Website
Philharmonia Orchestra

The Orchestra

For Students 9th - 10th
The Philharmonia has put together this great website about the orchestra. This site covers the instruments, the history and even the seating arrangement of an orchestra.
Interactive
PBS

Classics for Kids: Instruments of the Orchestra

For Students 3rd - 6th
See and hear the instruments of the orchestra.
Article
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Summon the Heroes: Classical Music to the Rescue

For Students 9th - 10th
Throughout the ages, composers have celebrated the accomplishments of famous heroes through music. What does a hero sound like? Get ready to find out!
Interactive
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Perfect Pitch

For Students 9th - 10th
Perfect Pitch is an interactive learning environment that lets you form orchestras and create your own orchestral arrangements of music from the baroque, classical, romantic, and modern periods. Clever game design, including a...
Website
National Arts Centre (Canada)

Arts Alive: Music

For Students 9th - 10th
ArtsAlive provides a website devoted to the music of the orchestra. Content includes a glossary of musical terms, biographies of significant composers, information on specific instruments, activities and games, teacher resource guides,...
Activity
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Live Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a special trip to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with GPB Education! This interactive virtual exploration offers students a behind-the-scenes experience as they learn about the science of sound and the preparation it takes to put on...
Website
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Dallas Symphony Orchestra

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Students will enjoy this interactive website. There are many musical topics to explore while having fun. Learning how to make your own instrument, playing games and listening to music are just a few of the things you can do here.
Website
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Dallas Symphony Orchestra

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Students will enjoy this interactive website. There are many musical topics to explore while having fun. Learning how to make your own instrument, playing games and listening to music are just a few of the things you can do here.
Article
Other

Asia Society: Gamelan Dharma Swara: Balinese Dance and Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Video performance of a gamelan orchestra and dancers showcases Balinese music and dance. [3:45] Accompanying program notes provide useful background information on the significance of gamelan to Balinese culture. A second video...
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

For Students 9th - 10th
Lots of information on Benny Goodman with links to related subjects: his music, his band members, his bands and orchestras.
Website
PBS

Classics for Kids: Musical Instruments

For Students 3rd - 8th
An A-to-Z directory of all the instruments and tools of the orchestra. Each entry includes a description, a picture, and a sound sample.
Website
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive site offers students resource for learning about composers, their works, the logistics of orchestra seating, the functions of different instruments, and the like.
Website
Philharmonia Orchestra

Philharmonia Orchestra Sample Library: Sound Samples

For Students 9th - 10th
Get ready to listen to literally thousands of free sound samples from all of the instruments of the orchestra. All notes and ranges as well as many articulations and phrases have been recorded for each of the instruments!
Interactive
Quia

Quia: 2003 Music Review

For Students 9th - 10th
Play musical Jeopardy! Test your knowledge of sound, instruments of the orchestra, music elements, music notation, and rhythm. Play this interactive game by yourself, or with a friend!
Website
Other

Amg All Music Guide: The Dorsey Brothers

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource offers a brief synopsis of the careers of brothers Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, and their successes and failures in the music business.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke's Music Class

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about jazz from the master, Duke Ellington. Three activities explore his role as jazz composer, orchestra leader, and pianist.
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Tambourine

For Students 3rd - 5th
Use this resource to learn about the percussion family of the orchestra, the tambourine in particular. Learn what it is made of and how it is played. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the tambourine alone and with the...
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Flute

For Students 3rd - 5th
Read about the flute, how it produces sound, and how it's made. Learn about the woodwind family and the differences in the divisions in the three branches of this family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the flute alone, and...
Article
Other

Pay the Piper

For Students 3rd - 8th
A resource for children who want to play a musical instrument, and their parents, this website includes answers to such questions as "Where do you get lessons?" and "How much will a new instrument cost?" Also included are informational...
Website
Other

Music Web: Benjamin Britten (1913 1976)

For Students 9th - 10th
Quite a bit of biographical information here at Music Web, a very complete listing of his compositions, and a good list of recordings as well.
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Harp, String Instrument

For Students 3rd - 5th
Use this resource to learn about the harp, find out how it is played and see pictures. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the harp play with the rest of the orchestra.
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Listening Library

For Students 3rd - 5th
At this resource listen to a selection of audio clips that feature the works of a full range of composers and a full orchestra of instruments. Scroll down an alphabetical list to find the composer or instrument you want, then choose the...
Website
Other

School Band and Orchestra Magazine

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This is the online version of the very informative magazine School Band and Orchestra. Many well written and informative articles can be found here concerning instrumental music.
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Documents Gallery: Ellington and Strayhorn

For Students 9th - 10th
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two of the greatest jazz composers, collaborated on hundreds of works. As you explore this exhibition, you will have an opportunity to view original music scores, listen to audio clips, and view videos...