Instrument that plays the note "A" for the orchestra to tune by.
What is the oboe?
100
This stringed instrument is the highest sounding stringed instrument and sounds most like the human voice.
What is the violin?
100
The instrument that plays the lowest notes in the orchestra.
What is the contra-bassoon?
100
This brass instrument is the bass of the brass family.
What is the tuba?
100
The percussion instrument that looks like a small piano is this.
What is the celesta?
200
The reason for placing louder and larger instruments of the orchestra in the rear of the seating chart.
What is the purpose of acoustical balance? (The louder instruments carry further and might cover the sound of a smaller instrument.)
200
The banjo has this many strings.
What is five?
200
The newest instrument in the orchestra is this and belongs to this family.
What is the saxophone and woodwinds?
200
This brass instrument had as its ancestor, the hunting horn.
What is the french horn?
200
The pedals on the timpani are used for this.
What is readjusting the drum head to readjust the pitch?
300
Any large group of musicians which include strings is referred to as:
What is an orchestra?
300
The two methods for producing sound on a stringed instrument.
What are plucking and bowing?
300
This difference between woodwind and brass instruments is what makes the saxophone a woodwind instrument.
What is a reed in the mouthpiece?
300
Two characteristics of producing a good tone on a brass instrument.
What are the tightness of the lips and the force of the breath?
300
The two instruments of the percussion family that come from the military band.
What are the bass drum and snare drum?
400
The four types of orchestras and a brief description of each one:
What is a chamber orchestra: small group of 10-30 instrumentalists?
What is a theatre orchestra: group of 10-50 & play in pit for musical shows?
What is dance orchestra: variety of chamber orchestra that plays dance music?
What is symphony orchestra: largest group of 60-100 instrumentalists?
400
Name the 5 string instruments of the orchestra.
What are the violin, viola, cello, double-bass, and harp?
400
The woodwind family is divided into 3 groups. Name these three groups and explain how sound is produced from each of them.
What are no reeds - played by blowing across the opening of the instrument?
What are single reeds - played by blowing through a mouthpiece that has a single reed?
What are double reeds - played by blowing through the instrument that has a double reed producing a nasal sound?
400
Name the 4 brass instruments of the orchestra.
What are the trumpet, french horn, trombone, and tuba?
400
Two instruments in the percussion family that can play melodies.
What are the xylophone and the celesta?
500
List three important facts about the orchestra:
What are:
1. orchestra was referred to as the semi-circular area between stage and audience (amphitheatre)
2. if there are no strings present, the group is a band
3. there are four types of orchestras
4. the larger and louder instruments are seated toward the back for acoustical purposes
5. the "concert master" cues the oboe to play an "a" for the rest of the orchestra to tune
6. each woodwind section and percussion player has their own scores to play and each string section play together in unison
500
These two string instruments are not members of the symphony orchestra.
What are the banjo and the guitar?
500
Name the 9 woodwind instruments of the orchestra.
What are the flute, piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, oboe, english horn, bassoon, and contra-bassoon?
500
Sound is produced through a brass instrument by:
What is vibrating lips and blowing wind through a cup-shaped mouthpiece?
500
Name the 11 of the 12 percussion instruments of the orchestra.
What are the gong, bass drum, xylophone, timpani, celesta, snare drum, tambourine, cymbals, maracas, orchestra bells, triangle, and chimes?