Embedded Files
Objectives
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Sight read rhythms in simple time with ties that incorporate 16th note subdivisions.
Aurally identify and classify common instruments in Western art music, popular music, and non-Western music.
Apply knowledge of instrument families and timbres to identify instruments in musical arrangements, ensembles, or musical excerpts.
Preparation for Class
Preparation for Class
Read:
Read:
Review the reading from Theory & Practice I, as needed:
Categories for Western Orchestral Instruments
The Sachs-Hornbostel System (global method)
Watch
Watch
The Musical Instrument Library [Link]
This channel includes 59 videos highlighting instruments from around the world. Pick a few videos that interest you, listen to the instruments, then hit Youtube to see if you can find a video of an ensemble performing on these instruments.
Explore
Explore
Spend some time getting the sounds of these different instruments in your ears before you begin the assignment. Quiz yourself with practice in Musition: See "Instrument Recognition" all levels!
Interactive Musical Instrument Guide: Click on each instrument to hear what it sounds like.
Western Orchestra Instruments: Explore sounds of sounds of the Western orchestral instruments
Study Aids
Study Aids
Instruments by Category: Handout with pictures of instruments around the world sorted into Sachs-Hornbostel System categories.
In-Class Activities
In-Class Activities
Discussion
Discussion
Aural Instrument ID: What aural cues do you use to identify different instruments by type? Imagine you have a classmate who is struggling to differentiate instruments. What kinds of things would you suggest that they listen for?
Based on the type of ensemble, can you make any intelligent guesses about which instruments will likely be featured? In other words, what instruments commonly play in a standard 70's rock band, in a string quartet, wind quintet, brass quartet, jazz trio, etc.
Activities
Activities
Aurally Identifying Instruments: Navigate to the "Instrumentation" page in the anthology (link below) and work in groups or as a class to practice identifying instruments. The Youtube playlist for each activity is in the Anthology.
Solo Instrument ID: List the name of the work and artist and the instrument that is featured.
Instruments in Ensembles: How many instruments do you hear. Name each instrument by type. If you need a clue, ask your instructor to provide the number of instruments playing.
Add Your Examples: Share examples from music you're listening to that fit either activity above and try to stump your classmates! Look up information about the ensembles or works online if you're unsure of the instrumentation or it's an instrument that you're not familiar with.
"Loser" by Beck: This song only uses one chord. How does the artist use instrumentation and texture to create form and musical interest? The lyrics for each song section are copied here. Mark in where each instrument enters (or drops). Listen for the looped drums, bass, slide guitar, sitar, rapped vocal line, and chorus.
Repertoire for Practice
Repertoire for Practice
Sight Reading:
Rhythm: Ties in simple time with subdivisions.
Melody: Continued work with multiple skips/leaps between scale degrees 2, 4, 6, 1.
Critical Listening: Aural Instrumentation ID (see activity above)
Want to learn more?
Want to learn more?
Timbre and Cognition: What are the mental processes that allow us to perceive differences in pitch and timbre? From an evolutionary perspective, why does timbre have such strong links to emotion and memory?
Check out: Dr. Aniruddh D. Patel, "Pitch & Timbre" from the series Music and the Brain (also see pp. 45–54 in the Study Guide).
Optional Additional Practice
Optional Additional Practice
Musition: Instrument Recognition (all levels)
Auralia: Instrumentation: Levels 1–3
Quizlet Flashcards: Instrument ID. Given the picture of an instrument, can you identify it by name? Flip through the flashcards or play the matching game.
Page updated
Report abuse