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Musical Instrument Families

Author: Carolyn Ponce

Introduction

Musical sounds can be created by the human voice or by instruments. This Lesson is an introduction to the various voice parts and the instruments of the orchestra.

Reading Assignment

Read Part 1, Chapter 2, "Performance Media" in Music: an Appreciation by Roger Kamien.

Voices and Instruments

This video covers the parts of voice and the instruments of the orchestra.

Source: Video created by Carolyn Ponce using Keynote for Mac. Presentation adapted from McGraw-Hill course materials.

Listening Application

There are several option for listening in this Lesson. Use the links below to access these resources.

The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten

Wrapping Up

Thank you for completing the Lesson on Voices and Instruments.

You should now be able to:

Identify voice parts and list them from highest to lowest
Identify the instruments typically found in an orchestra by family and list them in order from highest pitch to lowest pitch.
Differentiate between percussion instruments of definite and indefinite pitch.

Don't forget to complete the Quiz above.