Want to join an orchestra?

Don't know which instrument to choose?


Find out more information about them here

Musical Instrument Matching Game

Play this game to test how well you can identify orchestral instruments. Each instrument has a name and an image card. Match all pairs of cards correctly to clear the board.

THE ORCHESTRA

The word "orchestra" came from ancient Greece and was used to describe the place where musicians and dancers performed. The modern orchestra is an ensemble of around 100 musicians playing stringed instruments, percussion, wind and brass instruments. Watch the video for more information.

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THE CONDUCTOR

An orchestra conductor stands on a raised podium in the middle of the orchestra stage and waves a baton and their hands to signal and lead the orchestra musicians. Even though the musicians all have music scores before them that tell them what and when to play, the conductor’s role is very important because he or she influences the whole orchestra to create aesthetically pleasing music. The duties of the conductor are to interpret the score created by a composer, set the tempo, cue playing entries of the musicians, and shape the "phrasing" or tension of the music where appropriate.

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STRING

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WOODWIND

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BRASS

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PERCUSSION

RESOURCES

Now that you have an idea of what instrument to choose, check out the following resources to take the next steps in your orchestra journey.


  • Musician's Friend

    This online store is best known for its largest selection of guitars and guitar gears, but it also sells orchestral instruments.

  • The Instrument Store

    This online store focuses on selling band and orchestral instruments along with guitars.

  • The Woodwind & Brasswind

    This online store sells primarily woodwind and brass instruments, but it also offers string, percussion, and classroom music instruments.

  • Music & Arts

    This online store is part of a brick-and-mortar national music store chain that provides selling and renting of music instruments as well as offering private lessons.


  • Strings Lessons

    This website gathers some of the best online video lessons for string instruments, primarily for violin and cello.

  • Free Percussion Lessons

    This website provides guides and video lessons for many percussion instruments.

  • Lessonface

    This website offers 1-to-1 live online music lessons with a teacher.

  • Music Teachers Network

    This website shows a network of music teachers in the United States who can teach in-studio or at-home lessons.


  • New York Philharmonic

    This ensemble with 106 musicians is the oldest professional symphony orchestra in the United States.

  • Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

    This ensemble is a professional opera orchestra that also performs symphonic and chamber programs.

  • The Broadway Bach Ensemble

    This ensemble is a 45-person community chamber orchestra made up of dedicated musicians from many different professions who like to make and perform great music together.

  • National Youth Orchestra

    This summer program is a three-week training residency with leading professional orchestra musicians for youths aged 14-17, leading to a world tour as music ambassadors.


  • New York Philharmonic Kidzone

    This website can be used to have kids explore a variety of composers, create compositions, and explore how to arrange orchestrations for a variety of instruments.

  • SFS Kids

    This website can be used to have kids explore all of the instruments of the orchestra through a variety of interactive pictures and sound files.

  • DSO Kids

    This website can be used to have kids learn about the numerous periods of music as well as playing a lot of games related to the orchestra.

  • Interactive Orchestra Software

    This website can be used to have kids learn the positions of each instrument family and take an interactive assessment.

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