Oct. 19, 2005: Orchestra Instruments

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Draw a picture of yourself with a group of friends all playing different instruments. Write several sentences describing the kind of music you¹re playing.

2. Create a collage of newspaper words and images that relate to music and musical instruments.

3. What musical instrument would you like to play? Write a paragraph explaining why you think that would be a good instrument.

4. Which instruments (a) make a low musical sound, (b) are usually played sitting down, (c) require breath control to play, and (d) require the use of several parts (for example, a violin requires a bow)?

5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about an instrument in today¹s Mini Page. Use these questions to guide your research:

• How long has the instrument, in some form, been used?
• What were some of the "ancestors" of today¹s instrument?
• What special material is required to make the instrument?
• In what types of music is the instrument used today?
• Who are some famous musicians who played the instrument?
  

This week's standard:

• Students understand appropriate terminology in explaining music, music notation, music instruments and voices, and music performances. (Music)
  
  (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)