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Band & Orchestra Instrument Demonstration Videos
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items Welcome to the Orchestra Odyssey series, where we dive into the vibrant world of musical instruments! From the majestic strings to the thunderous brass, join me on a journey through the orchestra. This collection features a mix of videos - some longe...
Sections
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Individual Instrument Performances - Long Videos
Instrument Family Demonstrations
Individual Instrument Performances - Short Demos
Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
Children's Literature Featuring Instruments of the Orchestra
Individual Instrument Performances - Long Videos
The videos in this section are longer and feature individual performances and group performances.
This video is about 20 minutes long and covers the basic instruments commonly found in a Concert Band. The musicians are from the US Army Field Band. It would be great to show a class if you wished to cover all of these instruments through a single v...
Instrument Demonstration for Beginning Band
A 38 minute video, this is the perfect classroom resource. It includes live performances by the London Symphony Orchestra interspersed with animated storytelling. Very well done!
How to Build an Orchestra
While this 20-minute video is animated, it features individual performances of each of the instruments interspersed and the harpsichord. Performances of each movement of Vidaldi's Four Seasons follows.
The Four Seasons
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This 9+ minute video quickly progresses through 32 instruments, giving names and sounds. Most of the sounds are provided by live performers. The list includes band and orchsra instruments as well as other instruments such as accordion, mandolin, ukul...
Musical Instruments Names and Sounds for Kids to Learn
Instrument Family Demonstrations
The videos in this section are brief and focus on one family at a time. They are very suitable for introducing instrument families to students.
George is a delightful host! This is a perfect brief introduction to the families of the orchestra and is most appropriate for elementary students.
George Meets the Orchestra | An Introduction to the Orchestra for Children
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This 3 minute video features each of the instruments of the string section followed by the entire section playing together.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Strings
This brief introduction to the woodwind family features individual performances of each instrument followed by a group performance.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Woodwind
These demonstrations are brief and fun! If you want to introduce brass instruments but are short on time, this is the video for you. In this 2 minute video, each instrument is demonstrated, followed by a short group performance.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Brass
This very short video features demonstrations of maracas, bongos, claves, and drum set. The video is just over 1 minute long.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Percussion
Individual performances and interviews with the musicians of the Calgary Philharmonic make this video series an informative and engaging series for young students. The part 1 Wondrous Woodwind episode video is 15 minutes in length.
An Orchestra Adventure / Webisode 1: Wondrous Woodwinds
Individual performances and interviews with the musicians of the Calgary Philharmonic make this video series an informative and engaging series for young students. The part 2 Sensational Strings episode video is 15 minutes in length.
An Orchestra Adventure / Webisode 2: Sensational Strings
Individual performances and interviews with the musicians of the Calgary Philharmonic make this video series an informative and engaging series for young students. The part 3 Brilliant Brass episode video is 15 minutes in length.
An Orchestra Adventure / Webisode 3: Brilliant Brass
Individual performances and interviews with the musicians of the Calgary Philharmonic make this video series an informative and engaging series for young students. The part 4 Playful Percussion episode video is just over 13 minutes in length.
An Orchestra Adventure / Webisode 4: Playful Percussion
Brass instruments are are the topic of this fun, engaging 8 minute show. House of Sound is a lab where science of sound and musical instruments are being investigated. This video is perfect for getting into the how and why of instrument sound product...
House Of Sound - brass instruments
String instruments are are the topic of this fun, engaging 8 minute show. Fran & Greg demonstrate how the size of the string affects the pitch. House of Sound is a lab where science of sound and musical instruments are being investigated. This vi...
House of Sound - string instruments
Woodwind instruments are are the topic of this fun, engaging 8 minute show. Greg & Fran demonstrate how the length of the instrument affects the pitch. House of Sound is a lab where science of sound and musical instruments are being investigated....
House of Sound - woodwind instruments
Drums & percussion instruments are are the topic of this fun, engaging 8 minute show. Greg & Fran demonstrate how the skins vibrate to make the sound and how the size of the instrument affects the pitch. House of Sound is a lab where science ...
House of Sound - drums and percussion
Individual Instrument Performances - Short Demos
Need a brief individual instrument demo? These videos from the Minnesota Orchestra are perfect. Each instrument is demonstrated and the musician gives a few facts.
Flute demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Flute Demonstration
Piccolo demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Piccolo Demonstration
Clarinet demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Clarinet Demonstration
Trumpet demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Guide to the Orchestra: Trumpet
Trombone demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Trombone Demonstration
Tuba demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Tuba Demonstration
Violin demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Violin Demonstration
Viola demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Viola Demonstration
Cello demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Cello Demonstration
Cymbals demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Cymbals Demonstration
Timpani demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Timpani Demonstration
Harp demonstration video from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Minnesota Orchestra: Harp Demonstration
Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra is a classic piece for introduce each of the sections of the orchestra.
The Bleckie videos are a delightful way to engage young students with learning about the instruments of the orchestra! This 14 minute video would lead perfectly into a viewing of Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
Backstage with Bleeckie - The Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Britten's The Young Person's Guide
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra is a classic piece for introduce each of the sections. This version includes an introduction to the instrument families and a performance by the New Jersey Symphony.
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
This performance features a clickable index in the caption to make it easy to skip to the various sections.
Benjamin Britten: (Illustrated) The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op.34 - with Peter Pears
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Children's Literature Featuring Instruments of the Orchestra
Using children's literature in the music classroom is a perfect way to engage students in the lesson. These read-aloud videos have the added benefit of including the music and musicians right in the video with the story.
This is a fabulous book performance! The book is read in both English and Spanish. The live performances by a woodwind quintet from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are the perfect complement to the story. Bonus is the animation that ties the story and...
CSO for Kids: Maybe Something Beautiful
Another delightful blending of story and song by musician Jim Gill and a brass quintet from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The video concludes with a performance of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition by the brass quintet. A wonderful mix of anim...
CSO for Kids: May There Always Be Sunshine
The Carnival of the Animals features John Lithgow's original story with the performance.
Carnival of the Animals - John Lithgow
A fun story narrated by John Lithgow, with all of the orchestra instruments playing along. Great for young children!
The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow
A read-aloud of this favorite book, the video also includes audio of the instruments as they appear in the story. A great book for elementary students.
Meet the Orchestra
Just for fun, listen to John Lithgow read his delightful book, Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo!
'Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo' read by John Lithgow
This is a very engaging book, bringing a great visual imagination to Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra (Read-Aloud w/ Music)
This is a nicely done read aloud featuring Mozart's music. The video is almost 5 minutes long, so it would make a quick introduction to both Mozart and his music. The story is about 3 minutes, followed by the audio of Mozart's music.
The Animal Orchestra Plays Mozart
Just for fun, here is a cute song that names all of the instruments of the orchestra.
The Instruments of the Orchestra Song