During the month of March, the 4th grade music classes will begin a short unit on the four orchestral instrument families. They will be learning to identify the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments by sight and sound, as well as aurally differentiating between band and orchestra. This unit directly addresses Standard R-1.a Evaluate how a variety of musical elements influence musical performance and preference; Standard R-2.a Describe vocal and instrumental timbres and their uses throught American music history; and Standard R-2.b Communicate similarities and differences throughout the history of American music.