Brass Family
This big shiny brass instrument doesn't use buttons or keys—instead, you push and pull a long slide to change the notes!
What is a trombone?
This tiny string instrument rests under your chin, is played with a bow, and is the smallest in its family.
What is a violin?
Unlike most woodwinds, you don't blow into a reed to play this long silver tube—you blow across the hole near the top.
What is a flute?
You hit these large wooden or metal bars with mallets to make musical notes, and its name starts with the letter "X."
What is a xylophone?
This famous German composer kept writing incredible music even after he completely lost his hearing!
Who is Ludwig van Beethoven?
This instrument is wound up in a big circle, and musicians play it with their right hand tucked inside the bell.
What is a French horn?
This popular 6-string instrument can be acoustic or electric and is played by plucking or strumming with a pick.
What is a guitar?
Often used in jazz music, this brass-colored woodwind was invented by a man named Adolphe Sax.
What is a saxophone?
You play these circular metal plates by crashing them together with two hands to make a loud boom!
What are cymbals?
This famous composer was a child prodigy who started writing music when he was only 5 years old.
Who is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
This is the biggest, heaviest, and lowest-sounding member of the whole brass family.
What is a tuba?
This instrument rests on a metal pin on the floor because it is too big to hold under your chin, but smaller than a double bass.
What is a cello?
This plastic or wooden instrument is long and straight with finger holes, and is often the first instrument kids learn in elementary school music class!
What is a recorder?
Even though you play it with black and white keys, this famous instrument counts as percussion because tiny hammers hit strings inside!
What is a piano?
This composer wrote the magical ballet music for The Nutcracker, featuring the Sugar Plum Fairy!
Who is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky?
This small brass instrument plays high notes and is often used to play fanfares for kings and queens.
What is a trumpet?
This Italian word means plucking a string with your finger instead of using the bow.
What is pizzicato?
Before a symphony orchestra starts playing a concert, all the instruments tune their sound to match this double-reed instrument.
What is an oboe?
These big bowl-shaped drums are also called kettle drums, and you press a foot pedal to change their pitch.
What are timpani?
This American composer wrote fast, happy piano music called ragtime, including "The Entertainer."
Who is Scott Joplin?
This special marching tuba wraps around a player's body like a giant metal hug so they can walk while playing in a parade.
What is a sousaphone?
This giant instrument has 47 strings, 7 foot pedals, and looks like a giant wooden triangle with a decorative top.
What is a harp?
This super long, low-sounding woodwind uses a double reed and looks like a wooden pipe folded in half!
What is a bassoon?
This handheld metal instrument is shaped like a 3-sided shape and makes a high "ding!" sound when hit with a metal rod.
What is a triangle?
This Italian composer wrote the famous energetic song "Theme from William Tell," which sounds like galloping horses!
Who is Gioachino Rossini?