Instruments
OUR INSTRUMENTS
Options Create Opportunities
Don't see what you are looking for? Contact your preferred branch to see what programs and instruments are currently available, and we will do our best to help you along your musical journey!
![Double Bass Settlement student playing double bass](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/Reszied-girl-playing-double-bass-2-e1543164685426.jpg)
![View More: http://donnabarretterizzo.pass.us/settlement-music-school-catalog-2017-17010-012717-012917 A Settlement student plays bassoon at a Mary Louise Curtis performance](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/bassoon--e1545151244499.jpg)
Bassoon
A woodwind instrument in the double reed family similar to an oboe, but larger and lower in pitch.
![1805_settlementmusic_germantown-5040 A young cello student rehearses at the Germantown Branch](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/08/1805_settlementmusic_germantown-5040.jpg)
Cello
The second largest and second lowest instrument in the string family. Its four strings are either plucked or played with a bow.
![View More: http://donnabarretterizzo.pass.us/settlement-music-school-catalog-112115 A Settlement student rehearses clarinet](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/11/SettlementCatalog15-447-1007-e1545072756778.jpg)
Clarinet
A woodwind instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece, a cylindrical tube with a flared end, and holes stopped by keys.
![1805_settlementmusic_mlc-5438 Teacher and student during a flute lesson](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/07/1805_settlementmusic_mlc-5438.jpg)
Flute
The only woodwind instrument that does not require a reed, but instead, produces sound as air is blown across the mouthpiece.
![French Horn Settlement student plays french horn](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/French-HOrn-e1545151056316.jpg)
French Horn
A brass instrument consisting of a long tube that is coiled into a circular shape to rest in the player’s lap. The pitch is controlled by both the embouchure and a series of valves.
![1805_settlementmusic_germantown-4892 Student plays the electric guitar](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/08/1805_settlementmusic_germantown-4892.jpg)
Guitar
A stringed musical instrument with a fretted fingerboard and six strings, played by plucking or strumming with the fingers or a pick. Students can learn on classical, acoustic, or electric guitars.
![Harp Settlement student plays the harp](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/SettlementASEConcert18-32-e1545151068370.jpg)
Harp
A stringed instrument, roughly triangular in shape, consisting of a frame supporting a graduated series of parallel strings, played by plucking with the fingers.
![Oboe A young student practices at the Willow Grove Branch](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/10/20180929-SMS-WG-Open-House029-016022w-e1545150336616.jpg)
Oboe
A woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.
![Mary Louise Curtis Branch Organ Mary Louise Curtis Branch Organ](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/DSC_1465-e1545150984504.jpg)
Organ
A keyboard instrument of one or more pipe divisions or other means for producing tones, each played with its own keyboard, played either with the hands on a keyboard or with the feet using pedals.
![Timpani Settlement student playing timpani](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/1805_settlementmusic_germantown-5237.jpg)
Drums and Percussion
Pitched and unpitched instruments that are played by being struck with a stick, mallet or a bare hand. Pitched instruments include timpani and keyboard percussion, while unpitched instruments include drums, cymbals, and tambourines, to name only a few.
![Piano Lessons Piano lessons at Settlement](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/08/1805_settlementmusic_germantown-4696.jpg)
Piano
A large keyboard instrument with a wooden case enclosing a soundboard and metal strings, which are struck by small hammers when the keys are pressed.
![Saxophone Saxophone](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/07/1805_settlementmusic_mlc-5491.jpg)
Saxophone
A member of the single-reed woodwind family that is extremely popular in jazz music.
![Pathways to Performance Trombones Pathways to Performance Trombones](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/Faculty-pages_pg-16-e1545151151739.jpg)
Trombone
A large brass instrument with a U-shaped piece that is slid in and out of the main body of the instrument to manipulate the pitch.
![Music Education Pathways Trumpet Music Education Pathways Trumpet](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/Settlement_Oct2013_055-e1545151035538.jpg)
Trumpet
The highest sounding instrument in the brass family, played by buzzing into a mouthpiece and manipulating a series of valves.
![Tuba at Pathways to Performance Tuba at Pathways to Performance](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/10/SettlementTemple17-51-e1545150487516.jpg)
Tuba
The largest instrument of the brass family, with three to six valves and a broad bell typically points up.
![Viola An Advanced Study student rehearses before the 2018 Advanced Study Concert](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/10/SettlementASEConcert18-22-e1545150417869.jpg)
Viola
The alto instrument of the string family, slightly larger than the violin and tuned a fifth lower.
![PMAY Violinist PMAY Violinist](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/Pierce-violin-e1561650793852.jpg)
Violin
The smallest and highest-pitched instrument in the string family, also known informally as a fiddle.
![Voice Settlement vocal student performs at an Annual Concert](https://settlementmusic.org/app/uploads/2018/09/DSF8342-e1545151163591.jpg)
Voice
Singing is the most universal form of musical expression and appears in almost all styles and genres of music.
Meeting students where they are at
We understand that everyone comes to Settlement at different stages of life and experience levels. That’s why we connect with you one-on-one right at the start, so we can make sure we find the right match for you or your child.