1. Let’s Learn the Orchestra!
Start
Lesson
Directions
Introduction

2. Directions
This is a completely self-guided lesson teaching you about all the different instruments in the orchestra!
There are various buttons to help you navigate through this lesson.
This button will
take you back to
the main page and
can be found in the
corner of every page
In the lesson
this button will
take you back to
the main page
of the lesson
The main page will give you access to the introduction, these directions, and the start of the lesson. The main page of the lesson give you access to each of the four instrument families.
During the lesson, at the bottom of each page will be the image of the next instrument you will be learning about. To get to that page, simply click the image of the instrument to advance. When you get to the end of one music family, click the music note to go back and learn about another family of instruments.

3. Introduction to a lesson for 4th Grade General Music Class
In this PowerPoint we are going to learn the different instruments that make up the orchestra and what family they belong in!
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify all the instruments that make up the orchestra , like in the picture below, and which family they belong in by showing your knowledge in a short quiz.
We will go over each instrument individually more further on in this unit. This is more of an introduction.
Ohio Department of Education
Grade 4- music specific standards met:
-Classify instruments by the four families of the orchestra.
-Describe the way sound is produced by various instruments and the human
Voice
-Describe the roles of musicians in various music settings.

4. Finish and Take the Quiz
You just listened and watched a short clip of Benjamin Britten’s piece
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Performed by the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra!
This is what a full orchestra looks and sounds like.
It’s a lot of instruments, right?
Now let’s explore each instrument and the different families!
Finish and
Take the Quiz
Woodwinds
Brass
Strings
Percussion

5. Brass Family Listen to what a brass section sounds like!
The brass family is made up of Trumpets, Horns, Trombones, and Tubas.
All are made of metal, and change pitch by pressing down a valve or piston, or by adjusting a slide.
They all use metal mouthpieces that you must buzz into to create a sound!
First let’s go learn about the highest pitched member of the brass family:
The Trumpet!

6. Trumpet
The Trumpet is the highest sounding and smallest member of the brass family used in the orchestra. It is one of the oldest musical instruments, with the some of the first trumpets being made as far back as 1500BC!
They are made out of brass or metal tubing, and have three valves that let you change the pitch you are playing. Early trumpets did not have the valves we see on trumpets today, and were very limited to what notes they could play.
Throughout history, the trumpet as served many roles. It has been used to sound alarms, gather people, and announce the arrival of high members of society.
Take a listen!
Now let’s take a look at the Horns!
Previous

7. Horn
The Horn, or often called “French Horn”, has one of the most varied sounds in the orchestra. Horns can play anything from extremely loud to very soft, from harsh and blaring to mellow and soothing.
The horn is made up of 18 feet of coiled tubing with a bell at the end.
Usually there are anywhere from 2 to 8 horns in an orchestra, and they have lots of melody and harmony parts.
Meet the Horn section!
Next up: Trombone and Tuba!
Previous

8. Trombone and Tuba
The trombone is the only member of the brass family that uses a slide instead of valves to change pitch!
There are usually 3 trombones in an orchestra, and they play in the same range as the cello and the bassoon.
Usually, each trombone is independent of each other, playing complete chords.
If you stretch out a trombone, it is about 9 ft long!
The tuba is the lowest and largest member of the brass family, and most often anchors the harmony of the entire orchestra.
There is usually only 1 tuba in the orchestra, unless specifically called for more.
Standard tubas have 16 feet of tubing, but could have up to 20!
The tuba is often called the grandfather of the brass family!
Previous
Click the music notes in the top right corner to head back to the full orchestra page and select the next instrument family!

9. Woodwind Family Listen to what the woodwind section sounds like!
The Woodwind family is made up of flutes, clarinets, oboes, and bassoons, along with many variations of those instruments. Woodwinds are usually narrow cylinders or pipes with many key holes that you cover to change pitch.
Besides the flute, all woodwinds use reeds to produce sounds. The oboe and bassoon use two!
The first woodwind we will look at is the Flute!

10. Flute
The flute is the oldest of any of the instruments in the orchestra that produced a pitched sound.
Today flutes are made of silver, gold, or platinum, but they used made from wood, stone, clay, or even bamboo.
To produce sound, you have to blow across a hole in the mouthpiece.
The flute is one of the highest voices in the orchestra.
The flute has a smaller, higher version that is often in the orchestra as well called the piccolo. In the video, watch for a smaller, black flute. That is the piccolo.
The piccolo is the highest voice of the woodwinds
Let’s take a look at the Clarinet
Previous

11. Clarinet
The clarinet is a single reed instrument, and can be easily mistaken for an oboe. B-flat clarinets are the most common clarinet played in an orchestra.
There are usually 2 to 4 clarinets in the orchestra that play both melody and harmony.
There are many other types of clarinets that often make appearances in the orchestra, the E-flat clarinet, and the Bass Clarinet.
Clarinets sound dark and rich in their lower notes, and bright in the upper register.
Now for one of the mysterious double reeds: The Oboe
Previous

12. Oboe
The oboe at first looks a lot like the clarinet, the main difference taking place at the top of the instrument. Instead of a mouthpiece and a single reed, the oboe uses a double reed, or two reeds attached together.
There are usually 2 oboes in the orchestra, possibly up to 4.
They produce a wide range of pitches and tones, and have a very memorable sound.
The first oboe player in any orchestra holds the responsibility of tuning the rest of the orchestra by playing an ‘A’ before the concert begins.
The English Horn is the brother to the oboe, bigger and lower sounding. It is usually doubled by the 2nd or 3rd oboe player.
Up next: The Bassoon
Previous

13. Bassoon The bassoon is a long pipe doubled over.
Bassoons are made of wood and are a doubled reed instrument like the oboe.
There are usually 2 to 4 bassoons in the orchestra, and have the same range as the cello.
Usually, the bassoon plays harmonies, but it is often chosen as a soloist in many pieces.
The Contrabassoon is another frequent member of the orchestra. It is much larger and lower than a bassoon.
The contrabassoon plays the lowest notes in the entire orchestra, even lower than the tuba!
Previous
Click the music notes in the top right corner to head back to the full orchestra page and select the next instrument family!

14. String Family Listen to what the Strings sound like!
The String Family is made up of the Violins, Viola, Cellos, and the Double Bass.
All string instruments are made of hollow wooden bodies, with strings running down the neck and body of the instrument.
You play a string instrument by drawing a bow across the strings, or plucking the strings
One of the most important members of the orchestra:
The Violin!

15. Violin
The violin is the smallest and highest pitched member of the strings family.
The violin section is the largest section in the orchestra with up to 30 members divided between two parts. The first violins often play the melody, while second violins go between melody and harmony.
The typical violin is about 2 feet long in length!
Next up: The Violas
Previous

16. Viola
The Viola is like an older sibling to the Violin. The two look very similar and are easy to confuse, but the viola is just slightly larger.
In an orchestra, there are usually 10 to 14 violas which usually only play harmony.
The viola has a slightly lower range than the violin, and sounds much warmer and richer in tone.
Now let’s meet the Cellos
Previous

17. Cello
The Cello is the second largest of the string family measuring in at about 4 feet tall and rests between the player’s legs. The cello has a very large range and can easily blend in with the violas in the high register, or play warm rich tones with the double bass.
Out of all the stringed instruments, the cello sounds the most like a human voice.
There are usually 8 to 12 cellos in the orchestra playing both harmony and melody.
Now for the largest:
Double Bass!
Previous

18. Double Bass
At over 6 feet tall, the Double Bass is the grandfather of the string family. It is the largest member of the string family with the longest strings and playing the lowest notes.
There are usually 6 to 8 doubles basses in the orchestra and they almost always just play harmony.
Double Basses are so large you have to either stand up or sit on a very tall stool to play the intrument.
Let’s go see the Harp!
Previous

19. Harp
The Harp is very different from the rest of the string family. Instead of having to press down different parts of a string to get a different pitch, the harp has 47 strings all tuned to different notes.
Harps are usually about 6 feet tall and have to be played sitting down with the instrument between your legs.
There is usually 1 harp in the orchestra, thought seeing 2 is not that uncommon.
The harp plays both melody and harmony!
Previous
Click the music notes in the top right corner to head back to the full orchestra page and select the next instrument family!

20. The Percussion Family is the largest in the orchestra!
Percussion instruments could be basically any instrument that makes a sound when it is hit, shaken, or scraped. There are an endless number of instruments that could be included in the percussion family, but the most common members are the Timpani, Xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, gong, chimes, and castanets. The piano could also be a member of this family.
Click to see images of the
Different types of percussion
Used in this piece!

21. Percussion
Follow this link to learn more about each individual percussion instrument!
Timpani
Cymbals
Bass Drum
Tambourine
Triangle
Xylophone
Snare Drum
Castanets
Previous
Gong
Click the music notes in the top right corner to head back to the full orchestra page and select the next instrument family!

22. Congratulations, you have finished the lesson!
Before you head onto the quiz, take a few minutes and listen to all of Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra!
Try to name the instruments and families while listening!
Once you click continue, you can not go back to the Home or Full Orchestra page.
Back to Orchestra
Continue to Quiz

23. What instrument family has the largest number of members, with one instrument having up 30 members alone?
The Woodwind Family
The String Family
The Brass Family
The Percussion Family

24. Correct!!
The violins often have up to 30 members in their section alone making the String Family the largest family!
Next Question

25. Try Again…
Back to Question

26. The highest pitched and smallest member of the Brass Family is the what?
Piccolo
Horn
Trumpet
Alto Trombone

27. Correct!!
The trumpet is the smallest member of the brass family and plays the highest notes!
Next Question

28. Try Again…
Back to Question

29. Which family has so many types of instruments, we could only name a few of the most common ones.
The Brass Family
The String Family
The Woodwind Family
The Percussion Family

30. Correct!!
You only got to see the Timpani, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Tambourine, Triangle, Snare Drum, Xylophone, Castanets, and Gong! But anything that makes noise when hit on can belong in the percussion family!
Next Question

31. Try Again…
Back to Question

32. What are the only two Woodwinds that use a double reed?
Oboe and Clarinet
Flute and Oboe
Oboe and Bassoon
Bassoon and Clarinet

33. Correct!!
The Oboe and Bassoon both use double reeds! The other double reed that sometimes shows up is the English Horn!
Next Question

34. Try Again…
Back to Question

35. The String Family is made up of the Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, and what other instrument?
The Harp
The Piano
The Fiddle
The Organ

36. The Piano is a member of the Percussion Family, same with the Organ.
Correct!!
The Piano is a member of the Percussion Family, same with the Organ.
A Fiddle is a Violin but used for folk music only, not in an orchestra!
Next Question

37. Try Again…
Back to Question

38. What is the only brass instrument that uses a slide?
The Trumpet
The Horn
The Tuba
The Trombone

39. Correct!!
The Trombone is the only member of the brass family that uses a slide to change pitch instead of valves.
Finish

40. Try Again…
Back to Question

41. You’ve finished the quiz!
Good Job!
You’ve finished the quiz!
By answering all those questions, it seems you have a good idea of the different instruments of the orchestra!
Next time you look at an orchestra, or hear a recording, now you can name what instrument you see/hear!
Back to the Home Page
Credits

42. Credits The 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra - The Oregon Symphony -
Performing Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
The Oregon Symphony -
Explanations of the instruments and instrument families
Tech Tips For All –
YouTube video editing and embedding
4Vector.com –
Oboe and Cello images
A special shout out to John DiCesare-
The Tuba player in the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra and Kent State Tuba Professor!