Curated OER
Meet Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov!
Learners listen to music and review instruments of the orchestra. They explore musical terms, solo, texture and theme of the music and discuss other features of the music. Students research and discuss the life of Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov.
Curated OER
Orfeo: Sinfonie e Ritornelli
Students identify the dramatic expression made by performance and how it relates to the content of the story L'Orfeo. They determine the form of orchestra and each instrumental group within the orchestra for this piece.
Curated OER
Instrumental And Orchestral Development
Students use the computer software "Sibelius" to investigate the development of the Orchestra and specific instruments throughout human history. This lesson can be used in conjunction with other lessons or as a stand-alone, small group...
Curated OER
Santana
The orchestra plays the National Anthem and discusses their origin. Middle schoolers listen to other nation's National Anthems, and discuss how they felt while listening. As the students play the National Anthem, the teacher sings. The...
Curated OER
THE TRAVELS OF BABAR: An Adventure in Scale : The Instruments of the Orchestra
Students classify the classes of instruments of the orchestra: strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion. They aurally and visually identify the instruments of the orchestra. Students become actively engaged in live performances by...
Curated OER
Folk Songs, Instruments of the Orchestra
Second graders study Folk Songs and instruments of the orchestra in these lessons. They recognize the difference between folk songs and classical music.
Other
School Band and Orchestra Magazine
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.
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!
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: Aaron Copland
Detailed biography of American composer. Site includes photos and timeline of major works.
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
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.
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.
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...
BBC
Bbc: Musical Mysteries
This resource will help young children get acquainted with sound and rhythm. It offers interactive activities that build an understanding of the basics of music.
Other
The Joy of Cello Playing
A great site with teaching examples, excerpts from his book and cartoons. Site promotes and endorses book, "The Joy of Cello Playing".
Other
The Viola Web Site
This site provides information for those who are professionals, teachers, or students of the viola.
Other
Pay the Piper
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...
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Tambourine
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...
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Listening Library
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...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Percussion
In this lesson, young scholars will learn to identify the percussion instruments in an orchestra by sight and sound. Students will also learn to group the percussion instruments into pitched and unpitched instruments.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Brass
A lesson that familiarizes students with the brass family of instruments in an orchestra. Students will identify each instrument by sight and sound, as well as, name the instruments in order from highest to lowest sound.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Woodwind
This lesson helps students identify the woodwind family of instruments in an orchestra by sight and sound. The students will also identify which instruments have a single reed, double reed, or contain no reed.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: String
During this lesson plan students will learn to identify and name the instruments in the string family of the orchestra. Students will also order the string instruments from highest to lowest sound.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Orchestra Instruments
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart describes the various instrument families and the instruments that fit in each family. Sound files are attached to the instruments so that students can hear what each sounds like.