The Instruments of the Orchestra
Here are some websites to learn more about The Instruments of the Orchestra. Each website comes with a brief description. Click on the button to open the website in a new tab.
Information on the Instruments of the Orchestra
Philharmonia.co.uk is a great resource for getting to know the Instruments of the Orchestra! This link will take you to a page that will give you five options: Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, and Harp & Keyboards. These are the families of instruments in the orchestra.
Click on one of the instrument families (or scroll down), then choose one of the individual instruments to learn more about it!
Click on one of the instrument families (or scroll down), then choose one of the individual instruments to learn more about it!
This one is geared more for younger students. Using a seating plan of an orchestra, students are able to click on the various sections of the orchestra (String, Brass, Woodwind, Percussion, etc.) and hear a short excerpt of that section playing.
Identify the Music Sounds Quiz
This is Flash based game that will play the sounds of individual instruments for you, then give you three different instrument options (using pictures). Click on what you think the correct instrument is, then move to the next question. Once you have completed the quiz (10 questions), it will give you your score!
Animated Science.co.uk: Instruments of the Orchestra
This is another Flash based game where you can click on the various sections of the orchestra and answer questions on that section (drag and drop words on type the answers into the blanks).
Peter and the Wolf
"Peter and the Wolf", by Sergei Prokofiev, is a "symphonic fairy tale for children". Each major character in the story is represented by one (or more) instruments of the orchestra that best suit that character.
Below is the video of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performing Peter and the Wolf.
"Peter and the Wolf", by Sergei Prokofiev, is a "symphonic fairy tale for children". Each major character in the story is represented by one (or more) instruments of the orchestra that best suit that character.
Below is the video of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performing Peter and the Wolf.
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
"The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" was written in 1945 by British composer Benjamin Britten. The main theme of this piece comes from a much older piece by composer Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695). It is in the Theme and Variations form, where a composer takes a melody and varies (or changes) it in different ways throughout the piece.
In this case, Britten varies the theme (after having it played by the full orchestra first--the "Theme") by having each section of the orchestra play it in different ways. First, the Woodwind section plays. Next, the String section takes a turn. Third, the Brass section plays. Then, the Percussion section plays. The piece ends will all sections playing together for a big finish.
The video below is a full recording of "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra". It gives students a great opportunity to see each section of the orchestra and even individual instruments being played.
"The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" was written in 1945 by British composer Benjamin Britten. The main theme of this piece comes from a much older piece by composer Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695). It is in the Theme and Variations form, where a composer takes a melody and varies (or changes) it in different ways throughout the piece.
In this case, Britten varies the theme (after having it played by the full orchestra first--the "Theme") by having each section of the orchestra play it in different ways. First, the Woodwind section plays. Next, the String section takes a turn. Third, the Brass section plays. Then, the Percussion section plays. The piece ends will all sections playing together for a big finish.
The video below is a full recording of "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra". It gives students a great opportunity to see each section of the orchestra and even individual instruments being played.