Which family of instruments produces sound by blowing air?

The correct answer is the woodwind family, which produces sound by the vibration of air, typically through the use of a reed or a mouthpiece that directs air into a chamber. Instruments in this family include the clarinet, flute, saxophone, and oboe. When a musician blows air into these instruments, it causes the air column inside to vibrate, producing sound.

In contrast, the brass family also relies on air to produce sound but does so through buzzing lips against a mouthpiece rather than through a reed or fipple. Instruments like trumpets, trombones, and tubas fall into this category. The string family generates sound through the vibration of strings, either by plucking or bowing, while the percussion family produces sound through striking, shaking, or scraping surfaces. Thus, the fundamental characteristic of sound production in the woodwind family distinctly sets it apart from the other families of instruments.