Question

How do performers cause idiophones to produce sound?

1) by making a string vibrate
2) by setting a column of air to vibrating
3) by shaking, scraping, or striking the instrument itself
4) by striking a tightly stretched membrane

Answer 1

Idiophones produce sound when performers shake, scrape, or strike the instrument itself, making the material of the instrument resonate.

Step-by-step explanation:

Performers cause idiophones to produce sound by shaking, scraping, or striking the instrument itself. Unlike wind instruments, which create sound through vibrating air columns, or stringed and membranophone instruments, which produce sound through vibrating strings or membranes respectively, idiophones are designed to resonate when the body of the instrument itself is acted upon.

Common examples include bells, xylophones, and cymbals, where the material of the instrument vibrates to produce sound when it is directly manipulated. This direct manipulation causes the idiophone to resonate, creating the unique sounds associated with these instruments.