The Families of the Orchestra · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Four Families, Four Sounds

Arts & Music · Music · ages 11-13
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. How does a brass player start the sound?

    • By striking a skin
    • By buzzing the lips
    • By plucking a string

  2. Which four families make up the orchestra?

    • Strings, woodwind, brass and percussion
    • Wood, metal, plastic and glass
    • Loud, soft, fast and slow

  3. A bigger instrument in the same family usually sounds lower.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A clarinet and a flute share the same length, but the clarinet sounds lower. Why?

    • It is shinier
    • It is closed at one end
    • It has more players

  5. You hear a soft tune from blown pipes of different lengths. What makes the low notes?

    • The player blows harder
    • The paint on the pipes
    • The longer pipes

  6. The cello sounds higher than the double bass because it is smaller.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Two look-alike low brass instruments sound different: one says eh and one says uh. What explains it?

    • The tubing shape and bore differ
    • The chairs they sit on
    • The colour of the metal

  8. A recording plays low round tones. The program lists euphonium and baritone. Which clue points to euphonium?

    • A brighter focused tone
    • A cylindrical narrow tube
    • A wide bell with a full round tone
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_5asOXH89es-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Four Families, Four Sounds W1-mt_5asOXH89es-s1

  1. By buzzing the lips · Buzzing lips shake the air column inside the tube.
  2. Strings, woodwind, brass and percussion · Every orchestral instrument belongs to one of these four.
  3. True · More size means slower shaking, and slow shaking sounds low.
  4. It is closed at one end · A tube closed at one end plays lower than an open tube of equal length.
  5. The longer pipes · Longer pipes swing slower and sound lower.
  6. True · The cello holds a tenor range while the bass sits below it.
  7. The tubing shape and bore differ · Narrow tubing sounds bright, while wide conical tubing sounds full and round.
  8. A wide bell with a full round tone · The euphonium has a wide conical bell that gives a fuller rounder sound.
Worksheet · LightMySky