Instruments of the Symphony Orchestra
Objective: This worksheet aims to introduce students to the instruments of a symphony orchestra, their sections, and the roles they play in creating orchestral music, while also providing insight into the life of a professional musician.
Content and methods: The worksheet starts by prompting students to listen to an audio file of an orchestra tuning, encouraging initial engagement and auditory recognition. It then explains what a symphony orchestra is and identifies its four main sections (strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion) and the instruments within each through a fill-in-the-blanks exercise based on an explanatory video. The worksheet further includes a fictional interview with a musician, followed by true/false questions to test comprehension and a prompt for students to formulate their own questions for the musician, fostering critical thinking and personal connection. Finally, a knowledge test requires students to categorize various instruments as belonging or not belonging to a symphony orchestra.
Competencies:
- Listening comprehension
- Reading comprehension
- Knowledge acquisition regarding musical instruments and orchestra sections
- Critical thinking and evaluation
- Information retention and recall
Target group: 5th-7th grade
Recommended worksheet to complete beforehand: 'Organology (Introduction)'.
54 other teachers use this template
Target group and level
5th-7th grade
Subjects
Instruments of the Symphony Orchestra
Listen closely
Listen to the audio file and try to find out where we are and what is happening.
Notes
The symphony orchestra
In the audio file, you could hear a symphony orchestra tuning - that is, before the performance. In the following video, learn what a symphony orchestra is and which instruments play in it.
Fill the blanks with the correct words.
The interview
Read an interview with a musician who plays an instrument that is found in symphony orchestras. Then answer the questions.
Emily Carter: Hello, Mr. Ma! Thank you so much for joining us today. Could you start by telling us how you first got into playing the cello?
Yo-Yo Ma: Hi Emily! It’s a pleasure to be here. I started playing the cello when I was just four years old. My parents were both musicians – my mother was a singer and my father was a violinist and a music professor. When I was three, I told my father I wanted to play a big instrument, so he got me a tiny cello. I loved it right away, even though it was almost as big as I was!
Emily Carter: That’s such a fun story! What do you think is special about playing the cello?
Yo-Yo Ma: The cello is a wonderful instrument because it has a range that is very similar to the human voice. It can produce deep, rich sounds as well as high, singing tones. Playing it feels very natural, like singing with your hands. I also love how versatile it is – I’ve played classical pieces, folk music, and even collaborated with artists from different genres like Sting and James Taylor.
Emily Carter: Wow, that sounds amazing! How did you feel when you first decided to join a symphony orchestra?
Yo-Yo Ma: Joining a symphony orchestra was an incredible experience. I’ve played with many orchestras around the world, and each one is like a big family. The feeling of being part of a group of talented musicians all working together to create something beautiful is indescribable. It's a mix of excitement and responsibility because you want to contribute your best to the collective sound.
Emily Carter: You've had such an impressive career, Mr. Ma. Could you share one of your most memorable experiences?
Yo-Yo Ma: One of my most memorable experiences was playing at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009. It was a freezing day, and we had to pre-record the piece to avoid any issues with the cold weather affecting our instruments. Despite the cold, it was an honor to be part of such a historic event.
Emily Carter: That sounds incredible! Do you have any advice for young students who want to learn the cello?
Yo-Yo Ma: My advice would be to practice regularly and to listen to a lot of different kinds of music. Find joy in playing and keep exploring new pieces and styles. Remember that music is a way to express yourself and connect with others. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey!
Emily Carter: Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Mr. Ma. It was a pleasure talking to you!
Yo-Yo Ma: Thank you, Emily! It was great to chat with you and share my love for the cello.
For each sentence, choose if it's true or false.
Test your knowledge
Which of the instruments typically play in a symphony orchestra, and which don't?