CSET Practice Test the Orchestra

Cello

Plays lower a whole octave lower than the viola. To
support its longer strings, it's more than twice as big as
the viola. Players sit down, resting the instrument
upright against their bodies. Played together, they make a
beautiful tenor tune.

Violin

This is the smallest member of the string family. Because
its strings are the shortest, it produces the highest
sound. There are more of these in the orchestra than any
other single instrument.

Double Bass

These big, deep instruments add weight to the orchestra
sound. They are the largest of all the stringed
instruments, and play the lowest notes.

The String Section

This section has the most players in it - sometimes as
many as 60. This is because it takes many to create a rich
sound that balances well with the woodwinds, brass and
percussion. All of these instruments have strings
stretched over them. The strings are made of gut, steel,
or nylon. They are played with a bow - a long stick that
has horsehair attached to it. Usually the bow is drawn
across the strings. This is called bowing. Stringed
instruments can also be struck with the bow. Or they can
be played by plucking or strumming the strings with the
fingers.

The Woodwind Section

This section's instruments use vibrating air to produce
many different musical sounds. They look like long sticks,
and players blow air into them to create sounds. The
different shape and materials of each instrument help to
create its unique sound.

Flute

These are usually made of metal, but sometimes you will
see them made of wood. These are some of the highest
instruments in the orchestra, and they are very good at
playing fast, detailed music. Players blow air into them
to create sounds.

Clarinet

These are made of wood or molded plastic, and can be found
in different sizes, each playing a different range of
notes. The standard "B-flat" instrument is a little more
than two feet long. An orchestra also often includes an
"E-flat", which is smaller and plays a higher range of
notes. Players blow into a single reed that is clipped to
the mouthpiece at the upper end of the instrument. The
reed is made out of cane. Different pitches are played by
pressing on the many keys. The bottom of this instrument
flares out into a bell shape where sound exists the
instrument.

Saxophone

This is played using a reed. But it's made of brass. It's
a kind of a cross between a woodwind and a brass
instrument. The instrument has a single reed and a
mouthpiece like a clarinet, but it has a metal body with a
flared bell. There are four major types of these
instruments, each playing a different range of notes:
soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. This instrument make a
strong, mellow sound.

Oboe

This looks very similar to the clarinet, but sounds
different. These are made of wood, and their sound is
produced by blowing air through a thin double reed at the
upper end of the instrument. This instrument plays the
tuning note at the beginning of orchestra rehearsals and
concerts.

The Brass Section

Players, in this section, produce sound by blowing into
the mouthpiece of the instrument. To set the air in
motion, they "buzz" their lips together. Their lips are
acting much like the reeds of the woodwinds. The orchestra
usually has one or two of each of these instruments, and
sometimes more. These instruments are loud and their tone
carries a long way. For this reason, they are often used
in military bands, which play outside much of the time.
These instruments are long metal tubes that flare at the
far end. Because they are so long, the tubes are bent and
folded into compact shapes so they can be held more
easily.

Trumpet

The loud, clear sound of this instrument has been used to
send signals and messages for a long time. These were once
used to frighten enemies in battle, and to celebrate big
ceremonies with blazing fanfares. The tone of this
instrument is produced by its distinctive shape: a cup-
shaped mouthpiece, narrow metal tube, and flaring bell.
Different pitches are played by pressing down on the keys
that control the three valves, or by changing the shape of
the lips against the mouthpiece.

French Horn

This instrument has a velvety, round tone color that
projects well across other instruments without
overpowering them. Its long tube is wound in a circle, and
flares out into a big bell. The valves and their extra
tubing are in the center of the circle. Players left hand
works the valves that help to change the pitch, and the
right hand is held inside the bell. Players can vary the
volume, pitch and tone of the horn by how they move their
right hand inside the bell.

Trombone

These form the middle of the orchestral brass section.
They fill out the harmonies between the trumpets and the
horns on top, and the low tuba below. This instrument has
a rich tenor voice. Most brass instruments use valves to
produce different pitches. But this instrument uses a
slide instead. Players push and pull the slide back and
forth to change the length of tubing - which changes the
pitch.

Tuba

This is the largest member of the brass family and plays
the lowest notes. It was first used in military bands in
the 1800s and joined the orchestra about a hundred years
ago. This instrument is crucial in an orchestra because it
provides the lowest notes for the brass section. Players
play different notes by pressing on valves and they can
also change pitch by adjusting the way air is blown into
the mouthpiece.

The Percussion Section

This section is huge and it includes any instrument that
produces sounds when it is struck, scraped or shaken. A
player in an orchestra may play as many as a dozen
different instruments, since different pieces of music
need different kinds of sounds.

Cymbals

These are thin metal disks that are clashed together or
struck with sticks to produce a sound. They come in many
sizes. These can sound soft and delicate, or loud and
harsh. They are used in almost every type of music, from
orchestral music to rock.

Triangle

This is a simple steel rod bent. This instrument is among
the smallest of orchestra instruments, it has a very clear
and shimmering sound that cuts through even the loudest
music. Its pitch is not distinct, and its tone varies
according to how hard, you strike it. It is either held in
one hand suspended on a cord, or hung on a stand. Its
beater is made of gently tapered steel.

Bass Drum

This is a round cylinder with skin stretched over both
openings. It is not tuned to a specific pitch, but its
tone is very low and deep. It can sound loud and
thundering, and sometimes quiet and almost invisible. It
is used in both orchestras and bands. It is usually played
with a soft beater.

Xylophone

This is a set of wooden bars, mounted on a frame. The
bars, each tuned to a different pitch, are beaten with
sticks. The biggest have almost 50 wooden bars. The wooden
bars are arranged like a piano keyboard. Striking the bar
makes the air inside the tube vibrate. Below each wooden
bar is a resonator, a metal tube which helps to project
and sustain the sound. Players strike the bars with hard
beaters to give a bright and sharp sound; soft beaters
make the sound more gentle.

Snare Drum

This is shaped like a cylinder, with skin stretched over
its top. A set of wires or strings strung across the
bottom produce a rattling sound. These do not have a
definite pitch.

Timpani

These are often made of copper. They have a piece of
calfskin or thin plastic stretched over their opening.
These are very important in the orchestra because they
"underline" important chords. They are usually played in
pairs - sometimes in threes or fours - because each is
tuned to a different pitch. Players strike the calfskin
with beaters about 3 inches from the rim. Players carry
many different pairs of beaters to produce different tone
qualities. There are several tension screws, tightening
them causes the pitch to rise, loosening them causes the
pitch to lower.