Riddles
I’m shiny and loud with a bright, brassy tone,
I play the fanfare when kings take the throne.
I’ve got three valves and a powerful sound —
Which instrument am I that leads the brass round?
Trumpet
What symbol tells musicians how many beats are in each measure and what kind of note gets the beat?
What is a time signature?
What do we call the speed of the music — whether it's fast or slow?
What is tempo?
How many beats does a quarter note get in 4/4 time?
What is 1 beat?
I keep the beat with a rhythmic tap,
You strike my head with a stick or slap.
Marching bands need me to stay in time —
Guess this drum with a snappy chime!
Snare Drum
Which family of instruments includes flutes, clarinets, saxophones, and oboes?
What is the woodwind family?
What symbol looks like a curly spiral and shows where the higher notes are on the staff?
What is the treble clef?
What word means how loud or soft the music is?
What is dynamics?
How many beats does a half note get in 4/4 time?
What is 2 beats?
With buttons and keys and a neck made of brass,
I play jazzy tunes with a sound full of sass.
Though made of metal, I’m in the woodwind crowd —
Which reed-blowing instrument makes me proud?
Saxophone
What’s the name of the long brass instrument that uses a slide instead of valves?
What is the trombone?
What symbol tells you to play the note louder, and looks like a small "greater than" sign over or under a note?
What is an accent?
What is the term for a steady, repeating pulse in music?
What is the beat?
How many beats does a dotted half note get in 4/4 time?
What is 3 beats?
I’m black and white and long in shape,
I play low notes that vibrate and shake.
I’m the bass of the woodwinds, deep and grand —
Guess who I am in the concert band?
Bass Clarinet
What is the term for playing music without making a sound, just moving your fingers or slide silently?
What is practicing silently?
What is the name of the curved line that connects two notes of different pitches, telling you to play them smoothly?
What is a slur?
What do we call the smooth, connected style of playing notes?
What is legato?
How many beats does a whole rest get in 4/4 time?
What is 4 beats?
No valves, no reed, I change my pitch
By sliding my tube without a glitch.
My sound is bold, my slide goes far —
I’m not a trumpet, but I’m a brass star!
Trombone
What musical word means to gradually get louder in a piece of music?
What is crescendo?
What are the two dots placed before a double bar line that tell you to go back and play a section again?
What is a repeat sign?
What word describes a short, detached way of playing notes?
What is staccato?
How many beats is an eighth note worth in 4/4 time?
What is ½ beat?