The Violin is the smallest and highest pitched of all the String instruments. String Instruments The order of the String instruments from highest pitched to lowest pitched is: Violin, Viola, Cello and Double bass. The Double Bass is the biggest and lowest pitched of all the String instruments. String instruments can be played in two ways. They can either be plucked or bowed. The Double Bass actually sounds an octave (8 notes) lower than the notes written for it. The Double Bass has a low pitch because it is a large instrument and there is lots of space for sound to vibrate. The bow that is used to play a String instrument is usually made of horse hair. There are usually more Violins in an Orchestra than any other instrument. A difficult technique used by string players is double stopping. This is when a string player plays more than one note at a time. Task 1 – Copy the spider diagram below String Instruments Task 2 – Answer the following questions in full sentences 1.Which is the smallest String instrument? 2.What material is used to make the bow? 3.Which String instrument has the lowest pitched sound and why? 4.Which String instrument features more than any other instrument in an orchestra? 5.What is double stopping? 6.How many notes lower than written does a Double Bass sound? 7.In which two ways can a String instrument be played? 8.What are the four most common String instruments? Start with the LOWEST pitched first. Task 3 – Complete the following extension activities A. Attempt to copy and enlarge the image of the Violin (right) B. From your own knowledge, write down a list of String instruments that you would not find in an Orchestra and that have not been mentioned above. Write your NAME and the DATE at the top of your work! Please do not write on this printed sheet. © AMO Education

Woodwind Instruments The Piccolo is a smaller version of the flute. There is less room for sound to vibrate because it is smaller. Therefore, it plays high pitch notes. Despite being made out of brass, Saxophones are classed as woodwind instruments. There are four types Of Saxophone: Soprano (highest), Alto, Tenor and Bass (lowest). The Oboe looks very similar to the Clarinet. The main difference is the mouth piece. The Clarinet is probably one of the most famous Woodwind instruments. It is made out of African black wood. The Double Bassoon is a bigger and lower pitched version of the Bassoon. A lot of Woodwind instruments have a distinctive mouth piece containing a reed. Woodwind instruments are often put together with Brass instruments to create Wind Bands. Wind Bands are particularly common in schools. Task 1 – Copy the spider diagram below Woodwind Instruments Task 2 – Answer the following questions in full sentences 1.What material are some Clarinets made out of? 2.What is distinct about the mouthpiece of a lot of Woodwind instruments? 3.The Double Bassoon is a bigger and lower pitched version of which instrument? 4.What are the four types of Saxophone. Write them down in order of pitch LOWEST first? 5.Which instrument looks similar to the Clarinet? 6.The Piccolo is a smaller version of which instrument? 7.Why can the Piccolos and Flutes play high pitched notes? 8. Are all Woodwind instruments made out of wood? (try to answer as a sentence) Task 3 – Complete the following extension activities A. Attempt to copy and enlarge the image of the Saxophone (right) B. From your own knowledge or from posters around your classroom, try to list as many Woodwind instruments as possible. Not all Woodwind instruments are made out of wood. Write your NAME and the DATE at the top of your work! Please do not write on this printed sheet. © AMO Education

Brass Instruments.. Task 1 – Copy the spider diagram below Brass Instruments Task 2 – Answer the following questions in full sentences 1.Which Brass instrument is famous for having a warm and mellow sound? 2.Despite being made out of brass, which famous instrument is not classed as a Brass instrument? 3.Which Brass instrument has the highest pitched sound and why? 4.Which low pitched instrument is the biggest of the brass instruments? 5.Name two ways that can Brass players change the pitch of the notes they play? 6.Which Brass instrument is different from all the others and why? 7.Why are Brass instruments usually placed at the back of the Orchestra? 8.Name a low pitched Brass instrument, other than a Tuba? Task 3 – Complete the following extension activities A.Attempt to copy and enlarge the image of the Trumpet (right) B.From your own knowledge, try to think of and list some famous songs that feature Brass instruments. Saxophones are NOT classed as brass instruments. The Trumpet is a smallest and highest pitched of the main Brass instruments. Brass players change the shape of their lips to change the pitch of the notes that they play. Most Brass Instruments have valves (buttons) to change the pitch of the notes. The Trombone is different from all the other Brass instruments because it has a slide to change the pitch of the notes. The trombone plays low pitched sounds. The Tuba is the biggest of the main Brass instruments. It plays low pitched notes. Due to it’s small size, the Trumpet is a high pitched instrument because there is not much room for sound to vibrate. Brass instruments are usually placed at the back of an Orchestra because they can play loud. The French horn is the Brass instrument that is famous for having a warm and mellow sound. Write your NAME and the DATE at the top of your work! Please do not write on this printed sheet. © AMO Education

Percussion instruments can either be tuned or un-tuned. Percussion Instruments There are lots of different Percussion instruments. There are probably too many to mention on this page. If an instrument is tuned, it is possible to hear different pitched notes being played on it Timpani is the name of the big tuned drums. Timpani are often called Kettle Drums because they look like upside-down kettles Percussion instruments are usually placed at the back of the Orchestra because they are usually quite loud. People often underestimate How difficult it Is to play a Percussion instrument well. Percussion instruments are usually scraped, shaken or hit. The difference between a Glockenspiel and a Xylophone is that a Glockenspiel has metal keys and a Xylophone has wooden keys. Task 1 – Copy the spider diagram below Percussion Instruments Task 2 – Answer the following questions in full sentences 1.What are the keys on a Glockenspiel made of? 2.What are the three main ways that Percussion instruments are played? 3.What does it mean if it is said that an instrument is tuned? 4.Why are Timpani sometimes called Kettle drums? 5.Why are Percussion instruments placed at the back of the Orchestra? 6.What are the keys of a Xylophone made of? 7.Can you think of a good reason that people might underestimate how difficult it is 8.To play a Percussion instrument? Task 3 – Complete the following extension activities A.Attempt to copy and enlarge the image of the Drum Kit (right) B.From your own knowledge and from posters around your music classroom, try to list as many tuned or un-tuned Percussion instruments that you can think of. Write your NAME and the DATE at the top of your work! Please do not write on this printed sheet. © AMO Education