Open Curriculum
Open Curriculum: Orchestral Instruments
To provide an introduction to orchestral instruments of the modern Western orchestra
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Orchestral Instruments
This is a brief introduction to the various instruments on the modern orchestra. It is broken into sections based on the instrument families. Each instrument is briefly defined.
San Diego State University
Orchestration
Through playing "Orchestration," students learn about each instrument and the group to which it belongs. Actual instruments should be shown and demonstrated in class prior to playing the game. Create this fun card game for your music...
Quia
Quia: Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction "Musical Hangman"
Test your knowledge of instruments of the orchestra with this interactive hangman game. Click on letters to guess the mystery word!
Music Education
Learn About Instruments: Strings
Learn general information about various string instruments, including the viola and cello, and hear audio clips to hear what these instruments sound like when played.
New York Times
New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Musical Instruments
An interactive and printable crossword puzzle developed by the New York Times Learning Network. The theme of this puzzle is Musical Instruments.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Dallas Symphony Orchestra
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.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Dallas Symphony Orchestra
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.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids
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.
Other
International Cello Society
A website devoted to the cello. Site appears to be very "open" to the non-member. Teachers and students will want to visit the Forum and Tips pages. Also, check out the MP3's!
Other
Pay the Piper: The Bassoon
Learn about the Bassoon, "the largest member of the woodwind family," at this website. The site is geared toward young students who are thinking about playing a musical instrument.
Other
Pay the Piper: The Oboe
This website, geared toward young students who are thinking about playing a musical instrument, provides the "pros and cons" of playing the oboe. The site provides background information about this woodwind and related links as well.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: French Horn, Brass Instrument
Visit this resource to find out how the French horn is played. Read more about the brass family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the French horn on its own, or with the orchestra.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Scoring Music: Write for Specific Instruments
If you are interested in arranging your own music, you should check out the tips offered at this website. Including a history of how music was arranged, this site also gives several good ideas of how to make your arrangements interesting.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Trumpet
The trumpet has the highest pitch in the brass family. Read more about the trumpet and about the brass family of instruments in general when using this resource. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the trumpet by itself...
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Perfect Pitch
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...
National Arts Centre (Canada)
Arts Alive: Music
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,...
Other
New York Philharmonic: Kid Zone!
Meet musicians, create your own instrument and musical compositions, and tour the backstage home of the New York Philharmonic.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Orchestra Seating Chart: Baroque, Classical, Romantic
See how the number of orchestra members increased from the Baroque period through the Classical, up to the Romantic. You can print each orchestra seating chart.
Other
Pay the Piper: The Violin & the Viola
This informative article on the violin and viola includes the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to play one of these instruments. This website includes information on playing, maintaining, and repairing the violin and viola....
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Yo Yo Ma, Master Cellist
This site explores the cello and the artistry of Yo-Yo Ma. Be sure to visit the suggested web sites, especially Yo-Yo's site at Sony.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Cymbals
Learn about the ways to play the cymbals and how they contribute to the sound of the orchestra. Use RealAudio to listen to cymbals alone and with the orchestra. Pictures of the instrument are also provided.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University: Natural Horn & Its Technique
Arizona State's descriptions of the horn are broken up by illustrations of the horn, players, and music. There is a big discussion of crooks (not the kind that go to jail), but the kind that are made when you bend metal! The author notes...
University of Michigan
University of Michigan: Instrument Encyclopedia: Tambourine
This brief article provides general information on the tambourine and references for further reading.