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: MsHoeysHalfNotes
password: music
4 Instrument Families of the Orchestra:
Strings
Percussion
Woodwinds
Brass
Instruments in the string family of the orchestra.
Violin
Cello
Viola
String Bass
Harp
Instruments in the percussion family (this list is not conclusive)
Timpani
Snare Drum
Castanets
Bass Drum
Triangle
Gong
Tambourine
Instruments of the woodwind family
Piccolo
Clarinet
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Instruments of the brass family
Trumpet
French Horn
Trombone
Tuba
The String Family
Harp
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
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 Family
Trumpet
Tuba
French
Horn
Trombone
The 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.
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.
Piano
Triangle
Castanets
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 Family
Yellow: Brass Family
Green: Woodwind Family
Purple: Percussion Family