Grade 4 Music Theory - Orchestral Instruments & Families
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ค. 2024
- Standard orchestral instruments. Learn all about the orchestra, which instrument belongs to which family (string, woodwind, brass, percussion), instrument ranges and information about transposing instruments. Suitable for candidates preparing for ABRSM Grade 4 music theory. The standard orchestra is a combination of musicians made up of four sections of instruments: string, brass, woodwind, and percussion. When we talk about musical instruments, we often talk about them as being part of a family. That's because, just like in human families, the instruments in a particular family are related to each other. They are often made of the same types of materials, usually look similar to one another, and produce sound in comparable ways. The string family of instruments come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass. The smaller instruments, the violin and viola, make higher-pitched sounds, while the larger cello and double bass produce low rich sounds. They are all similarly shaped, with curvy wooden bodies and wooden necks. The strings stretch over the body and neck and attach to small decorative heads, where they are tuned with small tuning pegs. The woodwind family of instruments includes, from the highest sounding instruments to the lowest, the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. The instruments in this family all used to be made of wood, which gives them their name. Today, they are made of wood, metal, plastic or some combination. They are all basically narrow cylinders or pipes, with holes, an opening at the bottom end and a mouthpiece at the top. You play them by blowing air through the mouthpiece (that's the "wind" in "woodwind") and opening or closing the holes with your fingers to change the pitch. The brass family is made up of the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and the tuba. Like the woodwind family, brass players use their breath to produce sound. If you think the brass family got its name because the instruments are made of brass, you're right! This family of instruments can play louder than any other in the orchestra and can also be heard from far away. The percussion family is the largest in the orchestra. Percussion instruments include any instrument that makes a sound when it is hit, shaken, or scraped. Some percussion instruments are tuned and can sound different notes, like the xylophone, timpani or piano, and some are untuned with no definite pitch, like the bass drum, cymbals or castanets.
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🕘 Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to orchestral instruments
0:13 - Voice ranges
1:54 - String family
7:28 - Brass family
14:01 - Woodwind family
21:48 - Percussion instruments
🎓 Grade 4 Music Theory Course
A complete, step by step and practical way to learn music theory and discover how music really works. It's our belief that every musician needs to have the theory knowledge that supports their playing, singing, or composing skills. This course features clear explanations of music notation, many worked examples and practice exercises, definitions of important words and concepts, specimen questions and many helpful tips for students. As well as being suitable for candidates preparing for ABRSM grade 4 music theory exams, this course also provides an excellent resource for anyone wishing to develop general music literacy skills.
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That lesson was huh.. well orchestrated! As usual. Thank you sir.
+Emmanuel Brossard
A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for more
Ha ha ha ha
😀
I'm doing my grade 4 theory soon and this helps. I play in several orchestras and sing in different choirs too. This talk really helped me to remember (even though I play in a few)
+Meme Celt
Hi. I'm glad it's useful. Good luck with the theory exam. Let me know how it goes. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for more films.
Thank you for making the time to make this video. You are a gifted teacher and explain simply and informatively. Grateful!
+David & Valerie Carpenter
You're very kind. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
Thank you very much, this is very useful for many people who want to learn.
Great to hear from you. Enjoy!
Excellent as always: purposeful, organized, sequential, clear. Thank you.
That’s most kind.
I truly appreciate your teaching style sir. You have opened up so much for me with your incredibly detailed approach and cool calm manner. Love it!
That’s most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
Clear, direct, and (very) useful information. Your videos are of great value, thank you!
That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
The best(simplest), instruments of the orchestra I have heard, especially the transposing instrument and clef explanation I have heard in my 50 years in music, Thanks for mentioning the Euphonium:)
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here th-cam.com/channels/8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQg.htmljoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
Thanks for your time explaining these orchestral instruments. Very enjoyable and easy to digest facts! I don't have a musical background, so images of the instruments would be great to have seen.
Thanks for your kind comment. Fair point...
Very interesting, informative, and well-presented video lesson! Thank you!
It’s a pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
So clear, very good explanation, not to fast, not to slow, just perfect, thank you very much
That’s very kind. Thank you. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
It is really helpful since I have been under some pressure when I had started the violin. I loved these videos
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
Great tut vid. Thank you
That’s great. Thanks for your support. This is a great moment for Music Matters as we surpass 100,000 subscribers. Lots more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
This is a great introduction video, to learning about orchestra; especially for me, since I'm new to all things orchestra and this helped me a great amount. Thanks for the tutorial man
It’s a pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
I like the breakdown of the choir right off the top, since its' structure is the basis for the names of other instruments in other families. I do that with my students as well but I think this is the first time I've seen it mentioned in a video. Also, I could have sworn I learned the alto and tenor clefs in Grade 1 or 2 theory (that was back in 1969) but that might have just been my teacher.
They must have been keen on the C clefs in 1969!
Ya, I think they were. I remember tons of rote work in all 4 clefs in the old Barbara Wharram book.
this is such an informative lecture, thnx!
+OriginalOrigins
Glad it's helpful. See www.mmcourses.co.uk
for more
This was very informative and helpful, thank you!
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Very informative. Huuge thanks!
+Djordje Petrovic
Glad it's helpful. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
Coherent videos without jump-cuts get a like by default from me.
That’s kind. Many thanks.
Love this page 🙌🏾
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
Thanks a lot for your videos!
A pleasure! Thank you very much for your generosity and support for the channel!
Thank you sir for such a great lesson! Nicely explained and pleasant voice, intonation and pronunciation as well! Very helpful.
It’s a pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for the rest of the course and to sign up to our newsletter.
I am 13 and love your videos they tech me so much as I am grade 6 guitar thank you so much and keep up the good work
Hi. That’s really kind. Good luck with all you’re doing. Have a look at www.mmcourses.co.uk to see how much we can help you.
This was ace. Cheers
Glad it’s helpful. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
Thank you so much! I subscribed.
That’s great. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
I like how you simplified it. Nice video thanks 😄
+Music Resources, Gaming/Nicole Marie T
Thanks for your comment. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more
Thanks gareth I need this brush up on theory cheers
+Charlotte Whyte
A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more
You are a boon teacher for students. Thank you a lot,beloved Sir. Now please make a video in which refer at least 100 great orchestral works(including dramatic,intense,fiery,spooky,thriller,every kind of broodness,joyful,climaxing etc) for music ear training and aural sense. Please also make video on music arranging, reharmonisation of melodies. Again thank you. Arun Dey
Thanks. 100 pieces would be impossible to cover in a video but there are videos on the channel that explore great works plus arranging and harmony and there are specific courses at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Love this from 'South Pacific' 🌏
😀
Thanks much more than a lot!
Most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
thank you so much!!!
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Thank you for this video
A great pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Namaste,A good presentation.Thanking you sir.
Namasthe. 🌹🙏🌹
A pleasure. Namaste
Thank you sir. You are a life saver. My exam is literally this afternoon...
Hope exam a success. Let me know.
Thanks. Great lesson
A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
that's helping! thanks!
+- Isabella
Glad it's helpful. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
Excellent explanations!
Many thanks. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
Music Matters Do you do any online lessons? Or mark theory via email?
Hi. Yes. I do plenty of online teaching and offer a theory marking service. See www.mmcourses.co.uk under ‘private tuition’ or send a message via the same website.
SO USEFUl!
Thank you. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Very good lesson.
That’s great. Thank you. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Thank you very good explanation
A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
Thank you for this
A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.
Thank you very much...........
A pleasure. Thanks for watching
Very well explained ty 👌👌👌
A pleasure
Man, this is great!!!! Thank you! -I need to learn what are the note ranges of each orch. instruments. Thx
A pleasure. Have a look at our Orchestration courses, which explain the ranges of all orchestral instruments and much more.
@@MusicMattersGB I play by ear with only book one piano knowledge, but I want to write & arrange thru midi for orchestras so I am ready to learn all I can! Thank you!
Have a look at our Orchestration course where all this is explained. www.mmcourses.co.uk
I ❤️ this channel. :)
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here th-cam.com/channels/8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQg.htmljoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
Thanks alot for this
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
See our complete Theory course at
www.mmcourses.co.uk/p/music-theory-grades-1-to-8
Just wanted to point out that the standard orchestra usually has the French horns above the trumpets on two staves (for the four players). It is the only exception to the "highest to lowest" organization of the families/instruments in the sections.
Even though this is beyond what is needed at this theory exam level, that is very fair comment in relation to the organisation of the score
Sorry, I should fid out the Grade 4 requirements. Anyway, interesting video.
This really helped me
Great. Check out the other films at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Thank you
That’s most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our 25 online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
Thanks I learned a lot
That’s most kind. Don’t miss our 25 online courses and details of Music Matters Maestros at www.mmcourses.co.uk
So in the case of the Cello, could I choose which clef I want to write it in? Thanks
+Patrick Souza
Absolutely. The convention is that it's bass clef at the bottom then Tenor Clef higher in the range to avoid ledger lines then treble clef at the top for the same reason.
Does this cover all the information we may be asked in a theory exam regarding the orchestral instruments? (I'm thinking grade 4/5 specifically)
Yes it does. Good luck with the exam and let me know if you need any help
Yes . Quite a lot . True /false and provideing substitutes for the same clefs. Specially woodwind which tells about 'reeds'
Namaste. Thank you for the videos and information!
I couldn't find this answer in the comments, so maybe I missed it in the video. Where would the saxophone fall into? I thought it was a woodwind instrument? Please let me know. Thank you!
A pleasure. You’re right that the Saxophone sits in the woodwind family but it’s not in this video because it’s not a standard orchestral instrument.
thx so much i have to do my gr4 theory without any tuition and I'm only 10 years old! this video helps SO much thank you!!!!!!
Great. Glad it's helpful. Look at www.mmcourses.co.uk for everything else you need to know. Good luck!
Thank you so much. From Pakistan
A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here th-cam.com/channels/8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQg.htmljoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for this greatly useful overview. I have a question about transposing instruments. Is it the composer's task to write music in the transposed key, so that the player plays what he/she reads and it sounds correct in the overall compositional key, or does the composer write all instrumental lines in the same key and it's up to the player to transpose correctly so the instrument returns the note that's written? Thanks a lot!
It’s up to the composer/arranger to provide music in the transposed key so that when the player reads it it comes out at concert pitch. Thanks for your positive comment.
@@MusicMattersGB thank you for the reply. I often follow TH-cam videos with sheet music and many times I have noticed orchestral scores where transposing instruments had parts written in the same key as non-transposing ones. I'll have a closer look and try to understand better.
Often the full score is presented at Concert pitch but individual parts need to be transposed and the standard format for the full score would conventionally include transposed parts.
@@MusicMattersGB now it's fully clear. Thank you very much indeed.
😀
helpful indeed!
Most kind.
Good lesson. Would be nice if the instruments were accompanied by pictures and sounds :-)
Agreed. Just didn't have the orchestra handy! Glad it was useful
LOL. Looking forward to more.
See
www.mmcourses.co.uk
for lots more
Very useful! Is this sufficient for level 5 exam as well or is there another video?
+Chrishma Karkada
Yes. It’s fine for 5. See www.mmcourses.co.uk
for everything you need for each level.
Thankyou
A pleasure
Do you have a video about why certain instruments are transposing? Is it just the way each instrument was created, then when they got put into the orchestra some didn't quite line up?
The reasons are historic eg brass instruments not having valves for a long time. Could make a video on the subject.
the french horn can be Bb as well as F
Sure. There are other possibilities too but the standard orchestral French Horn is in F
Thank u..sir
It’s a pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our 25 online courses and of Music Matters Maestros.
These i was looking for 5years ago
Glad you found it. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk
When saying double bass plays an octave lower than what they read do you mean they are transposing instruments?
Yes, in the sense that they sound an octave lower than the written pitch.
does this mean I have to write in actual pitch of a transposing instrument? what I amtrying to say do I have to change to a different key as I read in some of the scores I noticed the clarinet was written with a sharp or a flat at the begging of a piece such as Wagner s tristin und isolde he would have some of the instruments at concert pitch and others at a different score writing send me some feedback on this subject
Yes. Transposing instruments need writing in the key that makes them sound at concert pitch eg Bb instruments are written up a tone, instruments in F written up a perfect 5th etc
I'm entering level 5 theory exam this year. But I don't understand the double reed and single reed. Can you know if an instrument has a double reed or single reed or no reed by hearing, or is it just like a rule or something?
+Leen Tamim
Double reed instruments make a different sound from single reed instruments.
Single reed: Clarinet. Bass Clarinet. Saxophone.
Double reed: Oboe. Bassoon. Cor Anglais. Contra Bassoon.
We have a filmed course on Orchestration that demonstrates each instrument, covering this issue and many other things relating to instruments. See www.mmcourses.co.uk
Music Matters thanks! I'm pretty sure this might come in the exam. gotta study it ASAP!
Doesn't viola also read treble clef for high notes?
+Donez Horton-Bailey
Yes.
Yes we do.
My friend plays Eb Clarinet.
That’s good.
Thank you master it is very usefull. I am playing a transposing instrument bflat trumpet
That’s great. Enjoy your playing. Many more resources at www.mmcourses.co.uk
I am from India
Fabulous. Great to have you with us.
Sir i have a doubt. Why all the intruments are called in flats like bflat, eflat,Aflat.can we call it as csharp, dsharp, gsharp.
Good question but most of these instruments are known as ‘flat’ instruments though there are other transposing instruments like the Trumpet in D.
Bass trombones are standard orchestral instruments. Wagner uses contrabasses too.
Absolutely
@@MusicMattersGB But they read the bass clef and they are not playing trombone tracks, rather together with the tuba(-s).
Agreed
19:46 The name _English horn_ , a translation from French _cor anglais_ , is a misnomer. The source of this mistake is the confusion between the French words _anglais_ (English) and _anglé_ (angled), both pronounced the same. Yes, oboes's bigger brother has an angled, longer bocal (crook), hence the denomination _anglé_ .
Absolutely
@@MusicMattersGB Is it a transposing instrument?
Yes. The Cor Anglais is in F so it sounds a Perfect 5th below the written pitch.
Isn't baritone a voice between tenor and bass?
Yes. Baritone is also a brass band instrument.
:3
😀
viola do play treble clef.
Yes. High notes sometimes switch into treble clef. Most of the time they play in alto clef.
Do you have grade 5 of this ? I have exam on 6th November
Yes. Look at www.mmcourses.co.uk
Everything you need for G5 is there in one course.
well thanks hope i pass
Good luck. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.
wow french horn and cor englais... cute.
😀
why would there need to be a transposing instrument???
There are historic reasons for this eg for years brass instruments did not have valves. The player could only produce the notes of the harmonic series and could only move to other pitches by using extra bits of tubing to transpose the harmonic series. We ended up with brass parts written in the ‘wrong keys’. In the case of other instruments it was down to technical issues in the design but because they were once transposed we are now rather stuck with them being transposing instruments.
Transposing instruments? Get to play the recorder (family) and you will have to transpose in different clefs all by yourself!
😀
When you have nobody to play the bassoon...
Bass soon
😀
@@MusicMattersGB Fantastic content btw!
Thanks very much.
Guitar is not a standard instrument.
Me, a guitar player: (cries in guitar)
Guitar is not a standard ORCHESTRAL instrument. In every other way it has every right to exist!
Maybe english horn is in french because the english would just call it a "horn'
And vice versa
Possibly
i am a late commenter
😀
Thank you So much For this video
A pleasure. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for much more.