The history of the five main instrument groups

Kai Pennington, Staff Writer

 Music has a huge place in society. From wind, brass, string, keyboard and percussion, instruments have made music what it is today. Many tend to overlook the progression of instruments through history. Wind Instruments can be found in early prehistoric times with cave drawings reflecting a variety of bone notched mouth pieces and finger holes. String instruments became popular in 2500 -3000 BCE in Mesopotamia. While Brass evolved in 10th century Egypt. 

           Standard classification of instruments, such as we know them today, came about in 1914. It is based on the acoustical properties of an instrument’s sound. Flutes, saxophones, clarinets and many more are classified as wind instruments. Therefore, these instruments utilize wind vibrations to create a tone. Some use reeds, like clarinets or saxophones. Others, like flutes, dont require them. 

Guitars, Violins, violas, and ukulele are just a few of the instruments that make up the string family. This means that the instrument is played by plucking, striking, or drawing a bow against the instrument’s strings. 

Brass instruments, classified as such due to their funnel shaped mouthpiece, have evolved from early horns to a wide variety of instruments. From trumpets, tubas, and trombones, Brass has been used to call/herd animals, warn of impending danger, as well as to create harmony when combined into a symphony or orchestra.

Keyboards, mainly pianos, are a huge thing when it comes to music. Many people who can play the piano find it much easier to learn another instrument. Some of the earliest pianos can be found in the 17th century.

Percussion instruments range from a marimba to a snare drum. What makes a percussion instrument is that when it is striked, hit or shaken. Percussion instruments are often utilized to help someone who is not at all familiar with musical Instruments. Once you are able to read sheet music, learning  how to play another instrument is simply in knowing what string, tone and others mean what note.