Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Brass Instruments and Pitch

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students will enjoy making their own brass instrument with this interesting lesson plan. Objectives include what factors affect the pitch of brass instruments and what determines pitch.
Website
Other

Lute Harpsichord: A Forgotten Instrument

For Students 9th - 10th
Interesting website on the lute-harpsichord, which is called "one of Bach's favorite keyboard instruments." Provides an in-depth history of this "forgotten instrument" and the ordinary lute.
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Chinese Instruments

For Teachers K - 1st
Help your students identify and classify Western instruments and traditional Chinese instruments.
Website
Other

New Music Box: American Innovations in Electronic Musical Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the advances in musical instruments, and those who have helped their evolution.
Website
Other

Discover Eso: Musical Instruments: Woodwinds

For Students 9th - 10th
Website with information on four woodwind instruments: clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and flute. Students learn about the history and qualities of the instruments and can listen to audio excerpts of the instruments being played.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Build an Instrument

For Students K - 1st
This challenge is to build a four-stringed musical instrument that can play a tune on different pitches.
Handout
Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University: Music in the Afghan North Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
From Wesleyan University this is an investigation into the musical instruments utilized by the ethnic groups of the Afghan North. Links to detailed descriptions and photos of the most common instruments are also available.
Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Science Careers: Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairer

For Students 9th - 10th
With so many specialized pieces of equipment used in a multitude of areas, there is a great need for someone with the specialized knowledge to repair these many types of equipment. From repairing cameras to medical equipment to piano...
Graphic
Yale University

Yale Collection of Musical Instruments: String Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about string instruments in this image gallery with descriptions of some of the most common string instruments.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Brass Instruments Work

For Students 9th - 10th
What gives the trumpet its clarion ring and the tuba its gut shaking oompah-pah? And what makes the trombone so jazzy? Al Cannon shows how these answers lie not in the brass the instruments are made of, but in the journey that air takes...
Website
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute: History of Science and Technology: Weather Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
A look back in time at weather instruments used in previous centuries. Includes pictures and descriptions of instruments from Franklin Institute's historical collection.
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: String Instruments and Pitch

For Teachers K - 1st
After learning about different stringed instruments, students create their own and then investigate how length and width of the strings affect the pitch. Lesson includes handouts, a rubric, a bibliography, and links.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Performing Arts Encyclopedia: Stringed Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Access the collection of stringed musical instruments housed at the Library of Congress. Photographs, construction details, recordings, articles, and related resources.
Graphic
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Musical Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Homepage for a hypertext about the different families of musical instruments. From this page, users can retrieve information on a the acoustics of a variety of specific instruments: stringed instruments, woodwind instruments, brass...
Handout
Other

Johnson String Instrument: Common Repair Problems: String Repair

For Students 9th - 10th
A site devoted to the repair of string instruments. Clear commentary and good illustrations to educate you about most common repairs needed by string instruments.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Brass

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lesson that familiarizes students with the brass family of instruments in an orchestra. Students will identify each instrument by sight and sound, as well as, name the instruments in order from highest to lowest sound.
Primary
Other

Wesleyan University: Instrument Museum Exhibits

For Students 9th - 10th
This list of exhibits from the Instrument Museum provides information on 16 instruments that are not widely know. Each instrument is displayed in a 360 degree picture that can be rotated for a complete view.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Uncommon Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
The emigration of various cultures into the U.S. gives birth to many many instruments such as the piano, guitar and oboe. Discover the history behind these instruments.
Handout
Other

Bright Hub: Types of Weather Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
There are a number of types of weather instruments located on the grounds of a weather station and used by meteorologists to predict the weather. These include the instruments that have been on the go for over a century with only the...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: String

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
During this lesson students will learn to identify and name the instruments in the string family of the orchestra. Students will also order the string instruments from highest to lowest sound.
Interactive
PBS

Classics for Kids: Instruments of the Orchestra

For Students 3rd - 6th
See and hear the instruments of the orchestra.
Interactive
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Brass Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the science of sound when performing with a brass instrument such as a trumpet or a trombone.
Handout
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: Weather Instruments

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A short article providing a break down of instruments used for predicting the weather.
Website
Other

Wesleyan University: Learning Objects Studio: Virtual Instrument Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
Access the world musical instrument collection of the Music Department of Wesleyan University through this virtual museum interface. Search for and learn about instruments by type, geographic location, instrument material, and genre....

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