Learning the Instruments of the Orchestra: A Music Elective

In an engaging and informative class I will introduce learners to the various musical instruments found in an orchestra. We will also look at a few other instruments that are not traditionally included, such as keyboard instruments, the saxophone, and the guitar. 

Each lesson will cover one instrument family or group (strings, percussion, brass, woodwinds, etc.) and the particular members found in that family. 

Through engaging PowerPoint slides, animation, video clips and audio samples, students will learn to identify the various shapes, sizes and sounds of each instrument. In order to describe the "voice", or range, of the instruments, some musical notation may be used, but students do not need any special knowledge of music or experience playing an instrument in order to benefit from this course.

I will also provide a worksheet for each session so that learners can interact with and review the information. They will even have an occasional opportunity to draw their favorite instrument from the lesson.

This course will contain seven lessons. At the end of each set of lessons, I will cycle back to the top of the list again. These lessons are independent so that students may take them in any order, entering at any point and continuing until they have studied all seven music families. 

Winter 2025 LESSON CYCLE

Week of Jan 6: Stringed Instruments
Week of Jan 13: Woodwind Instruments Part 1
Week of Jan 20: Woodwind Instruments Part 2
Week of Jan 27: Brass Instruments
Week of Feb 3: Percussion Instruments
Week of Feb 10: Keyboard Instruments
Week of Feb 17: Guitar-styled Instruments



My teaching style is laid-back, but not slow-paced. I encourage student interaction and discussion. Whether we're discussing the violin or the bassoon, I want the learner to have fun and come away with an appreciation for the amazing variety of musical instruments and the beauty of their sounds.