woodwinds

1. A group of wind instruments with a softer tone than that of brass instruments. Woodwind players do not set the air in their instruments in motion by blowing through their closed lips against a cup-shaped mouthpiece, as players of brass instruments do. In woodwinds, the players insert the mouthpiece into their mouths and blow while pressing their lips against a single or double reed . Bassoons , clarinets , oboes , and saxophones are played in this way. In other woodwinds, the player blows across a hole ( fifes , flutes , and piccolos ) or into a whistlelike mouthpiece ( recorders ).