Reviews, guides and buying advice for flutes, clarinets, saxophones, oboes, bassoons and recorders for UK musicians.
- 51 topics
- 140 articles
Inside Wind & Woodwind
All 51 topicsThe 12 most-searched of 51 topics. The full index is at the foot of the page.
Flute
Browse flutes for orchestral, chamber and folk playing, with clear tone, quick response and reliable playability for UK...
3 topics
Oboe
The oboe offers a distinctive double-reed sound for orchestral, chamber and solo playing, with precision and expressive...
1 topic
Clarinet
The clarinet is a versatile woodwind, widely used in UK orchestras, bands, jazz and chamber music.
3 topics
Bassoon
Expressive and distinctive, the bassoon is a vital orchestral double-reed instrument with depth, agility and character.
2 topics
Piccolo
Find piccolo options with a bright, focused tone for orchestral, band and solo playing in the Wind & Woodwind range.
1 topic
Cor Anglais
The cor anglais offers a mellow, expressive double-reed sound ideal for orchestral solos and lyrical colour.
4 topics
Recorder
The recorder offers a clear, expressive sound and remains a favourite for learners, ensembles and early music players.
15 topics
Tin Whistle
Tin whistles are bright, portable folk instruments ideal for beginners, sessions and traditional music players.
1 topic
Recorder Instrument
Recorder instruments suit beginners and experienced musicians alike, with clear tone, multiple sizes and easy portabilit...
3 topics
Descant Recorder
Bright, portable and easy to learn, the descant recorder is ideal for school use, early music and ensemble playing.
Alto Saxophone
Versatile and expressive, the alto saxophone suits school bands, jazz, classical and solo playing for UK musicians.
1 topic
Pan Flute
The pan flute delivers a warm, airy tone for folk, world and solo music, with a distinctive sound and simple layout.
Articles on Wind & Woodwind
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Beginner Saxophone: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying your first saxophone need not be daunting — if you know what to look for, where to look and what to avoid, you can make a confident, informed choice.
Ed Hardy Phone Case: A Complete Guide
A reed case is more than just a box—it's insurance for your precious reeds, protecting them from damage and maintaining the stable humidity they need to stay playable.
The Best Saxophone Stands for the Money
The best saxophone stand depends on your instrument size and how you play. This guide picks the top options for home practice, gigging, doubles and baritone across a range of budgets.
Everything You Need to Know About Jupiter Alto Saxophone
Jupiter saxophones balance affordability with genuine playability. Learn which model suits your level—from student 500 Series to the professional 1100 range.
Everything You Need to Know About Bg Mouthpiece Cushions
Mouthpiece cushions protect reed instrument mouthpieces and optimise tone. Learn materials, thickness options, and replacement schedules for saxophones and clarinets.
Tin Whistle Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The tin whistle is one of the most accessible traditional instruments — here is how it works, what keys are available and how it is played in folk traditions.
Descant Recorder Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The descant recorder is the starting point for recorder playing worldwide — but it has more range, repertoire and musical potential than its school reputation suggests.
Flute: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying the right instrument at the right stage avoids costly upgrades. Here is what closed and open holes mean, why headjoint quality matters more than body, and which brands are worth the price.
Cor Anglais: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a cor anglais is a bigger decision than most instrument purchases. Here is what genuinely matters, and where new buyers most often trip up.
Cor Anglais Instrument: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A properly worked-through decision, not a spec sheet — how to actually choose a cor anglais.
Everything You Need to Know About Saxophone Cases Alto
A quality saxophone case protects your investment from damage, moisture, and temperature changes. This guide covers case types, protection features, and how to choose the right case for your needs.
Clarinet Reeds for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Clarinet reeds are the thing that actually makes your sound — and getting them right from the start makes a genuine difference. Here's the plain beginner's guide to choosing, fitting and caring for th...
Common Cor Anglais Mistakes to Avoid
Cor anglais is not a forgiving instrument, and a handful of habits explain most of the frustration players run into. Here are eight, and how to fix them.
Pan Flute: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying a pan flute needn't be overwhelming. Understand your options: tuning, materials, price tiers and what separates a good instrument from a frustrating waste of money.
Clarinet Reeds: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Finding the right clarinet reed takes a little patience and a framework for choosing well. Here's the unhurried, thoughtful guide to matching reed strength, cut and brand to your actual playing needs.
How to Set Up and Use Piccolo Flute
Getting your piccolo flute correctly assembled and aligned before you play makes a real difference to tone and intonation — here is the complete setup process from case to first note.
Clarinet Mouthpiece for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The mouthpiece that comes with a student clarinet is adequate for the first year. After that, a straightforward upgrade makes a noticeable difference. Here is what beginners need to know.
Common Soprano Saxophone Mistakes to Avoid
This instrument exposes small errors fast — the common mistakes that come up again and again, and how to actually fix them.
Cor Anglais Instrument for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A patient, honest guide for anyone starting the cor anglais, whether from scratch or as a doubling oboist.
Cor Anglais for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Starting the cor anglais can feel daunting, especially with so little written for a genuine first-timer. This guide takes your first weeks slowly and kindly.
Descant Recorder for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Learning the descant recorder well from the start means getting breath control and hand position right before focusing on tunes. Here is what the first weeks look like.
How to Set Up and Use Alto Saxophone
From assembling your instrument to maintaining it properly, mastering the basics of alto saxophone setup removes anxiety and lets you focus on the joy of playing. Here is everything you need to know.
Common Clarinet Mouthpiece Mistakes to Avoid
Clarinet mouthpiece mistakes are common and often hard to self-diagnose. Here are the most frequent errors and how to correct each one.
What Wind & Woodwind Covers
Wind & woodwind instruments form one of music's oldest and most expressive families, spanning everything from beginner recorders to professional orchestral oboes. Whether you're a student picking up your first flute or a seasoned player searching for a concert-grade bassoon, this section covers the full spectrum of breath-driven instruments used across classical, jazz, folk, and contemporary music in the UK.
The Main Instrument Families
This branch of orchestral and band music divides into three main groups. Single-reed instruments such as clarinets and saxophones produce sound through a vibrating reed clamped to a mouthpiece — they appear across classical ensembles, jazz bands, and popular music alike. Double-reed instruments, including oboes and bassoons, use two reeds bound together and are central to the orchestral palette. Flutes, piccolos, and recorders represent the lip-blown family, where the player directs air across an embouchure hole to create tone. Each family demands different technique, but all reward patience and consistent practice.
Key Instruments at Every Level
Recorders and student flutes are popular first instruments in UK schools, offering an accessible introduction to breath control and music reading. Clarinets are equally beginner-friendly and widely available in affordable student models from brands such as Buffet Crampon, Yamaha, and Jupiter. As players progress, intermediate saxophones by Yanagisawa or Selmer Paris become aspirational choices, while professional oboes and bassoons — often made by Howarth of London or Fox Products — represent significant long-term investments suitable for conservatoire and orchestral work.
Buying Considerations for UK Players
When selecting a wind woodwind instrument in the UK, material and build quality matter enormously. Student models typically use nickel-silver keys and ABS resin bodies, which keep costs down without sacrificing playability. Professional instruments favour sterling silver, grenadilla wood, or hard rubber for superior resonance. Buyers should also consider mouthpiece compatibility, reed availability, and whether a local repairer or specialist technician is within reach — regular servicing keeps pads, springs, and corks in working order.
Accessories and Ongoing Costs
Owning one of these instruments involves ongoing outlay beyond the purchase price. Reeds, ligatures, mouthpiece patches, and cork grease are regular consumables. Cases, straps, and music stands are near-universal needs. Specialist UK retailers such as Hobgoblin, Dawsons, and dedicated woodwind shops carry a wide range of accessories and offer instrument trials in-store — a worthwhile step before committing to any model at an intermediate or professional level.
