How are musical instruments categorized?
Given the sheer number of musical instruments that exist, instruments are categorized to discuss them more easily in terms of music education. The two most prominent categorization methods are family relationships and the Sachs-Hornbostel system. The musical instrument families are brass , percussion , strings , woodwinds and keyboards . An instrument is divided into a family, depending on the sound, the way the sound is produced, and the way the instrument is designed. It is important to note that instrument families are not a clear distinction, because not every instrument fits right into a family. A common example is a piano. The sound of a piano is produced via a keyboard system that uses hammers to hit strings. So the piano falls into the grey area between strings, percussion and keyboard families. The Sachs-Hornbostel system groups instruments based on several criteria, which will be discussed below.
1. Instrument Family: Brass
