The document explains the different families of instruments in an orchestra: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, detailing the characteristics and examples of each family. Strings are the largest family, woodwinds produce various pitches, brass instruments are loud and far-reaching, and percussion includes diverse instruments that keep rhythm and add color. Additionally, the document provides resources and a brief introduction about the author, Kari Wilkinson, a music education major.

1. Instruments of the Orchestra By: Kari Wilkinson k-5th grade

2. Main Slide Instrument Families: Strings - Family Woodwinds - Family Brass - Family Percussion - Family Orchestra Set-up Quit Other Pages: Video & Game About the Author Resource Page

3. Strings The strings are the largest family of instruments in an orchestra. The first thing you might notice is that they are made of wood . They come in four sizes: violin (which is the smallest), viola , cello , and the double bass or sometimes called the contrabass , which is the biggest. (Bass is pronounced “base,” as in “ baseball.”) The smaller instruments, violin and viola, make higher-pitched sounds. The larger instruments, cello and double bass produce low rich sounds . Quit

4. < violin viola > < cello double bass > String Family Quit

5. Woodwinds The instruments in this family all used to be made Of wood, which gives them their name. Today, they are made of wood , metal , plastic or some combination. Just as with the stringed instruments,the smaller woodwinds play higher pitches while the longer and larger instruments play the lower notes . A few instruments found in the woodwind family are the flute , oboe , clarinet , saxophone, and bassoon . Quit

6. < flute oboe > clarinet > < saxophone bassoon > Woodwind Family Quit

7. Brass If you think the brass family got its name because the instruments are made of brass , you’re right! This family of instruments can play louder than any other in the orchestra and can also be heard from far away. Brass instruments are essentially very long pipes that widen at their ends into a bell-like shape. The pipes have been curved and twisted into different shapes to make them easier to hold and play. The brass family members that are most commonly used in the orchestra include the trumpet , french horn , trombone , and the tuba . Quit

8. Brass Family < trumpet french horn > < trombone tuba > Quit

9. Percussion The percussion family has the largest variety of instruments in the orchestra. Percussion instruments include any instrument that makes a sound when it is hit, shaken, or scraped. Percussion instruments keep the rhythm , make special sounds and add excitement and color . Unlike most of the other players in the orchestra, a percussionist will usually play many different instruments in one piece of music. The most common percussion instruments in the orchestra include the timpani , xylophone , cymbals , triangle , snare drum , bass drum , tambourine , maracas , chimes , and piano . Quit

10. Percussion Family < timpani < xylophone < cymbals < maracas snare drum > bass drum > < tambourine triangle > < chimes Quit

11. Orchestra Set-up This diagram shows where each instrument sits in the orchestra. Quit

12. Video & Game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcKurvm_0oE This video shows all of the instruments playing the Super Mario Brothers together in an orchestra. http://www.thirteen.org/publicarts/orchestra/ This website is a fun way to test your knowledge with how well you can identify the instruments and what they sound like. Quit

13. About the Author My name is Kari Wilkinson and I am a student at Grand Valley State University. I am a Music Education major. I currently have no preference with what age group I teach. I am so excited to become a teacher and teach students of all ages about music! If there are any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: [email_address] .net Quit

14. Resources Information about Instruments: http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/ http://www.dsokids.com/2001/instrumentchart.htm Pictures and Sounds: http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi http://www.youtube.com/ Video and Game: http://www. youtube .com/watch?v=kcKurvm_0oE http://www.thirteen.org/publicarts/orchestra/ Quit