AEROPHONES

GROUP 2
 WHAT ARE AEROPHONES?

 Aero phones are music instruments into which air is

blown into to produce sound causing a body of air to
vibrate without use of strings.
1)Mouthpiece- A
hole which air is
blown into
2)Pitch holes/ valves-
This are holes closed
and opened to
produced different
pitches
3)Air hole- Opening
where the air splits
and creates sound
4)Open end/ bell-
Part that lets out
sound
TYPES OF AEROPHONES AND ITS SPREAD

1. FREE AEROPHONES
These are instruments where the vibrating air is not closed
by the instrument itself
Examples- Pitch pipes
2. DISPLACEMENT
The air stream meets a sharp edge or a sharp edge
is moved through the air

Examples
sword blade the whip
4. PLOISIVE
 They are sounded by percussion caused by a
compression and a release of air
 Also called percussive Aerophones

 And example is the scraper flute

scrapper flute
5. NON FREE
 Are instruments where the vibrating air is contained
within the instrument
 They are typically divided into two categories

1] woodwind
2] brass
 Woodwind are typically made from wood ,metal ,glass ,
ivory
 Examples are the flute oboe bassoon clarinet saxophone

 Brass instruments are often made with silver copper

ivory horn wood
 Examples cornet, horn, trombone and the tuba
6. FLUTES
  A flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that
produces its sound from the flow of air across an
opening, usually a sharp edge
 Flutes vary in length and the number of finger/ pitch
holes from one community to another
 Made up of bamboo, swamp reeds, twigs/ wooden tubes

 They are categorized into transverse[ side blown} or

oblique{end blown
NAMES OF FLUTES IN KENYAN
COMMUNITIES
OBLIQUE[ END TRANSEVERSE[side
BLOWN] blown]
 Mutoriro-kikuyu  Chivoti-digo/giriama

 Aurelu-teso  Mulele-luhya

 Ondundu – luo
 7. REED
This are musical instruments that produce sound by the
player breath being directed against a lamella which
periodically interrupt the air flow and cause the air to be
set in motion
 Examples clarinets saxophones, oboes and bassoons

 Clarinet
 Transverse clarinets are used throughout the West
African savanna region, from Guinea to Cameroon.
These are single-reed pipes made from hollow guinea
corn or sorghum stems, the reed being a flap partially cut
from the stem near one end. Single and double clarinets
are found in southern Sudan and South Sudan among
the Dinka people. Conical double-reed instruments of
the oboe or shawm type have spread around the
northeastern and northwestern fringes of Africa wherever
Islam has taken root. Despite local variations, they are
basically related to the Arab zūrnā, having a disk (or
pirouette) below the reed that supports the player’s lips.
THE LATE MANU
DIBANGO,

A LEGENDARY
CAMEROONIAN
SAXAPHONIST
8. BRASS

 A brass aerophone is a musical instrument that

produces sound by sympathetic vibration of air in a
tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the
player's lips. Brass instruments are also
called labrosones, literally meaning "lip-vibrated
instruments
Example- Trumpets
 Lip-vibrated aerophones made from a variety
of materials are widespread in Africa. Apart
from musical uses, some serve for signaling.
In West Africa, side-blown ivory or horn
instruments may transmit verbal praises of
chiefs and rulers. Among the Hausa, the long
metal kakaki and wooden farai, both end-
blown, fulfill this role in combination with
drums. In East and central Africa, the
instruments are often made from gourds,
wood, hide, horn, or a combination of these
materials. In the historic kingdom of 
Buganda (now part of Uganda), trumpet sets
were part of the royal regalia. Throughout
Africa, more than one or two notes are
seldom produced from a single trumpet, but
trumpet ensembles are common, playing in
hocket fashion.
SKILLS REQUIRED TO PLAY
AEROPHONES
 Positioning of the lips
 Blowing

 Tonging

 Fingering

 Breath control
ROLE OF WIND INSTRUMENTS IN AFRICA

 Introduce a performance
 Played between parts of a song

 They can respond to a soloist

 Provide accompaniment to a song

 They signal the start or change or a dance

 Mark the climax

 Used for music during leisure time

 Keeping the tempo