KIDZ  ZONE
KIDZ  ZONE
String Family
Violin

The violin is by far the most common
orchestral instrument. It is also the
smallest out of all the strings and has
the highest pitch. This is usually the first
choice of musicians who want to learn a
string instrument (unless they have viola,
cello, or bass friends).


Viola

The viola is slightly larger than the  violin
and has a deeper pitch in comparision.
It is also in the "middle register" of the
string family. Although not as popular
as the violin, it is still an important
part of the orchestra.


Cello

The cello is still bigger than the violin and viola.
It has a beautiful, mellow sound. The cello
must rest on the floor because it is too big
to be held like the violin or viola.




Bass

The bass is the biggest instrument in the
string section. It also plays the widest
assortment of music from classical to
broadway to jazz. Although it appears
the same size as the cello in the picture,
it actually about 1 1/2 to 2 times taller.
Woodwind Family
Flute

The flute really isn't a woodwind anymore, and is normally made of metal now. It produces very bright and joyful notes.



Piccolo

The piccolo is the smaller relative of the flute. It is exactly the same in all respects -- notes and fingerings -- but is a lot smaller than the flute and it has a higher pitch.


Clarinet

The clarinet is a single reed instrument. It plays a wide range of music from classical to jazz. It also has a very wide range of notes that can be played.


Oboe

The oboe looks very similiar to the clarinet except for the fact that it has a double reed. The oboe is widely used in classical compositions.


Saxophone

The saxophone is a single reed instrument. Depending on the player it can sound mellow or strong. It does everything from pop to big band to jazz but also has its place in classical music.



Bassoon

The bassoon is a double reed instrument. Because of its size, it plays very low notes and is often the backbone of the orchestra.
Brass Family
French Horn

The French Horn is often played with the right
hand inside the bell. It is also said to be the
most difficult instrument to play.





Trumpet

The trumpet plays high brassy notes.
An optional mute can make the trumpet
sound completely different. Many great
jazz players have been trumpet players.



Tuba


The tuba is the lowest instrument in the whole
brass section. The tuba is used a lot in marches
and other compositions where it is important
to have a strong beat.




Trombone

The trombone has the the greatest
note range out of all the brass
because of its slide. The 'bone is an
essential part of any big band
group.
Percussion Family
Cymbals

You hit them together and they produce a crashing sound. They add a certain color to the music. Cymbals are often called auxillary percussion.


Snare Drum

The snare drum is primarily used for rolls in a classical setting or for adding accents to music. Snare Drums can't play different pitches but they can play a variety of rhythms.




Timpani

The timpanis are also commonly used in rolls. They can, however, be tuned to a certain note and have a deeper sound.





Bass Drum

The bass drum is mainly used to keep a pulse in music. The large size of the bass drum makes a very low sound. They are extensively used in marches to keep a steady beat.