Musicians may play any of a wide variety of string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instruments. For example, they may play the violin, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, organ, one of the rhythm instruments the piano, string bass, drums, and guitar or one of the many electronic synthesizers. Singers interpret music using their knowledge of voice production, melody, and harmony. They sing character parts or perform in their own individual styles. Singers are often classified according to their voice range soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, or bass or by the type of music they sing, such as opera, rock, reggae, folk, or country and western.
Composers create original music such as symphonies, operas, sonatas, or popular songs or raps.
They transcribe ideas into musical notation using harmony, rhythm, melody, and tonal structure. Many songwriters now compose and edit music using computers. Some even have a musical keyboard linked to a computer which compiles the digital information into musical notation while they play. Also, they may program the composition in musical notation into the computer, which can play back the piece. Orchestra conductors lead orchestras and bands.