Membranophones? Aerophones? How about strings? Percussion? You need not be a music instructor to benefit from a packet of 24 worksheets that introduce aspiring musicians to the various instrument families.

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.

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...

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...

Castanets are a percussion instruments. Read more about them at this resource. Use this resource to learn more about the percussion family of the orchestra. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear castanets play with the orchestra.

Use this resource to learn about the percussion family of the orchestra. The triangle is part of this group of instruments. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the triangle on its own and with the orchestra.

The chimes are the tall tube looking things in the orchestra. Read more about percussion instruments, the chimes in particular. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the chimes on their own and with the orchestra.

The xylophone is a percussion instrument that is tuned and has a keyboard shape. Use this resource to learn more about it and the other instruments in the percussion family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the xylophone by...

Have you ever wondered what those big bowl shaped drums were? They are timpani. Use this resource to learn more about them and the percussion family of the orchestra. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the timpani play...

Read about the woodwind family and how it is divided. Learn about the piccolo and how it is played. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the piccolo on its own and with the orchestra.

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...

Read more about the saxophone, and the characteristics of the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the saxophone play with the orchestra.

Learn about the oboe and how it is played. Read more about the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the oboe on its own or with the orchestra.

Use this resource to learn about the English horn and read about the woodwind family. Use ReadAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the English Horn by itself and with the orchestra.

Use this resource to learn about the clarinet, and the characteristics of the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the clarinet alone and with the orchestra.

Use this resource to learn about the bass clarinet, and read about the woodwind family. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the bass clarinet on its own and with the orchestra.

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...

Read about the brass family, and the tuba in particular. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the tuba by itself and with the orchestra.

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.

Use this resource to learn about the percussion family of instruments, especially the snare drum. Find out how it helps the orchestra make music. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the snare drum by itself and with the...

Read about the percussion family of the orchestra. Find out how the bass drum helps the sound of the orchestra. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the bass drum.

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.

Read about how the viola fits into the string family of musical instruments. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to samples of the viola solo and with the orchestra. There are also pictures of the viola. Does it look like...

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.