The Orchestra: Four Sections Strings Brass Percussion

The Orchestra 15
The orchestra is an instrumental ensemble that traditionally plays classical music. It usually contains between
. It contains a wide variety of instruments split into four sections: strings, woodwind,
brass and percussion.
In the table below write down key facts about each of the four sections of the orchestra. Also, list any
instruments that you know. Think about: what they are made of, how the sound is made and any special
features.
Strings
Instruments:
Facts:
Woodwind
Instruments:
Facts:
Brass
Instruments:
Facts:
Percussion
Instruments:
Facts:
Layout of the Orchestra
Woodwind Instruments 17
All woodwind instruments have only one thing in common. Their sound is produced by air being blown
through them. They are not all made of wood.
Under each instrument write its name, what they are made of and how a sound is produced.
Brass Instruments
All brass instruments are played in exactly the same way, they are also made of the same material. They all
consist of different length of metal pipes down which air is blown. They all have a mouthpiece, tubes and a
bell.
Mouthpiece
Bell
Identify these instruments:

String Instruments 19
Orchestral string instruments are mostly very similar. They are all made of wood and produce sound by either
bowing or plucking strings. The strings were originally made of animal guts but now are made of synthetic
materials or metal. The bow was made from wood and horse hair man made materials are
used instead of horse hair.
Label the
horse hair, wood and where you hold the bow.
Percussion Instruments
There are many, many different percussion instruments. The thing they have in common is that they are played
by being hit. Sometimes they are hit with a stick, sometimes hit with the hand and sometimes hit against each
other. Some of them are tuned – this means they can play different notes untuned – they
Here are some percussion instruments. Name them, and say whether they are tuned or untuned.
Musical Instruments
Instrument Quiz
Worksheet 15
21
Name .........................................
Instrument Details
1) Name this instrument.
2) To which orchestral family does it belong?
3) How is a musical sound produced on it?
4) Label some of its parts (as indicated).

M
Mu sical Instrum meeen ts
M uussiiccaall IInnssttrruum nnttss
Worksheet 17 Name .........................................
Worksheet 17
Worksheet 17 Name .........................................
Name .........................................
Quick
Quick Quiz
Quiz
Name three instruments in the string family
Name three
Name three instruments
instruments in
in the
the string
string family
family
Name three instruments in the woodwind family

Name three
instruments in
in the
the woodwind
woodwind family
family
Name three instruments in the brass family

Name three
instruments in
in the
the brass
brass family
family
Name three instruments in the percussion family

Name three
instruments in
in the
the percussion
percussion family
family
How is a musical sound made on a flute?

How is
How is aa musical
musical sound
sound made
made on
on aa flute?
flute?
How is a musical sound made on a tuba?

How is
How is aa musical
musical sound
sound made
made on
on aa tuba?
tuba?
How is the pitch changed on a clarinet?

How is
How is the
the pitch
pitch changed
changed on
on aa clarinet?
clarinet?
How is a musical sound made on a trombone?

How is
How is aa musical
musical sound
sound made
made on
on aa trombone?
trombone?
How is the pitch changed on a trombone?

How is
How is the
the pitch
pitch changed
changed on
on aa trombone?
trombone?
Name two ways by which musical sounds can be made on a violin

Name two
Name two ways
ways by
by which
which musical
musical sounds
sounds can
can be
be made
made on
on aa violin
violin
Name two ways by which the pitch is changed on a trumpet

Name two
Name two ways
ways by
by which
which the
the pitch
pitch is
is changed
changed on
on aa trumpet
trumpet
Which is lower in pitch, To which family does

Which is
Which is lower
lower in pitch,
pitch, To which family
family does
does
the viola or the in cello? To
thewhich
cor anglais belong?
the
the viola
viola or
orpartthe cello?
the cello? the
the cor anglais
coraanglais belong?
belong?
Name one that the Name woodwind
Name
Name one one part that the
the Name a woodwind
timpani andpart the that
snare Name a woodwind
instrument that is
timpani and
timpani and the snare snare instrument that
that is
drum have inthe common instrument
made of metal is
drum have in
drum have in common common made of metal
made of metal
Name one family of Name one family of instruments
Name one
Name one family
family ofof Name one family
Name family of
of instruments
instruments
instruments usually found usuallyonefound at the
instruments
instruments usually
usually found
found usually
usually found at the
at the back of the orchestra front of found at the
the orchestra
at the
at the back
back of of the
the orchestra
orchestra front of
front of the
the orchestra
orchestra
Name the highest pitched Name the lowest pitched
Name the
Name the highest
highest pitched
pitched Name the
Name the lowest
lowest pitched
pitched
woodwind instrument brass instrument
woodwind instrument
woodwind instrument brass instrument
brass instrument

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The Orchestra 15

Identify these instruments:

2) To which orchestral family does it belong?

3) How is a musical sound produced on it?

4) Label some of its parts (as indicated).

1) Name this instrument.

2) To which orchestral family does it belong?

3) How is a musical sound produced on it?

4) Label some of its parts (as indicated).

1) Name this instrument.

2) To which orchestral family does it belong?

3) How is a musical sound produced on it?

4) Label some of its parts (as indicated).

1) Name this instrument.

2) To which orchestral family does it belong?

3) How is a musical sound produced on it?

4) Label some of its parts (as indicated).

Name three instruments in the woodwind family

Name three instruments in the brass family

Name three instruments in the percussion family

How is a musical sound made on a flute?

How is a musical sound made on a tuba?

How is the pitch changed on a clarinet?

How is a musical sound made on a trombone?

How is the pitch changed on a trombone?

Name two ways by which musical sounds can be made on a violin

Name two ways by which the pitch is changed on a trumpet

Which is lower in pitch, To which family does

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