Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra Music Study Guide

3rd grade has been working on New York’s Carnegie Hall website. Here is the link to access the website http://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org/ypgto/index.aspx. You may also access it from our Meadowland Webpage by clicking Specialists> Music> Helpful Music Websites> Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures. It is encouraged for students to create their own login. They do not need an email account to sign on; simply a user name and unique password. Please make sure that your child is practicing the website; especially the introduction and string family! Our Class Login:Username: MsHoeysHalfNotespassword: music

4 Instrument Families of the Orchestra:

StringsPercussion

WoodwindsBrass

Instruments in the string family of the orchestra.

ViolinViola

Cello String BassHarp

Instruments in the percussion family (this list is not conclusive)

TimpaniCastanetsTriangle

Snare DrumBass Drum

GongTambourine

Instruments of the woodwind family

PiccoloFlute

ClarinetOboe

Bassoon

Instruments of the brass family

TrumpetFrench Horn

TromboneTuba

The String Family

All members of the string family produce sound by the vibration of strings. Most of the instruments in the orchestra of the string family look similar, with the exception of the harp.

Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass can be played with a bow or without a bow. When the string instrument is played with a bow it is called arco. When the player does not use the bow it is called pizzicato.

The violin is the smallest instrument of the string family. It has the highest range. The instrument has three main parts: The head and scroll, the fingerboard, bridge, four strings, and the body. This instrument, because of its small size also has a chin rest and tail piece. It may be played with or without a bow.

The viola looks very similar to the violin, but is slightly larger. It has all of the same basic body parts including the head and scroll, the fingerboard, bridge, four strings, and the body ; as well as a chin rest and tail piece. It may be played with or without a bow. The cello is the third largest instrument of the string family. This instrument has all of the basic body parts of the string family including the head and scroll, the fingerboard, bridge, four strings, and the body, but also has an endpin to adjust for the player’s height. It may be played with or without a bow

The String Bass is the largest of the string family. This instrument has the lowest range of the strings. It has sloped shoulders instead of rounded ones, like the other members of the string family. . This instrument has all of the basic body parts of the string family including the head

Harp

and scroll, the fingerboard, bridge, four strings, and the body, but also has an endpin to adjust for the player’s height. It may be played with or without a bow.

The Harp is unlike any other member of the string family. It has 47 strings and three pedals. The strings with the highest pitch are closest to the player and the strings with the lowest pitch are furthest away.

The woodwinds are played by using the player’s breath to make a sound. This sound can be produced with or without a reed.

The flute and piccolo are the highest sounding instruments in the woodwind family. This instrument is also the smallest in the family. Sound is produced from this instrument by blowing across the mouth piece. This instrument does not have a reed. It is played horizontally.

The oboe is a member of the woodwind family. It is played using a double reed. The double reed is made out of two pieces of sugar cane tied together. When air is passed over the reed, the pieces of sugar cane vibrate together to make a sound. This double reed is placed in the top of the instrument in order to be played. It is played vertically.

The clarinet is a member of the woodwind family. It is played using a single reed. The single reed is made out of one shaved piece of sugar cane. It is played vertically.

The bassoon is a member of the woodwind family. It is the largest member and therefore has the lowest sound. Unbent, the bassoon is over eight feet long! It is played using a double reed. The double reed is made out of two pieces of sugar cane tied together. When air is passed over the reed, the pieces of sugar cane vibrate together to make a sound. It is played to your right side.

The Brass FamilyThe brass family is composed of instruments all made of brass. These instruments also have two distinct characteristics. One characteristic is a cupped mouthpiece the player buzzes their lips into. The second characteristic is a bell where the sound comes from.

The French Horn is a member of the brass family. It is played by depressing one of three valves and placing your left hand bent in the bell. The player then buzzes their lips into the cup shaped mouthpiece.

The Trumpet is the highest sounding instrument in the brass family. It is also the smallest brass instrument. The trumpet is played by pushing down three valves that are located on the top of the instrument while the player buzzes their lips into the cupped mouthpiece. The sound comes from the bell.

The Trombone is a member of the brass family. It is played by buzzing your lips into the cupped mouthpiece. The sound is changed by moving the slide up and down. The farther you move the slide away from you, the lower the pitch. The closer the slide is to you, the higher the pitch. The sound comes from the bell.

The Tuba is a member of the brass family. It is played by buzzing your lips into the cupped mouthpiece. The tuba is the lowest and largest of the brass family. The sound produced from the instrument comes from the bell.

Tuba

Trumpet

French Horn

Trombone

The Percussion Family The definition of percussion is any instrument that you hit, scrape, tap or bang to produce the sound. The piano is a percussion instrument because small hammers hit strings inside of the piano to produce the sounds. For further description of some of the percussion family; please use the Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra website.

Triangle

Castanets

Piano

Tambourine

Cymbals

Riddle Time:See if you can figure out what instrument I am from my clues:

1. I am a member of the brass family. I have the lowest sound. I am also the largest instrument. What am I?

2. I am a member of the percussion family. I am made of silver. My name is also the shape I am. What am I?

3. I am a member of the woodwind family. I have the highest sound. I do not use a reed to play. What am I?

4. I am a member of the string family. I do not look like any of the other members of the string family. I have 47 strings and three pedals. What am I?

Write three of your own riddles!

Instrument Seating Chart. Take a Marker and label the following families:

Blue: String FamilyYellow: Brass FamilyGreen: Woodwind FamilyPurple: Percussion Family