The Sound of Music

Music/History

Students will learn about the history of various musical instruments and share the instruments' sounds with the class.

What You Need

• Access to the Internet or music reference books
• CDs or other sources of recorded music; musical instruments

What To Do

1. Guide students to a music-reference Web site or to music reference books containing information about the history of musical instruments.
2. Ask students to research an instrument of their choice. Students should take notes and prepare a short report on the history of their instrument, which musicians are most associated with that instrument, and what role the instrument has played in orchestras, rock bands, or other musical groups or solo work.
3. Ask students to present their reports to the class, supplemented by musical recordings that incorporate the sounds of their chosen instrument. Encourage students who play an instrument to give a live demonstration in place of a recording.

Internet Resources

Musical Instrument Chart
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra introduces you to the musical instruments that make up an orchestra.
http://www.dsokids.com/2001/instrumentchart.htm

Instruments of the Orchestra
Meet the instruments of the orchestra at this Web site from the San Francisco Symphony.
http://www.sfskids.org/templates/instorchframe.asp?pageid=3