Woodwind Instruments

Unlike say the piano or keyboard, which automatically produces sound when a key is pressed, 
woodwind players must learn to produce the sound and develop subsequent tone.
Players learn/are able to control the pitch of individual sound with their lips and breath depending on whether they play a reed instrument (clarinet, saxophone) or "spilt air" instrument (flute).

Case Size

FLUTE
Played by directing a jet of air from a small opening in the lips across a hole so the air is split on the opposite edge causing it to whistle - producing the tone (similar to blowing over a bottle but far more refined). The length of the flute is varied by the fingers to produce pitch. 

CLARINET
Played by controlling the length of a reed attached to a mouthpiece with the lips and blowing to set the reed vibrating - producing the tone.  The length of the clarinet is varied by the fingers to produce pitch. 

Case Size

Case Size

SAXOPHONE
Played by controlling the length of a reed attached to a mouthpiece with the lips and blowing to set the reed vibrating - producing the tone.  The length of the saxophone is varied by the fingers to produce pitch.