Welcome to the Boise Philharmonic’s Children’s Concert Pre-Concert Learning Guide

Click on the picture to see a video greeting Maestro Robert Franz Click on the picture to see a video greeting

Instruments belong in Families! Introducing . . .

THE STRING FAMILY

String Bass, Double Bass, or Bass Viol Click on the picture to hear the sound of a string bass. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? How was the instrument played?

What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Cello Click on the picture to hear the great Yo Yo Ma demonstrate the sound of a cello. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? What differences do you see between this instrument and the string bass?

Viola Click on the picture to hear the sound of a Viola. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? How is this instrument played differently than the string bass or cello?

Violin Click on the picture to hear the great Joshua Bell demonstrate the sound of a violin. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Why is this instrument pitched higher than a viola?

introducing THE BRASS FAMILY

What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Trumpet Click on the picture to hear the great Wynton Marsalis demonstrate the sound of a trumpet. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? How many “valves” are used to play all of the pitches? Why do you think that more than 3 pitches can be played?

French Horn Click on the picture to hear the sound of a French Horn. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? What is the player’s right hand doing?

Trombone Click on the picture to hear the sound of a trombone. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? How does the player change the pitch?

Baritone Click on the picture to hear the sound of a baritone. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Compare the sound of a baritone to the sound of a trombone? How are they the same? Different?

Tuba Click on the picture to hear the sound of a tuba. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Why does the tuba have a lower pitch than the baritone?

introducing THE Woodwind FAMILY

Clarinet Click on the picture to hear the sound of a clarinet. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Why do you think that the nickname for this instrument is “licorice stick”?

Oboe Click on the picture to hear the sound of an oboe. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? This is a double reed instrument. The reeds vibrate together like two blades of grass or two sheets of paper.

English Horn Click on the picture to hear the sound of an English horn. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Compare the sound of the English horn and the oboe. How are they the same? How are they different?

Bassoon Click on the picture to hear the sound of a bassoon. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? What famous Russian story uses the bassoon to represent one of the characters?

Contrabassoon Click on the picture to hear the sound of a contrabassoon. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? This instrument is the lowest of all the woodwinds? Why do you think it is sometimes called the “clown of the orchestra”?

Bass Clarinet Click on the picture to hear the sound of a bass clarinet. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? What is added to give this instrument more length (and a lower pitch)?

Saxophones Click on the picture to hear the sound of the saxophones. What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound? Saxophones are not always used in an orchestra. They’re more often used in a concert or jazz band.

introducing THE Percussion FAMILY

Percussion Click on the picture to hear a percussion ensemble. What descriptive words would you use to describe these sounds?