of information in it but it is laid out nicely. The book introduces you to 18 flutes from around the world. You will find some flutes that look familiar to you and there are others you may have never seen before. Each instrument has it’s own page so if you just want to cover the familiar ones or if you want to break the book up into different sessions it is laid out well for that. Although this book is for a little bit older child you could use it with a younger child by becoming familiar with the text and then simply point out and discuss the different instruments rather than reading it word for word.
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Give your child the opportunity to learn about flutes with this interesting book by Pamela K. Harris. The book covers many aspects of the flute; from the way they are played to how they are made. Your child will get to see flutes from several different countries. The illustrations are of flutes and people playing them. Enjoy learning about this special woodwind instrument; the flute.
Saxophones
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Saxophones are a part of a group of instruments called woodwinds. This book will help you and your child learn a lot about saxophones. You will be able to see the different shapes and sizes they come in. You will find out how music is played on a saxophone. Did you know a saxophone can make many of the same sounds that we do with our voices? The illustrations in this book are actual photos of saxophones and people playing them. Share this book with your child so they can learn more about this popular instrument.
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
This book covers many different wind instruments from around the world. They are all played by blowing into them but that is about the only thing that is common to all of them. Some wind instruments have simple carved mouthpieces, some use a reed in their mouthpiece and some even use two reeds. Most wind instruments are played with the musicians mouth but there are a few that are played with the nose. Be sure to pick this book up to learn a lot about wind instruments. See how many you recognize.
Reading Level: Ages 4 to 8 yrs old
This is a great book to introduce your young one to woodwind instruments. It has simple text that will allow your child to understand and learn about these special instruments. There are wonderful pictures of musicians playing different woodwind instruments from around the world with just a couple of sentences per page. I can’t wait to share this with the little ones in my life.
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Give your child the opportunity to learn about woodwind instruments with this interesting book by Elizabeth Reid. Your child will get to learn about the many different types of woodwind instruments. They will see woodwinds from several different countries.They will learn how they are made and the different ways they are played. The illustrations are pictures of actual woodwind instruments and people playing them. Enjoy learning about woodwind instruments. Which one is your favorite?
Games Online
Shannon from Mamamusing shares some fun online games:
Now that you have introduced your children to some of the various instrument families in the orchestra, you may want to visit the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. This is a website created by Carnegie Hall which is a wonderfully FREE interactive online game for young children to explore and learn more about the various instruments of the orchestra. You will need to use a computer, because the game requires Adobe Flash, which you can download for free (if you don’t already have this utility installed on your computer).
There is also a wonderful set of books for children ages 4 to 8 years old that helps them learn different musical concepts. Along with the books the author, Sharon Burch, has a website with coloring pages and games for your child to enjoy and enhance their learning experience: Freddie the Frog Games and Coloring Pages
Related Posts
Music at an Early Age by Shannon at Mamamusing
Fun with Music – Overview
Fun with Music – Percussion Instruments
Fun with Music: Brass Instruments
Fun with Music: Voices
Fun with Music: String Instruments
Fun with Music: Keyboards
Yanique says
This is such a great and informative article. My kids love playing instruments and I love when they get together and have mini jam sessions. It’s amazing to watch them just be in the moment using music to express themselves.
Mama Carmody says
Kids and music are so much fun. We love watching our grandson shake his little foot to the music he hears on TV.
Leslie says
When I was a little girl, my classmates and I just loved when the recorders would come out! It’s such a great way to show kids that anyone can make music.
Mama Carmody says
I always loved the recorder too. I have always enjoyed music even though I’m not particularly gifted in that area.
Michele says
I love that you focus on music. I worry that our schools have replaced the arts. These are great ideas to expose children to woodwinds and have fun learning about music.
Mama Carmody says
Music is so important and it really helps in learning. I taught so many things by music when I taught preschool.
Emily, The Innovative Mama says
My daughter is only 7 months old currently but when she’s old enough, I want to get her involved with an instrument. I’d rather she get into music in that form than listening to half the horrible pop music on the radio like her older step sisters, who have no involvement with musical instruments.
Mama Carmody says
Be sure to look in your area for free concerts to take her to. It’s not too early. The best concerts for small children are the summer outdoor concerts. They don’t have to sit quietly at those types of concerts. We have taken our grandson and great nephew since they were infants. Both show a huge interest in music.
Emily says
Music is a wonderful experience for kids and has such great benefits! I love that Fisher Price crazy horn. That looks awesome. I wish you could still find it in stores! I’ll have to start looking! Thanks for the post!
Mama Carmody says
I found a similar type horn on Amazon. It’s called the Super Saxoflute. http://amzn.to/1TDsLx3
Jenny says
I love the flute! And my kids are learning the tin whistle at their school this year. Woodwinds are lots of fun!
Mama Carmody says
Music is so fun. I played the flutophone and recorder in grade school and I loved it.
Jenn @ mommytime365 says
Wonderful ideas, I love when we gather all the instruments in the house and have a family jam. 🙂
Mama Carmody says
That sounds like so much fun. I can’t wait until our grandkids get a little older and we can do that.
Brooke Knipp says
Your blog is such a great find for me! I’m a former art teacher, so my kids get tons of visual art/art-making exposure, but not so much music and instrumental exposure. I definitely want them to, so like I said, your blog is a great step in that direction. Thanks for the great ideas! I’m looking forward to exploring more through your past posts 🙂
Mama Carmody says
I’m so glad that I can be of help. It is a lot of fun for me.
Kathy says
I love the blade of grass whistle trick, I haven’t done it for so long! I also like the bit “Remember that it’s not just about making a beautiful sound, but playing and exploring the concept of sound.” It’s true we often hear people telling children to stop making the noise. I am going to keep this as my mantra for my son’s clarinet practise time!
Mama Carmody says
Yes, sometimes there is a lot of “noise” on the way to making music. Hang in there, it does get better.
Christine Martin says
Oh my kids love making noise on any musical instrument they can get their hands on! The craft one is super cute! Thanks for sharing!
Mama Carmody says
My great-nephew loves music. I can’t wait until my grandson gets here so we can start taking him to the concerts!
randi c says
I have made music with grass! Totally forgot! I’m taking the kids out tomorrow before I forget again. These crafts look great and I’m pinning them for future use.
Have you seen the water whistle that’s shaped like a bird? The girls got them from the easter bunny last year and it started out pretty but got “pretty” annoying real fast. Still, a very cool little science and music wrapped into one!
Mama Carmody says
I may have had a water whistle when I was younger. It sounds familiar. I will have to look into that one.
Shailee says
My kiddo isn’t old enough for a lot yet but she loves music (currently falls asleep when we play any type of dubstep). She loves watching people playing the sitar or tabla (Indian instruments). We both can’t wait until she is old enough to start experimenting with instruments. For gifts for her first birthday, we mentioned to anyone who asked to give her something musical/educational. She will love it!
Mama Carmody says
I would love to learn more about your instruments. Music is so soothing.
sara says
My kids love live music!! Super cute recorder craft (:
Mama Carmody says
It’s kind of hard to get the hang of how to get a sound out of it but it’s still fun.
Andréa Jones says
What a fun idea! I think my nephew would love this. He’s only 3 but he’s already showing signs of being musical like his dad!
Mama Carmody says
My 3 year old great-nephew loves learning about music. I purchased some musical instrument flash cards and he loves going through them and naming the instruments.
Laura says
The 4th and 5th graders at my son’s school learn to play the recorder. He has really enjoyed it, and his little sister finds her toy recorder to play along.
I love how you wrote about music, added a craft, activity, and books..so thought out!
Mama Carmody says
Thanks so much. I like to make learning as fun as possible so I try to include several different activities. My grandson is almost a year old and he likes tooting around on his toy recorder too. Hopefully, our little recorder players are building a love of music.
Christy Garrett @ Uplifting Families says
My youngest son loves playing any type of instrument that he can get his hands on. He is already a music lover and loves playing the drums.
I am not very musically talented and wish that I had that ability. My daughter started playing the clarinet in 6th grade and has done remarkable with it. She is now on her 2nd year of marching band in high school. I am so proud of her progress because she is deaf and music has been a huge blessing for her.
My oldest son is starting band this year and I hope that he enjoys it as well. He is starting on the trumpet, but when trying out for band he actually was a natural on the flute. However, he didn’t want to play the flute for some reason.
kcarmody says
I am not very musical myself. That is why I have had help with these posts but I do LOVE music. I can play some piano but I’m not very proficient but it has helped me understand my musical husband and daughters. I love marching band. Both of my daughters participated. Enjoy the competitions and stop by my facebook page and let me know how they are doing.
Zan says
Those craft ideas are really great! The only instrument I know how to teach is the recorder:) Not much!!!!
kcarmody says
Just letting your child experiment with different instruments (or toy instruments) will be fun and extremely educational.
Growing Up Madison says
A recorder is a great musical instrument. I so agree. It was the first instrument I learned how to play when I was younger and I loved it. I’ve been trying to get my kids to get more involved in music. My son plays the trombone in band but seems like he’s not interested in anything else. 🙂
kcarmody says
The piano was my first musical instrument. I also played the recorder in elementary school. My husband is a musician and both of my girls played in band during their high school years. I love to watch and listen to marching bands…so much going on at the same time. So glad you stopped by.