Orchestra

music · instruments · teamwork · classical

Four instrument families. Orchestras combine strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion to make a complete sound. Each family creates different textures, from soaring violin melodies to booming tuba notes.

Brass brings boldness. Trumpets, trombones, French horns, and tubas blast out powerful notes that you can hear from the back of a concert hall. They often play the big, dramatic moments in classical pieces.

Percussion keeps the pulse. Drummers and other percussion players use timpani, cymbals, triangles, and mallets to add rhythm, drama, and special effects to the music. A single cymbal crash can make everyone jump.

Hundreds of musicians. A large orchestra can have 100 or more musicians all playing at the same time, following one conductor who waves a baton to keep everyone together in perfect timing.