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Research draft

musical instrument

vr.tr.musical-instrument · PHY.OBJ

Let an agent handle musical instruments by classification, construction, playing, care, hire and trade rules.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent handle musical instruments by classification, construction, playing, care, hire and trade rules.

A device created or adapted to make musical sounds, classified in the Hornbostel-Sachs system as idiophones, membranophones, chordophones, aerophones and electrophones.

What it is for: Making music.

It can be identify and classify instruments; choose an instrument and size for a learner; maintain and tune instruments; check travel and trade rules for protected materials.

Distinguishing features

Designed to make musical sound

Classified by sound production

Crafted from wood, metal, skin or electronics

Needs regular care

What it looks like

Enormously varied: strings, tubes, drums, keys and electronic units.

How it is recognised

How the sound is produced decides the class

Maker labels and serial numbers

Toy instruments are a related category

Related models

is a kind of - category

sound generator

is used in - practice

music

is classified by - system

Hornbostel-Sachs

is made by - craft

luthier and instrument maker

In practice

Families and kinds

idiophones

membranophones

chordophones

aerophones

electrophones

Identifiers

Hornbostel-Sachs number hierarchical code classification

Standards and regulation

CITES rules for rosewood, ivory and tortoiseshell

Airline cabin rules for instruments

Noise at work regulations for musicians

Failure modes and hazards

Hearing damage from loud playing

Seizure of instruments with undocumented protected materials

Damage from humidity and temperature

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Classification Which instrument.

Classification helps.

Class

Hornbostel-Sachs.

Class

Instrument class.

  1. How does this instrument produce sound? definition
  2. What is its Hornbostel-Sachs class? definition

Maker

Origin.

Maker

Maker and origin.

  1. Who made it and when? provenance
  2. Is a label or serial number present? provenance
Playing Learning.

Learners need fit.

Choice

Size and type.

Choice

Choosing an instrument.

  1. Which size or type suits this learner? action
  2. Is hiring before buying possible? action

Hearing

Protection.

Hearing

Hearing protection.

  1. How loud is the instrument in practice? measurement
  2. Is musician hearing protection advisable? action
Care Maintenance.

Instruments need care.

Maintenance

Tuning and servicing.

Maintenance

Maintenance.

  1. How often does it need tuning or servicing? measurement
  2. Who can service it? action

Environment

Humidity.

Environment

Storage conditions.

  1. What humidity and temperature should it be kept in? measurement
  2. Is a case or humidifier needed? action
Rules Travel and trade.

Some materials are protected.

CITES

Protected materials.

CITES

Protected materials.

  1. Does the instrument contain CITES-listed materials? boundary
  2. Is a musical instrument certificate needed for travel? provenance

Travel

Airlines.

Travel

Air travel.

  1. Can it travel in the cabin on this airline? provenance
  2. How should it be packed? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should each instrument family be a separate entry?
  • How should Hornbostel-Sachs codes be linked?
  • How should CITES documentation be recorded?