Curlie

Instruments

Sites listed here provide information about musical instruments. Listed sites may be about different types of musical instruments or about a specific instrument.

Websites included in this category are either educational, reference oriented, or informational in nature.

Examples of suitable topics include: the history and invention of an instrument; repertoire and compositions written for a specific instrument; the proper care of a type of instrument; physical description of an instrument including size, material composition, sound properties and appearance; playing tips, tuning, fingering and instrument-specific technique; and the process used in crafting or manufacturing an instrument.

For a site to be listed in this category, it must contain information about musical instruments.

Please only submit sites that are appropriate for, and of interest to, children under the age of 18. Sites that are primarily designed to sell products or services will not be listed in any branch of Kids and Teens.

No site is guaranteed placement in the Open Directory.

Any site that contains content inappropriate for children, is still under construction, low on content, submitted to multiple inappropriate categories, using multiple URLs for multiple submissions, or consisting primarily of affiliate links to products will be deleted.

Brass

Instruments that are sounded by the buzzing of the player's lips. Brass instruments typically consist of a tube with a mouthpiece at one end and a flared opening at the other. Some members of the brass family are the trumpet, trombone, and euphonium.

Classical

The word 'classical' really has two meanings: firstly, it is used when music is described as belonging to one of two broad categories, for example 'pop' and 'classical'. However, when it is written with a capital 'C', it refers to the short period of time between approximately 1750 and 1820. The Symphony Orchestra, as we know it, was developed during the Classical period. The piano was also invented and this instrument eventually took over from the harpsichord. The violin, viola and cello were frequently combined to form string quartets. From about 1830, composers began to compose in a more imaginative, emotional way. These works are said to be in the 'Romantic' style. The Romantic composers were inspired by things such as dreams, literature and the supernatural. As more instruments were developed, the orchestra grew much bigger throughout the century. Instruments now included the piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet, trombone, tuba and double bass. Sites in this category cover instruments used in music written in the classical tradition from approximately 1750 onwards. This includes instruments used in the Classical and Romantic periods, as well as in 'classical' music from the twentieth century to the present.

Please remember that no site is guaranteed placement in the Kids and Teens section of the Open Directory. Any site that contains content inappropriate for children, is still under construction, low on content, submitted to multiple inappropriate categories, using multiple URLs for multiple submissions, or consisting primarily of affiliate links to products will be deleted.

Early

Music composed before approximately 1500 is often called 'Medieval' music. After this, during the 16th Century, there became a great interest in learning and culture, and it was an age of exploration and discovery. This period is often called the 'Renaissance', which literally means 're-birth'. Up to this period, instruments were generally considered to be less important than voices, but composers soon took to writing more instrumental music. Very few instruments that we have today were in existence then, and most early instruments had weird and wonderful names. Examples include shawms, sackbuts, lutes, racketts and viols. Recorders, which are still popular today, were also commonplace. Many instruments, such as viols, were made in 'families' (the same instrument in different sizes), sometimes called 'chests' (a chest of viols, for example). Groups of these instruments playing together were often called 'consorts'. From about 1600 to 1750, the violin started to take the place of the viol. The harpsichord became the main type of keyboard instrument at this time. Music in this period is often called 'Baroque', which is a name borrowed from architecture. Baroque music is often full of ornamentation and decoration. Often a harpsichord played the chords and a cello played the bass (called the 'Basso Continuo'). Sites in this category cover instruments used in these forms of 'Early' music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Submit only sites appropriate for, and of interest to, children under the age of 18. Sites that are primarily designed to sell products or services will not be listed in any branch of Kids and Teens.

Please be sure to read the category description before submitting to make sure you are submitting to the most appropriate category.

Electronic

Instruments producing musical sounds by electronic means (electrohones), including synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines. Electro-mechanical instruments like the electric piano, or electric guitar should be listed elsewhere ( Keyboard and

Human Voice

Sites listed here provide information about the biological and physical aspects of the human voice. Included are sites covering the proper care of the voice, describing of the anatomy of the voice, and featuring tips and techniques for optimizing the sound of voice.

Please only submit sites that are appropriate for, and of interest to, children under the age of 18. Sites that are primarily designed to sell products or services will not be listed in any branch of Kids and Teens.

Sites about singers, and learning to sing should be submitted to Kids_and_Teens/Arts/Music/Vocal .

Sites about choirs or other vocal ensembles and performing groups should be submitted to Kids_and_Teens/Arts/Music/Bands_and_Ensembles.

Keyboard

Any of various instruments, played by means of a set of piano like keys. Organs, harpsichords, pianos, and accordions are all examples of keyboard instruments.

Submit only sites appropriate for and of interest to children under the age of 18. Sites that are primarily designed to sell products will not be listed in any branch of Kids and Teens.

Percussion

Instruments which are designed to produce noise when they are struck. Many such instruments use a stretched membrane (membranophones) to create sound while others use the object itself (idiophones). Drums such as timpani, congas, and djembe as well cymbals and gongs, and some melodic instruments such as the marimba, chimes and bells are listed here.

Submit only sites appropriate for and of interest to children under the age of 18. Sites that are primarily designed to sell products will not be listed in any branch of Kids and Teens.

Stringed

A musical instrument producing sound when taut strings are plucked, struck, or bowed (chordophones). Usually stringed instruments will include several strings tuned to various pitches and some method of amplifying or resonating the sound of the strings such as a sounding board or hollow chamber. Examples of instruments included here are violins, guitars, dulcimers, harps and sitars.

Submit only sites appropriate for and of interest to children under the age of 18. Sites that are primarily designed to sell products will not be listed in any branch of Kids and Teens.

Woodwind

A woodwind instrument produces sound by blowing against an edge or a vibrating reed. Opening or closing holes in the body of the instrument changes the pitch. The oboe, flute and saxophone are all woodwinds.