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Instrument Family Packet

4th Grade General Music

Part 1: Introduction to Instrument Families and The String Family

 An instrument family is a group of different instruments that share similar

characteristics, which can be based on how the instruments produce sound, change
pitch, and what material they are made of.
 Look at the images of instruments below, and think of ways we can group these
instruments together. Draw a line to match instruments that look like they could be
in the same instrument family. An example is given for you.

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Learning Objectives
I can...
 Define ‘instrument families’.
 Identify at least 2 different characteristics that each string instrument shares
 Identify the materials string instruments are made of
 Describe how string instruments produce sound
 Describe two ways string instruments can change pitch

What Are String Instruments?

String instruments make up the

largest instrument section of an
orchestra. Some examples of
string instruments are the
violin, viola, cello, double

 Material: The body of string instruments are

made of wood, and the strings are made of
steel. The stick of the bow is made of wood,
and the hair on the stick is made of real horse
hair!
 Sound production: A tacky substance called resin is rubbed onto the hair of
the bow to create friction, then the hair of the bow is placed onto a string.
When the bow is pulled across the string, the vibration of the string goes

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 through the hallow body of the instrument.
This is what produces the sound. You can
also produce sound by plucking or
strumming the strings to cause them to
vibrate.
 How to change pitch: The pitch is changed
by pulling the bow across different strings or
by moving your fingers on what is called the finger board.
Violin
 The violin is the smallest and highest-sounding string instrument.
 The body of the violin is held
underneath the chin. The left hand is
placed on the fingerboard, and the right
hand holds the bow.
 The violin often plays the melody in
orchestra pieces.
 The violin section is the biggest string
section in an orchestra, which means
there are more violin players than any
other string players.

Viola
 The viola is slightly larger than the violin, and it can be thought of as
the violin’s big brother or sister.
 It can play lower notes than the violin, but it cannot play as high as the
violin.
 It is held and played the same way as a violin.
 The viola often plays the harmony in orchestra pieces.

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 Cello
 The cello is much larger than the violin and viola.
 It is played by sitting down with the instrument between the knees.
 The bow is pulled across the strings horizontally.
 The instrument can play a very wide range of notes.

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 String Bass / Double Bass
 The string bass is the largest and lowest-
sounding string instrument
 The bow is pulled across the strings
horizontally.
 The player stands or sits on a stool to play the
instrument.
 The job of the string bass in an orchestra is to
supply the weight, power, and the rhythmic
foundation.

Harp
 The harp is unlike other string
instruments in an orchestra because it
does not use a bow.
 It is played while sitting down.
 The player plucks or strums the strings
to produce sound.
 It has very many steel strings, and the amount of
strings varies based on the size of the instrument.

Guitar

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  The guitar has 6 steel strings.
 It does not use a bow
 The player strums or plucks the strings to produce sound.
 The guitar usually plays chords, and it is usually played as a solo instrument

Worksheet #1 – Introduction to Instrument Families and String instruments

Directions: Write your answer underneath each question.

1. What is an instrument family?

2. What material is the body of a violin made of?

3. In one sentence, describe how sound is produced on string instruments:

4. Describe one way to change pitch on a string instrument:

5. Describe one way the harp is different than other string instruments:

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6. List 2 characteristics that all string instruments have in common:

Part 2: The Brass Family

Learning Objectives
I can...
 Identify at least 2
different
characteristics that
each brass instrument
shares
 Identify the materials
brass instruments are
made of
 Describe how brass
instruments produce sound
 Describe two ways brass instruments can change pitch

What Are Brass Instruments?

Brass instruments
 Material: All brass instruments are made of
can play louder than
any other instrument brass
in the orchestra.
They are essentially
very long curved and
twisted tubes that
widen at the end into 7
  Sound production: Sound is produced
by “buzzing” your lips on the
mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is shaped
like a cup, and putting your lips
against it and blowing air causes a
vibration. This vibration moves
through the instrument and produces
sound.
 How to change pitch: The pitch is changed by pressing down
valves, which are the buttons, or
changing the air speed.

Trumpet
 The trumpet is the highest sounding and smallest brass instrument
 It has 6 and a half feet of tubing, which is taller than the average adult man!
 Early trumpets had no valves, and the player changed pitch by changing their
airspeed.
.

French Horn
 To play the French Horn, the player puts their hand
inside of the instrument. This helps with the tone and
pitch.
 Most French Horns are double horns. This means that it is basically two
instruments in one, and it can play in two different keys.

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 The French horn is a difficult instrument to play.

Trombone
 The trombone is unlike other brass instruments because it does not have any
valves. Instead, the player uses a slide to change pitch.
 The trombone is the loudest brass instrument.

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 Euphonium / Baritone
 The baritone is similar to a tuba, but it is

smaller and can play higher notes.

 The baritone has 3 valves and is often

played by beginners. The euphonium has

4 valves, and is played by more advanced

players.

 Euphonium means “good sound” or

“sweet voiced” in Greek.

Tuba
 The tuba is the biggest brass

instrument with the lowest voice.

 While the trumpet only weighs

3 pounds, the tuba weighs 30 pounds!

 The tuba is played on the lap,

since it is so large and heavy.

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 Worksheet #2 – The Brass Family

Directions: Write your answer underneath each question.

1. What material are all instruments in the brass family made of?

2. In one sentence, describe how sound is produced on brass instruments:

3. What are the “keys” on brass instruments called?

4. How is the trombone different than other brass instruments?

5. List 2 characteristics that all brass instruments have in common:

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 Part 3: The Woodwind Family

Learning Objectives
I can...
 Identify at least 2 different characteristics that each woodwind instrument
shares
 Identify the materials each woodwind instrument is made of
 Describe how woodwind instruments produce sound
 Describe how woodwind instruments can change pitch

What Are Woodwind Instruments?

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Woodwind instruments
were all originally made of
wood. They. There is
usually only 1-3 players on
each woodwind instrument
in an orchestra. Woodwind
instruments often play fast
runs and melodic lines.

 Material: Woodwind instruments are made of a variety of materials, such as

wood, metal, or even brass.
 Sound production: Sound is produced by blowing into or across a
mouthpiece.
 How to change pitch: The pitch is changed by pressing down keys and/or
covering holes.

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 Flute
 Flutes are made of metal, and
most flutes are made of silver.
 Sound is produced by blowing air
across a hole in the mouthpiece.
This creates a column of air that
goes through the body of the
instrument.
 Producing sound on the flute is
similar to blowing across a soda bottle to make a sound.
.

Clarinet
 Most clarinets are made of wood.
 The clarinet uses a single reed.
The player puts the mouthpiece
with the reed on it between their
lips and blows. The vibration of
the reed produces the sound, and the sound goes through the body of the
instrument.

Alto Saxophone
 Alto saxophones are made of brass.
 The alto saxophone combines the power of brass
instruments with the agility of woodwind instruments.
Even though it has qualities of brass and woodwind
instruments, it is still considered a woodwind
instrument.
 It produces sound the same way as the clarinet. The
single reed vibrates against the mouthpiece and the

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 sound moves through the
instrument.
 The alto saxophone was
invented the most recently out
of all of the woodwind
instrument, which is why it is
not often used in orchestras.

Oboe
 Most oboes are made of wood.

 The oboe uses a double reed, which are two pieces of cane tied together.

Sound is produced when the double reed is placed between the lips and

blown into, causing the two reeds to vibrate against each other. The reed can

make a sound by itself, unlike the clarinet and saxophone reeds.

Bassoon
 Bassoons are made of wood.

 The bassoon uses a double

reed, similar to the oboe. The two reeds

vibrate against each other to make a

sound, and the sound goes through the

body of the instrument.

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 Worksheet #3 – The Woodwind Family

Directions: Write your answer underneath each question.

1. What material are saxophones made of?

2. List one characteristic the oboe and bassoon have in common:

3. How do we change notes on woodwind instruments?

4. List one way the flute is different than other woodwind instruments:

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5. List 2 woodwind instruments that are commonly made of wood:

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