Post on 17-Jan-2016
Welcome to the Boise Philharmonic’s Children’s Concert
Pre-Concert Learning Guide
Instruments belong in Families!
Introducing . . .
THE STRING FAMILY
String Bass, Double Bass, or Bass Viol
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a string bass.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
How was the instrument played?
Cello
Click on the picture to hear the great Yo Yo Ma demonstrate the sound of a cello.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
What differences do you see between this instrument and the string bass?
Viola
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a Viola.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
How is this instrument played differently than the string bass or cello?
Violin
Click on the picture to hear the great Joshua Bell demonstrate the sound of a violin.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
Why is this instrument pitched higher than a viola?
introducing
THE BRASS FAMILY
Trumpet
Click on the picture to hear the great Wynton Marsalis demonstrate the sound of a trumpet.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
How many “valves” are used to play all of the pitches? Why do you think that more than 3
pitches can be played?
French Horn
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a French Horn.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
What is the player’s right hand doing?
Trombone
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a trombone.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
How does the player change the pitch?
Baritone
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a baritone.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
Compare the sound of a baritone to the sound of a trombone? How are they the
same? Different?
Tuba
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a tuba.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
Why does the tuba have a lower pitch than the baritone?
introducing
THE Woodwind
FAMILY
Clarinet
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a clarinet.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
Why do you think that the nickname for this instrument is “licorice stick”?
Oboe
Click on the picture to hear the sound of an oboe.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
This is a double reed instrument. The reeds vibrate together like two blades of grass or
two sheets of paper.
English Horn
Click on the picture to hear the sound of an English horn.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
Compare the sound of the English horn and the oboe. How are they the same? How
are they different?
Bassoon
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a bassoon.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
What famous Russian story uses the bassoon to represent one of the characters?
Contrabassoon
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a contrabassoon.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
This instrument is the lowest of all the woodwinds? Why do you think it is sometimes called the “clown of the
orchestra”?
Bass Clarinet
Click on the picture to hear the sound of a bass clarinet.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
What is added to give this instrument more length (and a lower pitch)?
Saxophones
Click on the picture to hear the sound of the saxophones.
What descriptive words would you use to describe this sound?
Saxophones are not always used in an orchestra. They’re more often
used in a concert or jazz band.
introducing
THE Percussion
FAMILY
Percussion
Click on the picture to hear a percussion
ensemble.
What descriptive words would you use
to describe these sounds?