The Orchestra

There are two main ways of dividing instruments into families. Check the two ways that we have discussed this year.

• Aerophone, Membranophone, Idiophone, and Chordophone

• Band, Choir, and Mariachi

• String, Percussion, Woodwind, and Brass

• Species, Family, Kingdom, and Phylum

What is the name of the orchestra family that includes the bass, cello, and violin?

• Percussion

• Strings

• Woodwinds

• Brass

What is the name of the orchestra family that includes the flute, oboe, and clarinet?

• Percussion

• Strings

• Woodwind

• Brass

What is the name of the orchestra family that includes the bass drum, snare drum, and cymbals?

• Percussion

• Strings

• Woodwind

• Brass

What is the orchestra family that includes the trumpet, trombone, and tuba?

• Percussion

• Strings

• Woodwind

• Brass

How does size relate to the sounds that instruments in the orchestra make?

• It doesn't matter

• Size will determine how loud or quiet an instrument plays

• Size will be a factor in how low or high an instrument plays

• Size only has to do with the difficulty of an instrument

This instrument is very high and often represents birdsong. It belongs to the woodwind family.

• Trumpet

• Flute

• Bassoon

• Violin

This instrument is one of the lowest in the orchestra. If it were uncoiled, the tubing would stretch to around 16 feet. It belongs to the brass family.

• Trumpet

• Bassoon

• Viola

• Tuba

This instrument is played with a bow. There are more of them in the orchestra than any other instrument. It belongs to the string family.

• Violin

• Flute

• Bass

• Cello

This instrument is the lowest and largest in the woodwind section. It might make you think of the grandfather in the story of Peter and the Wolf.

• Tuba

• Flute

• Bassoon

• Oboe