Instrument Families
Its not what the instrument is made of, but rather how the sound is produced that determines what family the instrument belongs:
The links below highlight the instruments in each family. You can also play the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra scavenger hunt which you can find on our Music Tech page. Just select Local Game and then Practice Round.
- Strings: pluck or bow the string
- Brass: buzz your lips
- Woodwinds: blow air
- Percussion: hit, shake or scrape
The links below highlight the instruments in each family. You can also play the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra scavenger hunt which you can find on our Music Tech page. Just select Local Game and then Practice Round.
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String Family
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Violin
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Viola
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Cello
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Double Bass
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Harp
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Brass Family
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Trumpet
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French Horn
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Trombone
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Tuba
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Woodwind Family
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Piccolo
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Flute
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Oboe
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English Horn
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Clarinet
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Bassoon
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Alto Saxophone
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Recorder
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Percussion Family
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Timpani
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Xylophone, Vibraphone & Glockenspiel
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Piano
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Drum Corps
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Additional Resources
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Disney: History of Musical Instruments
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Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
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Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Scavenger Hunt
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