Meet the String Family!

Come with us on a tour of the string family!  We will meet each member of the string family, learn about how the instruments make sound, and hear great examples of each instrument from professional musicians. 

This video is just one tiny part inside of our "Meet the Orchestra" course where we tour each of the four instrument families: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.  In that course we also learn about the important role of the conductor, enjoy lots of musical examples including listening to a large portion of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition."  You can find the rest of the course inside of our All Access Membership!  Check out all the details and get signed up here.

Check out Episode 7 of our podcast to hear an audio-only version of this lesson!

Here are the lyrics for the String Family Song that teaches us about the characteristics of the string instruments and how they make sound.

(To the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)

They are made of strings and hollow wood.

Say hello to the string family.

Violin viola cello bass

Don’t forget the lovely harp.

Push and pull a bow across the strings

To make long sound vibrations

Or you can use your fingers pluck pluck pluck

Pizzicato pizzicato pizzicato

How to prepare: 

• Grab some rhythm sticks if you have them, download and print the orchestra map resource, press play and enjoy!

How to adapt/extend:

• Print out the orchestra map printable resource, and practice putting the string family into the correct section.
• Tissue box string instrument - items needed - 1 rectangular tissue box, 5-6 rubber bands (with different widths if possible). Have your child decorate the tissue box with stickers, etc. Place the rubber bands around the tissue box so that they go over the opening on the top of the tissue box. Let your child carefully snap the rubber bands and experiment with sounds. (can insert a picture of this craft if needed) 
• Join the Clap for Classics! All Access Membership to continue the "Meet the Orchestra" course and tour the rest of the instrument families.

What your child is learning:

• Hand-eye coordination
• Fine motor skills, specifically pincer grip
• Gross motor skills, particularly stomping, hopping, and bouncing
• Push vs. pull (opposites)
• Musical concepts: string family, pizzicato, concept of pitch (high vs. low)

Music Credit:

• String Family Song: Clap for Classics original by Kathryn Lieppman (based on the tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
• Violin: Caleb Nixon playing an excerpt from Bach's Gavotte in D Major
• viola: Lizzy and Lorenzo Golofeev playing an excerpt from Tchaikovsky's Walt of the Flowers.
• Cello: Jennifer Humphreys playing an excerpt from Bach's Courante from G Major Suite for Cello Solo No. 1 BWV 1007
• Double Bass: Jory Herman playing the melody from Saint-Saëns' Elephant, from the Carnival of the Animals.
• Harp: Héloïse Carlean-Jones playing an excerpt from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

String family example: Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev.  Recording licensed to us by Classical.com.