XYLOPHONE

Xylophone is the name of an instrument of music which, by its nature, is part of the so - called percussion instruments. It consists of different plates located horizontally that, when hit with sticks, emit different sounds according to their tuning.

The various blades of the xylophone therefore sound in different pitches ( that is, with different musical notes ). The organization of the pictures can be compared to the organization of the keys of a piano.

Also called a xylophone, this instrument has wooden blades. Therefore, its notes have a shorter duration when compared to the notes provided by instruments with metal plates, such as the metallophone. This is because wood sheets have a lower vibration than metal sheets.

According to size, it is possible to differentiate between the bass xylophone, the tall xylophone and the soprano xylophone. Larger xylophones can make about 48 different note.

Many symphony orchestras use xylophones. The person playing the xylophone must know precisely the technique to obtain the appropriate sounds from the instrument. In some cases, for example, the same blade is struck with both sticks, alternately, to achieve a certain effect.

Although its appearance presents it as a less complex instrument than a piano or a harpsichord, it is an important component of many orchestras, since some of the great composers have included it in their works; such is the case of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 6, and Carnival of the Animals and Danse macabre , both by Camille Saint-Saëns.

It is important to note that there are small xylophones that are used in the field of education to familiarize children with the pentatonic scale. In this case, the xylophone makes it possible to apply the so-called Orff Method, a pedagogical technique promoted by Carl Orff that is also used in music therapy.

With regard to the German composer Carl Orff, we can also say that his creations are located within the framework of musical neoclassicism and that his best known work is probably Carmina Burana. Returning to the pedagogical method that bears his name, which is also known as schulwerk ( school work ), it arose largely as a result of Orff's work in a teaching center that he founded with Dorothee Günther in 1924.

The Orff method focuses on a single repertoire, which resulted from a longstanding collaboration with Gunild Keetman, which focused on bringing children closer to music. In other words, it is a compilation of works carried out in a meticulous and systematic way, with a clear pedagogical objective.

The scale used by the Orff method is pentatonic, that is, it has five different notes; in this case, the sequence is as follows: sol, mi, la, do, re. Through this approach to percussion instruments through the xylophone, concepts such as meter, rhythm, pronunciation and intonation of words are also internalized when accompanied by music. On the other hand, it is a good way to bring children closer to the traditional songs of their culture.

One of the first activities that the Orff method proposes to students is the interpretation of rhythmic patterns of little complexity; Little by little, percussion instruments such as the glockenspiel, the metallophone and the xylophone are incorporated into the teaching to complement the learning. It is important to note that these instruments are presented in versions and sizes appropriate to the age of each student, so that they are not overwhelming, but rather attractive and easy to use.