Instruments

Brass

Brass instruments are made out of metal ( not always brass) tubes.
You might  think they only make loud sounds but they actually
can play very soft mellow sounds too. They all make their sound by being blown.

  • Cornet
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • French horn
  • Tuba
  • Euphonium
  • Tenor horn
  • Flugelhorn

Ensembles to join:

Brass Band, Junior & Senior Winds, Big Band

For more information visit the “Ensembles” page on the website

To enrol click here

 

Celtic

Celtic instruments include those you strum, blow and hit ! Sometimes we use notes to read off, but a lot of playing is also done ‘ by ear’ so you don’t need to be able to read music.

  • Penny Whistle
  • Fife
  • Fiddle
  • Bodhran
  • Banjo

Ensembles to join:

Community Celtic

For more information visit the “Community” page on the website

To enrol click here

 

Guitar

There are many different types of guitar, those that are in Rock and Pop bands are usually amplified, or electric – this means they can be heard over the top of a drum kit and fill a big concert venue. Classical guitar is acoustic and sounds beautifully soft and relaxing. They are played using your fingers to strum or pluck the strings.

  • Classical
  • Rock & Pop bass

Ensembles to join:

Pick & Mix at Torfaen Music Centre

For more information visit the “Ensembles” page on the website

To enrol click here

 

Percussion/ Drum Kit

This is a very broad range of instruments but all are hit in some way to make their sound, either by hand or with sticks. Drum kits are used in all sorts of music, and percussion instruments often add the final splash of colour to the music we listen to.

  • Drum kit
  • Tuned to percussion
    – xylophone
    – glockenspiel
    – tubular bells
  • Timpani
  • Snare drum

Ensembles to join:

Junior and Senior Wind Band, Brass Band, Percussion Ensemble

For more information visit the “Ensembles” page on the website

To enrol click here

 

Piano/ Keyboard

Piano is actually a cross between a percussion (hitting) instrument and stringed since inside it are over 100 strings that get hit with small hammers to make the sound. Your fingers choose the notes to play either one by one, or in chords to make a whole range of different sorts of music. This very popular instrument is mainly played on its own, but can be part of a Jazz or Pop group and sometimes part of an orchestra.

Ensembles to join:

Keyboard Ensemble at Monmouth Music Centre

For more information visit the “Ensembles” page on the website

To enrol click here

 

Strings

The string family is made up of instruments that you can pluck or use a bow to play. Usually you have many stringed instruments in a group as they are not as loud as some of the other instruments. These instruments come in different sizes so are perfect if you are younger when you start playing. Like the guitar family they can make a gentle sound but also when needed can carry over a big group.

  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double bass
  • Harp

Ensembles to join:

Junior & Senior Strings, Harp Ensemble

For more information visit the “Ensembles” page on the website

To enrol click here

 

Voice

Everybody can sing, it is a very important part of being a musician. If you would like to develop your singing then having lessons to improve your breathing and technique will help. However you don’t need to be having lessons to take part in one of our many singing activities, or in some cases not even be able to read music.

  • Individual
  • Choral
  • Musical theatre/Glee Club Style
  • Classical
  • Operatic
  • Gospel

Ensembles to join:

Youth Choir, VOX Choir at Torfaen Music centre

For more information visit the “Ensembles” page on the website

To enrol click here

 

Woodwind

You blow wind instruments to create their very unique set of sounds. Some are made of metal, and some wood which is a bit confusing! This is because originally all were wood. Each instrument sounds quite different depending on if it has a ‘reed’, which is a small piece of wood, or not. This family bring the character to a piece of music when you listen to a big orchestra.

  • Flute
  • Piccolo
  • Clarinet
  • Bass clarinet
  • Recorder
  • Saxophone (tenor/alto/bass)
  • Oboe
  • Bassoon
  • Cor Anglais

Ensembles to join:

Junior & Senior Winds, Saxophone Ensemble, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Big Band

For more information visit the “Ensembles” page on the website

To enrol click here