Individual instruments

Often celebrated as the instrument sounding closest to the human voice, the violin has a special place in musical history. Find out about the parts of the violin and how you play it.

Just as at home in a classical orchestra as in a jazz band, the trumpet can be heard in all types of music.

In Western classical music the trombone can be both sinister and comic. Simon Gunton talks about the trombone...

Julian Siegel, saxophone and bass clarinet player on Where will it take you? talks about the sax, great players and creating different sounds...

The harp is a huge instrument and very difficult to transport. It has different coloured strings and seven foot pedals...

Percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes. From the tubular bells to the timpani to the drum kit, Seb Rochford and David Hockings take you on a tour of their instruments.

An udu is a clay pot. Find out how they are played as percussion instruments and how and where they are made

Find out all about the viola and how it is played

The SoundJunction vocalists talk about different vocal techniques, creating different sounds, and how they keep their voices in shape...

Find out all about the cello: what it is, how you play it, what it's made of and more...

Most people could fit into a double bass case. But despite its size, this instrument has become one of the most versatile stringed instruments, featuring in many different styles and genres.

'Piccolo' is the Italian word for 'small'. Find out about one of the smallest instruments and its slightly larger relative, the flute.

What does this button do? Find out how the oboe works, what the keys do and the practical problems oboe-players deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Find out all about the clarinet and bass clarinet and how they are played

Find out all about the bassoon and contrabassoon. How they are played? Who plays them? And what do they sound like?

Find out first hand how a French horn is played, how it is constructed and how an instrument with just three keys can produce all the notes of the scale.