National 5: Instruments
1. Watch the first video on the PowerPoint (Hedwig’s Theme) and answer the following questions:
(a) What is the name given to the person not playing an instrument who directs the orchestra? ______
(b) What is the name of the solo instrument played at the start of this piece? What tuned percussion instrument does it sound similar to? ______
______
(c) Name two ways that the strings in the accompaniment are being played in this example. ______
(d) The melody moves to the woodwind family. List the woodwind instruments which play the melody here. ______
______
(e) There is a change of tempo when the bassoons enter with a new melody in the second section of the piece. True or false? ______
(f) Write down the name of the hall in which this video has been filmed and the important music event which takes place here every summer. ______
______
(g) In the space below, write a description of how the composer uses the orchestra to create a sense of magic and mystery. You must write in full sentences. ______
______
2. Watch the second video on the PowerPoint (Viva la Vida) and fill in the blanks.
The piece begins with the ______family of the orchestra. These instruments are being played by being bowed. The Italian word for bowing an instrument from this family is _ _ _ _. These instruments play a short repeated pattern of music called a _ _ _ _.
The first woodwind instrument to play the melody is the _ _ _ _. A second woodwind instrument called the _ _ _ _ _ joins in. The first brass instrument to play the melody is called the ______.
The tonality of the music is _ _ _ _ _.
3(a) What is meant by the term ‘arco?’ ______
______
(b) What is meant by the term ‘pizzicato?’ ______
______
(c) What is meant by the term ‘col legno?’ ______
______
(d) What is meant by the term ‘con sordino?’ ______
______
4. Watch the following videos of string instruments and in the space provided write down the instrument that you hear and the concepts which apply to each example.
InstrumentTempoTonalityMethod of Playing
ViolinAdagioMajorArco
ViolaModeratoMinorPizzicato
CelloAllegroCol legno
Double BassCon sordino
Harp
(a) Instrument: ______Tempo: ______
Tonality: ______Method of Playing: ______
______
(b) Instrument: ______Tempo: ______
Tonality: ______Method of Playing: ______
______
(c) Instrument: ______Tempo: ______
Tonality: ______Method of Playing: ______
______
(d) Instrument: ______Tempo: ______
Tonality: ______Method of Playing: ______
______
(e) Instrument: ______Tempo: ______
Tonality: ______Method of Playing: ______
______
5(a) Write down the instruments which belong to the woodwind family. ______
(b) Listen to the following examples and write down the woodwind instruments that you hear.
(i) ______(iv) ______
(ii) ______(v) ______
(iii) ______(vi) ______
(c) Woodwind instruments are typically played by being blown. What is meant by the term ‘flutter tonguing?’ ______
______
6(a) Write down the instruments which belong to the brass family. ______
(b) Listen to the following examples and write down the brass instruments that you hear.
(i) ______(iv) ______
(ii) ______(v) ______
(iii) ______(vi) ______
(c) Brass instruments can be played pizzicato. True or false? ______
(d) Brass instruments can be played con sordino. True or false? ______
(e) Brass instruments can be played flutter tonguing. True or false? ______
7(a) What is the difference between tuned and untuned percussion instruments? ______
______
(b) Provide three examples of tuned percussion instruments. ______
______
(c) Provide three examples of untuned percussion instruments. ______
______
(d) A timpani is a tuned percussion instrument because of its size. True or false? Explain. ______
______
(e) State two ways of playing a percussion instrument which begin with the letter s. ______
8. Complete the following definition of a symphony:
A Symphony is a _ _ _ _ _ work for the ______. It would normally have four movements. In the ______period the movements were normally:
Movement 1 – ______
Movement 2 - ______
Movement 3 - ______
Movement 4 - ______
9(a). Label the parts of the drum kit shown below:
(b) Complete the following information about the snare drum:
Thisimage shows a set of ______, m_ _ _ _ w_ _ _ _
stretched across the bottom _ _ _ _ of the drum. These are
called the s_ _ _ _ _.Using the _ _ _ _ _ on the side, the snares
can either be r_ _ _ _ u_ against the bottom skin of the drum –
which makes it a snare drum and has a 'rattly' sound – or
moved _ _ _ _ from the bottom skin – which makes it a
_ _ _ _ d_ _ _ _ with a 'd_ _' sound where no rattles can be heard.
(c) How many drums does a tabla consist of? ____ drums
(d) How are the tabla played? ______
______
(e) What style of music are the tabla associated with? ______
______
(f) Name a string instrument commonly associated with the tabla. ______
______
10. What are the differences between the acoustic, electric and bass guitars?______
11. Complete the following information relating to reverb:
An e______effect which can give the impression of different hall
a______.For example, r_ _ _ _ _ can make a piece of musicsoundas if the performance is taking place in a c______/s______.
12(a) What instrument is pibroch written for? ______
______
(b) What is the melody decorated with? ______
______
13. Using the graphics below, provide a description of an alberti bass.
______
______
______
14. What is a ground bass? ______
______
15(a) A walking bass features syncopated rhythms. True or false? ______
(b) A walking bass is associated with Jazz music. True or false? ______
16(a) What is meant by the term glissando? ______
______
(b) What is meant by the term pitch bend? ______
______
(c) Name two instruments which could perform a pitch bend. ______
______
National 5: Instruments Concept Check
REMEMBER: National 5 includes all of the concepts learned at National 3 and National 4
InstrumentsStyles
BassoonAlberti bass
BodhranGround bass
Bongo drumsReverb
CastanetsSymphony
ClarsachWalking bass
French horn
Hi hat cymbalsMethods of playing
OboeArco
PibrochCol legno
PiccoloCon sordino - muted
SitarFlutter tonguing
TubaGlissando
Viola Pitch bend
Pizzicato
Roll