Musical Terms
This is a person who stands at the front of an Orchestra or group of musicians and directs the music—how loud/soft, fast/slow, entries and exits
Conductor
This is a percussion instrument sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands. It is typically cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or bowl-shaped, with a taut membrane over one or both ends.
A member of the Woodwind Family. It is made of brass but has a single reed mouth- piece. There are several dif- ferent sizes.
Saxophone
This instrument usually has six strings. It is typically played with both hands by strumming or plucking the strings with either a pick or fingers/fingernails of one hand.
Guitar
Widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived, this composer was deaf. His most notable works include, Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Symphony No. 5 in C minor and Für Elise.
the Italian dynamic term for soft.
Piano (dynamic)
A tuned member of the Percussion Family. It has many wooden bars of different lengths on it. It is hit to make a sound.
Xylophone
The middle member of the Woodwind Family. It has a single reed mouthpiece. It used to be made of wood but is now made of plastic.
Clarinet
The smallest member of the String Family. It has four strings and is usually played with a bow.
Violin
This German composer and organist of the Baroque period is known to be one of the greatest composers of all time. He is most known for Brandenburg Concertos and The Well-Tempered Clavier.
Johann Sebastian Bach
the Italian dynamic term for loud.
Forte (dynamic)
An untuned member of the Percussion Family. It is made up of two wooden sticks that are hit together to make a sound.
Clave
The second smallest member of the Woodwind Family. It has a double reed and sounds very nasal.
Oboe
The second largest member of the String Family. It has four strings and is usually played with a bow.
Cello
This Austrian composer of the Classical period is recognized as one of the greatest composers of Western music. This composer began his career as a child prodigy.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Italian term for a slight wavering of Pitch performed by a pitched instrument or voice.
Vibrato
A tuned member of the Percussion Family. It is a set of two large drums that are able to change pitch when the pedal is pressed down.
Timpani
The largest member of the Woodwind Family. It has a double reed and is played while the musician is seated.
Bassoon
The only difference between this instrument and the violin is that this instrument is slightly larger and therefore produces a lower and richer tone colour.
Viola
This German composer and pianist of the Romantic period wrote many genres including symphonies, concerti, chamber music, piano works, and choral compositions.
Johannes Brahms
An Italian term that means to pluck the string.
Pizzicato
A tuned member of the Percussion Family. It has many metal bars of different lengths on it. It is hit to make a sound.
Glockenspiel
This instrument is included in the woodwind category but does not have a reed. It is held vertically or horizontally.
flute
This is the largest of all the string instruments. It is played by sitting on a high stool OR by standing.
Double Bass
Considered the most popular Russian composer. He wrote many very popular classical works including the music for the ballets: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.
Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky