Title Layout

Try Again

Back to QuestionCredits The 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra -Performing Brittens The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra A special shout out to John DiCesare-The Tuba player in the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra and Kent State Tuba Professor! The Oregon Symphony -Explanations of the instruments and instrument families Tech Tips For All YouTube video editing and embedding 4Vector.com Oboe and Cello imagesTrumpet

The Trumpet is the highest sounding and smallest member of the brass family used in the orchestra. It is one of the oldest musical instruments, with the some of the first trumpets being made as far back as 1500BC!They are made out of brass or metal tubing, and have three valves that let you change the pitch you are playing. Early trumpets did not have the valves we see on trumpets today, and were very limited to what notes they could play.

Throughout history, the trumpet as served many roles. It has been used to sound alarms, gather people, and announce the arrival of high members of society.

Take a listen!Now lets take a look at the Horns!

PreviousPercussionClick the music notes in the top right corner to head back to the full orchestra page and select the next instrument family!Follow this link to learn more about each individual percussion instrument!

TimpaniBass DrumCymbalsTambourineTriangleSnare DrumXylophoneGongCastanets

PreviousBrass Family

Listen to what a brass section sounds like!

The brass family is made up of Trumpets, Horns, Trombones, and Tubas.All are made of metal, and change pitch by pressing down a valve or piston, or by adjusting a slide.They all use metal mouthpieces that you must buzz into to create a sound!First lets go learn about the highest pitched member of the brass family:The Trumpet!

TromboneandTuba

Click the music notes in the top right corner to head back to the full orchestra page and select the next instrument family!The trombone is the only member of the brass family that uses a slide instead of valves to change pitch!There are usually 3 trombones in an orchestra, and they play in the same range as the cello and the bassoon.Usually, each trombone is independent of each other, playing complete chords.If you stretch out a trombone, it is about 9 ft long!The tuba is the lowest and largest member of the brass family, and most often anchors the harmony of the entire orchestra. There is usually only 1 tuba in the orchestra, unless specifically called for more. Standard tubas have 16 feet of tubing, but could have up to 20!The tuba is often called the grandfather of the brass family!

Previous

Oboe

Up next: The BassoonThe oboe at first looks a lot like the clarinet, the main difference taking place at the top of the instrument. Instead of a mouthpiece and a single reed, the oboe uses a double reed, or two reeds attached together.There are usually 2 oboes in the orchestra, possibly up to 4. They produce a wide range of pitches and tones, and have a very memorable sound.

The first oboe player in any orchestra holds the responsibility of tuning the rest of the orchestra by playing an A before the concert begins.

The English Horn is the brother to the oboe, bigger and lower sounding. It is usually doubled by the 2nd or 3rd oboe player.PreviousString FamilyOne of the most important members of the orchestra:The Violin!

Listen to what the Strings sound like!The String Family is made up of the Violins, Viola, Cellos, and the Double Bass.All string instruments are made of hollow wooden bodies, with strings running down the neck and body of the instrument.You play a string instrument by drawing a bow across the strings, or plucking the stringsPercussionFamily

Click to see images of the Different types of percussionUsed in this piece!The Percussion Family is the largest in the orchestra!Percussion instruments could be basically any instrument that makes a sound when it is hit, shaken, or scraped. There are an endless number of instruments that could be included in the percussion family, but the most common members are the Timpani, Xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, gong, chimes, and castanets. The piano could also be a member of this family.