*remember to preview all media selections to make sure the viewing content is appropriate for your students to see*
Websites that have activities to teach about Instrument Families:
The New York Philharmonic has an excellent website for kids that has a couple of fun games to play that teach about the instrument families.
- Click on the Instrument Storage Room - each room has a wall of lockers that contain instruments from an instrument family. When you click on the locker door, it will reveal an instrument. Then click on the instrument for an information paragraph or click on the ear to hear an audio clip of the instrument playing.
- Click on the Game Room - this will take you to a variety of games. Music Match Instruments is the traditional memory game where you have to find matching instruments. When you tap on a card, there is also an audio clip of that instrument playing.
- Click on the Instrument Storage Room - each room has a wall of lockers that contain instruments from an instrument family. When you click on the locker door, it will reveal an instrument. Then click on the instrument for an information paragraph or click on the ear to hear an audio clip of the instrument playing.
- Click on the Game Room - this will take you to a variety of games. Music Match Instruments is the traditional memory game where you have to find matching instruments. When you tap on a card, there is also an audio clip of that instrument playing.
The San Francisco Symphony also has a website for kids to explore music.
Videos that feature the instrument families:
(you can go on YouTube and try to find the videos or you can go to our Resources and Links section and purchase the videos from one of the stores)
Check the ACF website for shows that do not have live links: https://streaming.acf-film.com/audiocine
Peter and The Wolf - This is good, short video for students in Grades 3 through 6. Search on-line for activities to go with the movie as there is a lot of things available. Preview the video before showing it to make sure it is not too scary for younger students.
Carnival of the Animals - This is a good movie to show the students Kindergarten through to Grade 6. It has music featuring instruments and instrument families. Search on-line for activities to go with the movie as there is a lot of things available.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra also has DVDs that feature the symphony, instrument families, and individual instruments. These are also good movies to show students Kindergarten through to Grade 6: Emotions In Music, Pictures In Music
Check the ACF website for shows that do not have live links: https://streaming.acf-film.com/audiocine
Peter and The Wolf - This is good, short video for students in Grades 3 through 6. Search on-line for activities to go with the movie as there is a lot of things available. Preview the video before showing it to make sure it is not too scary for younger students.
Carnival of the Animals - This is a good movie to show the students Kindergarten through to Grade 6. It has music featuring instruments and instrument families. Search on-line for activities to go with the movie as there is a lot of things available.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra also has DVDs that feature the symphony, instrument families, and individual instruments. These are also good movies to show students Kindergarten through to Grade 6: Emotions In Music, Pictures In Music
Music videos that feature instruments from the instrument families:
**Click on the song title!!
Piano Guys
One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful featuring 1 piano and 5 piano guys
The Jungle Book/Sarabonae (Mayan Style) featuring piano, cello, and hand drums
Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter featuring piano and cello
Cello Wars (Star Wars Parody) Lightsaber Duel featuring cellos and an accordion
Mission Impossible with Lindsey Stirling and The Piano Guys featuring piano, cello, and violin
Moonlight (Inspired by Beethoven) featuring piano, drums, cello, and the electric cello
One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful featuring 1 piano and 5 piano guys
The Jungle Book/Sarabonae (Mayan Style) featuring piano, cello, and hand drums
Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter featuring piano and cello
Cello Wars (Star Wars Parody) Lightsaber Duel featuring cellos and an accordion
Mission Impossible with Lindsey Stirling and The Piano Guys featuring piano, cello, and violin
Moonlight (Inspired by Beethoven) featuring piano, drums, cello, and the electric cello