instrument Families

Key Instruments:

• Violin: The smallest and highest-pitched.

• Viola: Slightly larger than a violin, with a deeper sound.

• Cello: Much larger, played sitting down, with a rich, warm tone.

• Bass (Double Bass): The largest and lowest-pitched, providing the foundation.

• Harp: A large, beautiful instrument with many strings, often plucked. 

How They Make Sound:

• Bowing: Drawing a bow (wood with horsehair) across the strings causes vibrations.

• Plucking (Pizzicato): Plucking the strings with fingers for a "plink-plink" sound. 

The Strings Family focuses on instruments that make sound with vibrating strings, primarily the violin, viola, cello, and double bass (or bass), plus the harp, often played with a bow or by plucking (pizzicato) to create sounds. These wooden instruments resonate sound, with each member differing in size and pitch, from the high-pitched violin to the low-pitched bass, teaching kids about pitch, sound production, and the core of the orchestra.