The String Family

This is the largest family in an orchestra! If your dream is to play in an orchestra, pick up the violin!

Arco

Strings can be bowed or plucked. The technique of bowing is called 'arco'. Remember this word!

Bow = Arco

Pizzicato

The proper term for plucking (using your finger rather than a bow) is pizzicato. Remember the word!

Pluck = Pizzicato

The Woodwind family

The recorder is not as common in an orchestra but it's still worth knowing its existence!

Most woodwind instruments use a reed to make a sound.

(The oboe has a double reed which looks like the mouth of a duck. So the oboe actually sounds a bit like a duck!)

The oboe sounds a bit like a duck!

Listen carefully! It sounds as if you speak with a blocked nose... Do you agree?

The saxophone is also a woodwind instrument!

It looks like a brass instrument but the way it is played (with a reed) means it belongs to the woodwind family.

The Brass family

Some tips: The trumpet sounds very BRIGHT. The French horn sounds mellow and gentle in comparison. The tuba is VERY low pitched.

And finally...

The Percussion family!

It features PITCHED and UNPITCHED percussion. Which of these are PITCHED?

Listen and watch a youth orchestra in action!

Can you identify the different instruments of the orchestra? (You can maximise the video - bottom right corner)