Year 7 - Instruments Of The Orchestra

Instruments Of
The Orchestra
Name________________________
Group________________________

Music Expectations
When learning at Colchester Academy, we only have one rule in the
Music classroom.
You should be Ready, Respectful and Safe at all times.
Ready
Making sure that you start any tasks straight away.
Always have the correct equipment.
Respectful
Raise your hand to speak to the teacher.
Make sure that you stay in your seat, unless given permission to move.
Listen to others when performing, and give constructive feedback.
Safe
Make sure all cables are tidy, and headphones are looked after.
Move around the room quietly and purposefully.
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What will I learn this half-term?
This half-term I will be introduced to instruments of the orchestra. If I
can listen to music from an orchestra, I will learn about a lot of different
sounds and styles of music.
I will learn about Dvorak’s New World Symphony, which is a famous
piece of music for an orchestra. It’s important to learn this piece
because:
a) Through listening and playing, I’ll be able to identify more
instruments as I listen to them.
b) It will help me listen to other styles of music and enjoy them more
I should still use the correct fingers, and I should be able to play my piece
of music with confidence, as long as I practise hard and do not give up.
Each lesson I will be expected to work hard and participate.
If I have a question, I will put my hand up.
When working on the keyboards, I will work quietly.
I will start every lesson with the Do Now, which is to be completed in
silence.
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Instruments Of The Orchestra Knowledge Organiser
Lesson
Number Keyword Definition
1
Orchestra Contains 4 families of instruments
1
Instruments that were traditionally made out
Woodwind of wood and blown.
2
Percussion Anything that you hit, shake or scrape
2
Instruments made from brass such as
Brass trumpets, trombones and tubas
3
Strings Violins, violas, cello, double bass and guitars
3
Symphony A piece of music written for an orchestra.
4
Composer A person who writes music
4
Conductor A person who controls the orchestra
5
The small stick that a conductor uses to
Baton control the orchestra
5
A part of the music where a person performs
Solo by themselves.
3

Task 1
All of these instruments belong
to either:
Brass
Woodwind
Strings
Percussion
Write the correct family name
for each instrument. Look at
the posters on the wall to help
you
4

Task 2
‘Star Wars’ theme by John Williams
John Williams' score for Star Wars was recorded
over eight sessions at Anvil Studios in Denham,
England on March 5, 8–12, 15 and 16, 1977. The
score (music) was performed by the London
Symphony Orchestra with Williams himself
conducting.
This music is one of the most recognisable movie themes of all time. It’s been used across
all the Star Wars films, along with computer games and other programs.
1. Circle any instruments that you hear.
Trumpet Violin Percussion Electric guitar
Flutes Bass guitar Vocals Ukulele
2. Do you like this piece of music? Give reasons why.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5

Task 3
Flight Of The Bumblebee – Rimsky-Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee is an orchestral interlude written
by Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov for his opera The Tale of Tsar
Saltan, composed in 1899–1900. Its composition is intended
to musically evoke the seemingly chaotic and rapidly changing
flying pattern of a bumblebee.
It is not so much the pitch or range of the notes that are
played that challenges the musician, but simply the musician's
ability to move to them quickly enough. Because of this and
its complexity, it requires a great deal of skill to perform.
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group
of composers known as The Five. He was a master of orchestration. His best-known
orchestral compositions—Capriccio Espagnol, the Russian Easter Festival Overture, and
Scheherazade—are well-known classical pieces. Scheherazade is an example of his frequent
use of fairy tale and folk subjects.
1. What instruments can you hear playing?
Piano Flute Violin Trumpet Cello
Tambourine Glockenspiel Clarinet
2. This piece is often seen as a difficult piece to perform. Why do you think this is?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you like this piece of music? Give reasons why.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6

Task 4
In The Hall Of The Mountain King – Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is
widely considered one of the leading 19th century composers,
and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire
worldwide. His use and development of Norwegian folk
music in his own compositions put the music of Norway in the
international spotlight.
1. How would you describe the tempo of this piece at the beginning?
Slow Medium Fast Very Fast
2. How would you describe the tempo of this piece at the end?
Slow Medium Fast Very Fast
3. This piece of music has been used on TV before. Can you remember what it’s been
played on?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
7

Task 5
Radetzky March – Johann Strauss
Radetzky March, Op. 228, is a march composed
by Johann Strauss.First performed on 31 August
1848 in Vienna, it soon became quite popular among
marching soldiers. It has been remarked that its tone
is more celebratory than martial; Strauss was asked
to write the piece to commemorate Radetzky's
victory at the Battle of Custoza.
Johann Strauss was an Austrian Romantic composer. He was famous for his waltzes, along
with his marching music.
1. What instruments can you hear playing?
Flute Guitar Violin Cello Harp
Drums Vocals Bass Drums Saxophone
2. How would you describe the tempo of this song?
_______________________________________________________________
3. How does this piece of music make you feel?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
8

New World Symphony Melody
1. Make sure you are using the correct fingers.
2. Play slowly at first, until you are sure of what notes to play.
3. Use the metronome at 100 when you are comfortable playing this piece.
9

New World Symphony Chords
1. Make sure you are using the correct fingers.
2. Play slowly at first, until you are sure of what notes to play.
3. Use the metronome at 100 when you are comfortable playing this piece.
10

New World Symphony Extension Sheet Part 1
This extension task requires a lot of different hand positions, as well as the use of your weaker fingers
Play it slowly at first, so that you learn the notes and fingerings well.
11

New World Symphony Extension Sheet Part 2
This is the second part of the extension, and can be played together with Part 1.
Make sure that you are using the metronome, and counting effectively.
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