Music is my Business Trivia Quiz

Answer: didgeridoo

The didgeridoo may be described as a natural wooden trumpet. It might have been developed more than a thousand years ago. A special breathing technique called circular breathing is used to play this instrument while the lips are constantly vibrating. In circular breathing the player breathes in through the nose while using the tongue and cheeks to push out stored air through the mouth. While music is the main business of the didgeridoo, persons who snore or suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may be delighted to learn that playing this instrument actually helps to reduce these conditions as the muscles of the upper airways are strengthened so that they are less likely to collapse when an individual is asleep.

Answer: banjo

The banjo may consist of 4-6 strings. It has a thin membrane that is stretched over a frame or cavity thus acting as a resonator. The banjo was the main instrument used in African-American as well as Irish traditional music. Africans in America made the earliest forms of the banjo.

Answer: a bagpipe

Bagpipes are very popular in Scotland but they are also played in many parts of Europe, Turkey, and around the Persian Gulf among other places. It is believed that the Romans were the first to bring bagpipes to the British Isles.

All bagpipes consist of a bag, an air supply, a chanter and at least one drone. However, many bagpipes have more than one drone and sometimes more than one chanter. The air is supplied to the bag through a blowpipe or blowstick.

The traditional use of bagpipes was to provide music for traditional dancing. However since the 1960s bagpipes have been used in other music forms such as rock, jazz and classical music.

Answer: string

The ukulele belongs to the lute family. It consists of four strings which may be made from nylon or gut. It is a Hawaiian version of the Portuguese machete which was a small instrument similar to a guitar. It is popularly used in Hawaiian music.

Answer: marimba

The bars of the marimba are arranged like those of a piano. Resonators are sometimes attached to the bars to increase the volume. The marimba is similar to a xylophone but it has a lower pitch and more resonance. The marimba is used for solo performances, marimba concertos, orchestral compositions as well as various ensembles.

Answer: False

We all know that cuatro means four in Spanish. However, a cuatro may be any of the Latin American instruments that belong to the guitar or lute families. Some cuatros actually have more than four strings. The cuatro is used in South America as well as in many other West Indian countries. It is used as an ensemble instrument not only for secular music but also for religious music.

Answer: Japan

The koto is a stringed musical instrument. It is made from kiri wood and has 13 strings that are strung along bridges which are movable. There are also the 17, 20 and 25 stringed kotos. The koto is a relative of the Chinese zheng. It came to Japan from China at some point during the 7th to 8th century.

Answer: Cuba

Cuba, indeed! The conga drum is a narrow, single-headed drum which is used in Cuba. Traditionally, these drums were used to play Afro-Cuban genres such as conga and rumba. However, the sound of the conga is now used in other forms of Latin music as well as in non-Cuban genres. They are classed as percussive instruments.

Answer: brass

The sackbut is a type of trombone. It has a smaller bore than modern trombones and its bell is not as flared. Although sackbuts can be used to make loud, brassy sounds they are very good for rather soft playing. These instruments developed from the trumpet.

Answer: shawm

The shawm is a double reed woodwind instrument that is made in Europe from as far back as the 12th century. The music of the shawm can still be heard in many countries today. The drum is a percussive instrument while the guitar is stringed and the fife is woodwind.