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Table of Contents
R A V I N I A F A M I L Y F U N G U I D E
SECTIONS OF THE ORCHESTRA
An
orchestra
is a large group of instruments all joined together
to play music onstage. There are many different types of
instruments in an orchestra, and each musician sits in an assigned
place so that all the players of any one instrument are seated
together.
That group is called a
section
. For example, you will see that all
of the first violins sit together. See if you can pick out the different
instruments at the next concert you attend and how they are seated
together.
There are many types of instruments that produce sound in the
same way. They are considered members of the same
family
.
For example, violins are in the same family as cellos because
they both have strings. The strings produce notes when they
are plucked or when a bow is rubbed against them. The family
of
string instruments
makes up the largest part of the orchestra.
They range in size from the small violin, held under the chin,
to the huge double bass, which stands on the floor. In between
are the violas and cellos.
Another family makes sound when the musician blows air
through his or her mouth; they are considered
wind instruments
.
The shiny trumpets, trombones and tubas are called
brass
instruments
because they are made of brass. The other group of
wind instruments is called
woodwinds
. That group includes the
oboe, clarinet, bassoon, flute and piccolo.
You are probably familiar with the
percussion family
. These
instruments make sound by hitting, shaking, scraping or rubbing.
For example, you hit a drum with a stick to make the sound. You
can shake a tambourine or rub a wooden block, too. Many kids
like you find the percussion instruments especially fun to play.
When all of these instrument families join together onstage,
they create a full orchestra. Each instrument is wonderful, and
you can experience some of them firsthand if you visit the
“instrument petting zoo” at Ravinia’s KidsLawn.
What Is an Orchestra?