Omar

toc =Overview and Instructions=

** Research basic facts about instruments of the orchestra. **

1. Names of the families 2. Names of the instruments in each family. 3. Picture of each instrument. 4. What each instrument is made of. 5. How each is played. 6. Describe what each instrument sounds like and find an audio or video clip of each. 7. At least 2 interesting facts about each instrument.

May create a web page, wiki page, knowledge map, Ebook, Powerpoint presentation, paper notebook, or complete instrument study books.


 * Use these websites to research each instrument.**

[|The Music Room] [|San Francisco Kids] [|NY Philharmonic Kids] [|Learn About Instruments] [|DSO Kids] [|Oregon Symphony] [|Play Music] [|BSO Kids] [|Simple English Wikipedia] [|Wikipedia] [|FlickrCC (free, legal pictures)]

**Answer the questions below for each instrument.**

**Violin**

 * Picture:**[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Stradivarius_violin_front.jpg width="228" height="526" link="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Stradivarius_violin_front.jpg"]][]


 * What is it made of? WOOD**


 * How is it played?**At first the beginner can pluck the strings, then he or she can learn how to use the bow. Gradually the player can learn how to stop the strings with the fingers to get all the different notes. At first the learner will play in “first position”. This means that finger 1 (the fingers are numbered from 1 to 4, the thumb being behind the neck of the instrument) is playing a note which is a whole tone above the open string. For example, on the D string it is playing a stopped E. When he or she is more advanced the player will play in other positions by moving the left hand up the fingerboard nearer to the bridge. There is also a half position in which the first finger is stretched back.

The violin is sometimes called a “fiddle”. Someone who plays it is a “fiddler”. There is even a verb: “to fiddle” (meaning: “to play the fiddle”). This word can be used as a nickname for the violin, but is properly used when talking about folk music
 * At least 2 interesting facts.**The violin in its modern form is about 400 years old, but similar bow-played string instruments have been around for almost 1000 years.
 * Describe its sound. high pitched**

[]
 * Web address where it can be heard.**

**Viola[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Bratsche.jpg/180px-Bratsche.jpg width="180" height="283" link="wiki/File:Bratsche.jpg"]]**

 * Picture: []**


 * What is it made of? wood**

People who write music often use the viola for harmony notes. a little lower pitched than the violin []
 * How is it played?**The viola is played with a bow in the right hand. Playing with the bow is called arco. Sometimes the strings may be plucked (pizzicato)
 * At least 2 interesting facts.**The person that repairs violas is called a luthier
 * Describe its sound.**
 * Web address where it can be heard.**

**Cello**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Cello_front_side.jpg/180px-Cello_front_side.jpg width="180" height="273"]]

Two famous es written more recently for cello and orchestra are the //Cello Symphony// by Benjamin Britten and //The Protecting Veil// by John Tavener. Only one fact.
 * What is it made of? wood**
 * []**
 * How is it played?**The parts of the cello are similar to those of the violin. The strings are tuned to C – G – D – A, (low to high) exactly one octave lower than the viola. The cello is played sitting down and holding the instrument between the knees. There is an end-pin which rests on the ground. This is adjustable in height so that the player can put it in a position to make herself (himself) comfortable. The cello is normally played with a bow
 * At least 2 interesting facts.**


 * Describe its sound.it sounds low pitched**


 * Web address where it can be heard.**

[]

**Bass**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/AGK_bass1_full.jpg/180px-AGK_bass1_full.jpg width="180" height="245" link="wiki/File:AGK_bass1_full.jpg"]][]


 * What is it made of? lots of wood**

In an orchestra, double bass players bow the strings with a wooden bow strung with horsehair, or pluck the strings with their fingers (plucking the strings is called pizzicato). In jazz the double bass is played pizzicato most of the time. However some jazz players use the bow to play melodies on the double bass. To play different notes on the double bass, double bass players hold down the metal strings against the fingerboard with their left hand and then bow the string or pluck it with their right hand. To play different notes the double bass players move the left hand to different positions on the fingerboar
 * How is it played?**
 * At least 2 interesting facts.** has many other names. Some bluegrass musicians call it a "bass fiddle" or a "bull fiddle." Rockabilly bands often call it an "upright bass" or "Doghouse" Some orchestra musicians call it a "contrabass." In a military concert band, it is often called the "string bass." Sometimes the double bass is simply called a "bass


 * Describe its sound.lower pitched than the cello**


 * Web address where it can be heard []**

**Flute**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Flute.jpg/500px-Flute.jpg width="500" height="61" link="wiki/File:Flute.jpg"]] []

either metal or wood
 * What is it made of?**
 * How is it played? blow through the reed and put your fingers on the holes** The flute has no reed.

In China, a simple flute is used, which has no keys. The Chinese flute sometimes has a thin piece of paper over one hole, which adds a bright raspiness to the sound
 * At least 2 interesting facts.** The oldest kind of side-blown flute was made in India. In India, a flute called bansuri
 * Describe its sound. sounds like the wind**


 * Web address where it can be heard**
 * [] **

**Oboe**
metal
 * Picture:[]**
 * What is it made of?**[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Hobo.jpg/60px-Hobo.jpg width="60" height="500"]]
 * How is it played?** blowing air through the double reed at the upper end of the instrument which forces the two reeds to vibrate together which produces the sound.

The name //oboe// comes from French language //hautbois//, meaning "high wood", a high-pitched woodwind instrument high pitched
 * At least 2 interesting facts.**The oboe came from the shawm which was a medieval and Renaissance instrument.
 * Describe its sound.**
 * Web address where it can be heard**
 * [] **

**Clarinet**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Clarinet.jpg/24px-Clarinet.jpg width="24" height="195" caption="Clarinet" link="wiki/File:Clarinet.jpg"]][]


 * What is it made of? metal** Not made of metal.

Blowing through the mouthpiece makes the reed vibrate and therefore makes the sound.
 * How is it played?**
 * At least 2 interesting facts.**


 * Describe its sound.**


 * Web address where it can be heard**
 * [] **

Bassoon
[] **What is it made of?**
 * Picture:**


 * How is it played?**

in baroque period composers like Antonio Vivaldo wrote concertos for the bassoon
 * At least 2 interesting facts.** the bassoon developed in renaissance
 * Describe its sound.**


 * Web address where it can be heard**
 * [] **

**Saxophone**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Baritonesax.jpg width="201" height="342"]][|http://upload.wikime] [[image:http://www.wikispaces.com/i/c.gif width="22" height="22" caption="Insert Images and Files" link="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Baritonesax.jpg"]] [|dia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Baritonesax.jpg]


 * What is it made of?** metal

The instrument is rarely used in a classical [|orchestra]. **Describe its sound.**
 * How is it played?** The player blows into a reed fitted into the [|mouthpiece] of the instrument
 * At least 2 interesting facts.** It was developed from the [|clarinet] and shares many similarities to the clarinet.


 * Web address where it can be heard**
 * [] **

**Trumpet**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Trumpet.jpg width="240" height="84"]][]


 * What is it made of?** brass

he most common type of trumpet is a B//b// trumpet, **Describe its sound.**
 * How is it played?** The trumpet is played by blowing into the [|mouthpiece] and making a "buzzing" sound.
 * At least 2 interesting facts.** A **trumpet** is a [|brass instrument] used mainly in Classical [|music] and [|jazz] music


 * Web address where it can be heard.**
 * [] **

**French Horn**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/French_horn_front.png width="272" height="191"]][]


 * What is it made of?** brass

Horns were often used during [|hunting]. **Describe its sound.**
 * How is it played?** the [|mouthpiece] is small and the harmonics (the notes that can be played by changing the lip pressure) are very close together
 * At least 2 interesting facts.** The **horn** is a [|brass instrument]. It developed from the [|horns] that some [|animals] have on their [|heads].


 * Web address where it can be heard.**
 * [] **

**Trombone**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Posaune.gif width="258" height="154"]][]


 * What is it made of?** brass

was first used in the 16th century during what was known as the [|Renaissance] era of music **Describe its sound.**
 * How is it played?** It is similar to a trumpet, except the player pushes and pulls on a long part, called the slide, to make sounds.
 * At least 2 interesting facts.** The forerunner to today's trombone was called the [|sackbut].


 * Web address where it can be heard.**
 * [] **

**Tuba**

 * Picture:** [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Tuba.png/180px-Tuba.png width="180" height="261" link="wiki/File:Tuba.png"]][]


 * What is it made of?** brass


 * How is it played?**


 * At least 2 interesting facts.** The **tuba** is the biggest of all the brass [|musical instruments].
 * Describe its sound.**


 * Web address where it can be heard**
 * [] **

Snare Drum[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/DrumsMG1998.jpg/180px-DrumsMG1998.jpg width="180" height="264" link="wiki/File:DrumsMG1998.jpg"]]

 * Picture:** []


 * What is it made of?**


 * How is it played?**


 * At least 2 interesting facts.**


 * Describe its sound.**
 * Web address where it can be heard.**
 * [] **

**Bass Drum**

 * Picture:**
 * What is it made of?**
 * How is it played?**


 * At least 2 interesting facts.**


 * Describe its sound.**


 * Web address where it can be heard.**
 * [] **

**Timpani**

 * Picture:**


 * What is it made of?[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Standard_timpani_setup.jpg/200px-Standard_timpani_setup.jpg width="200" height="150" caption="Timpani" link="wiki/File:Standard_timpani_setup.jpg"]][]**


 * How is it played?**


 * At least 2 interesting facts.**


 * Describe its sound.**


 * Web address where it can be heard.**

[]

**Cymbals**

 * Picture:**


 * What is it made of?**


 * How is it played?[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/2006-07-06_Crash_Zildjian_14.jpg/250px-2006-07-06_Crash_Zildjian_14.jpg width="250" height="179" link="wiki/File:2006-07-06_Crash_Zildjian_14.jpg"]][]**


 * At least 2 interesting facts.**


 * Describe its sound.**


 * Web address where it can be heard**

[]