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Instrument Families

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  • Which instrument of the brass family plays the highest?
    trumpet
  • What instrument is this?
    violin
  • What material is an instrument bow usually strung with?
    Horse hair
  • What is the correct position for playing the violin?
    resting on the left shoulder, left hand supporting the neck, jaw on the chin rest
  • What instrument is this?
    cello
  • What instrument is this?
    tubular bells (chimes)
  • Does the double bass play higher or lower than the viola?
    lower
  • What is the violin's role in the orchestra?
    high notes/melody
  • Which harp playing technique is commonly used to achieve a "heavenly" sound and involves rapidly playing a series of strings?
    glissando
  • Which woodwind instruments do NOT use a reed?
    flute, piccolo, recorder
  • What are the pedals on a harp used for?
    to change the key
  • Which strings playing technique involves playing close to the bridge and creates a steely sound?
    ponticello
  • What instrument is this?
    soprano saxophone
  • What instrument is this?
    marimba
  • What woodwind playing technique causes two pitches to sound at the same time?
    multiphonic
  • Name at least 2 instruments that use a double reed.
    oboe, bassoon, contrabassoon, English horn
  • What is a rapid, slight variation (or wobble) in pitch that adds richness to a tone?
    vibrato
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    fingerboard
  • Which instruments use a single reed?
    clarinets and saxophones
  • What does it mean to be the principal player of a section?
    first chair/lead player in the section
  • What characteristics must an instrument have to be considered a woodwind?
    The sound starts with a player's breath, and the instrument has tone holes to modify the pitch.
  • What instrument is this?
    (Check)
  • Name 3 types of pitched percussion.
    timpani, mallet percussion, chimes, etc.
  • Which instrument of the orchestra has two sections?
    violin
  • Does the double bass play higher or lower than the cello?
    lower
  • What instrument is this?
    alto saxophone
  • What are these?
    double reeds
  • Name at least 3 styles of music that string instruments play.
    classical, country, bluegrass, jazz, pop, rock, etc.
  • Which harp playing technique means "whisper" in Italian and involves alternating both hands rapidly on the instrument?
    bisbigliando
  • Does the cello play higher or lower than the viola?
    lower
  • What type of wood is the body of orchestral string instruments usually made out of?
    maple or spruce
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    fine tuners
  • What are the four core string instruments of the orchestra?
    violin, viola, cello, and double bass
  • Does the violin play higher or lower than the cello?
    higher
  • What instrument is this?
    viola
  • What are these parts of a harp called?
    tuning pins
  • What instrument is this?
    recorder
  • What is the correct position for playing the cello?
    sitting, cello resting between the knees, played vertically
  • Besides buzzing their lips at different speeds, how does a trombone player change the pitch on their instrument?
    by moving the slide in and out
  • What "sliding" effect is the trombone known for?
    glissando
  • What playing technique do certain instrumentalists use to take a breath while continuing to play their instrument?
    circular breathing
  • Where does a French horn player put their right hand when playing their instrument?
    inside the bell of the instrument
  • What is this part of a string instrument bow called?
    frog
  • What instrument is this?
    trombone
  • Which harp playing technique means "near the table" in French and involves playing close to the soundboard?
    prés de la table (p.d.l.t.)
  • Which strings playing technique means "with the wood" in Italian and involves using the stick portion of the bow on the strings?
    col legno
  • What instrument is this?
    flute
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    bridge
  • What instrument is this?
    tuba
  • What is this part of a harp called?
    soundboard
  • Does the cello play higher or lower than the violin?
    lower
  • What instrument is this?
    oboe
  • Does the violin play higher or lower than the double bass?
    higher
  • Which member of the brass family plays the lowest?
    tuba
  • What instrument is this?
    (Check)
  • What instrument is this?
    (Check)
  • What instrument is this?
    timpani
  • What instrument is this?
    harp
  • What instrument is this?
    bassoon
  • Does the viola play higher or lower than the cello?
    higher
  • What instrument is this?
    clarinet
  • What instrument is this?
    trumpet
  • How many strings do the violin, viola, cello, and double bass have?
    4
  • What is the cello's role in the orchestra?
    filling in whatever is needed (melody, harmony, or bass)
  • What instrument is this?
    double bass
  • In addition to buzzing their lips at different speeds, how do the trumpet, French horn, and tuba all change the pitch?
    pressing down the valves of the instrument
  • What strings playing technique is created by plucking the strings?
    pizzicato
  • What type of wood is the fingerboard of most orchestral string instruments made out of?
    ebony
  • Which strings playing technique involves moving the bow back and forth rapidly across the strings to create a "trembling" sound?
    tremolo
  • What instrument is this?
    contrabassoon
  • Does the violin play higher or lower than the viola?
    higher
  • How do brass instruments produce sound?
    Players buzz their lips into the mouthpiece to create vibrations, which resonate through the tubing of the instrument.
  • True or False: The harp is a relatively new instrument.
    False
  • What instrument is this?
    (Check)
  • What instrument is this?
    (Check)
  • What instrument is this?
    (Check)
  • What are the two main types of percussion?
    pitched and unpitched
  • Which strings playing technique involves using the bow?
    arco
  • What instrument is this?
    tenor saxophone
  • What is the correct position for playing the double bass?
    standing or sitting on a tall stool, played vertically
  • Does the double bass play higher or lower than the violin?
    lower
  • What instrument is this?
    baritone saxophone
  • Which member of the orchestra is the concertmaster?
    the principal first violinist
  • What are the three ways percussion instruments are played?
    shaking, scraping, or hitting
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    endpin
  • What instrument is this?
    (Check)
  • What is the double bass's role in the orchestra?
    low, bass notes/foundational harmony
  • What are these parts of a string instrument called?
    tuning pegs
  • Name 2 types of mallet percussion.
    marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, metallophone, etc.
  • How does a string instrument produce sound?
    The string vibrates, and the vibrations resonate throughout the body/soundboard of the instrument.
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    chin rest
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    scroll
  • Does the viola play higher or lower than the double bass?
    higher
  • What genre of music (other than classical) is the double bass commonly associated with?
    jazz
  • What does a mute do?
    dampens vibrations of an instrument and lowers the volume
  • What is a concertmaster's job?
    tune the orchestra, play solos, determine bowings for the string section, act as a liaison between the conductor and the orchestra
  • What instrument is this?
    piccolo
  • Does the viola play higher or lower than the violin?
    lower
  • What instrument is this?
    French horn
  • True or false: Violins come in different sizes.
    True
  • Does the cello play higher or lower than the double bass?
    higher
  • What is the correct position for playing the viola?
    resting on the left shoulder, left hand supporting the neck, jaw on the chin rest
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    neck
  • How many strings does a harp have?
    47
  • What are thin pieces of cane used by certain woodwind players that vibrate when players blow air over it?
    reeds
  • What are these parts of a harp called?
    pedals
  • When brass players buzz their lips faster, does the pitch get higher or lower?
    higher
  • What instrument is this?
    claves
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    body
  • What instrument is this?
    bass clarinet
  • What is the viola's role in the orchestra?
    middle notes/harmony
  • What woodwind playing technique is achieved by rolling your tongue?
    flutter-tonguing
  • What is this part of a string instrument called?
    bow
  • Name 3 types of unpitched percussion.
    maracas, claves, drums, bongos, tambourines, guiro, etc.
  • What instrument is this?
    English horn
  • What is this?
    single reed
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