Vocabulary

Ensemble: A group of musicians playing together, usually doing different things.

Chorus: An ensemble of singers.

Orchestra: An ensemble that can include any instruments, even singers.

Band: An ensemble that usually includes all the instruments except strings and singers.

Conducting: Using your hands (or a baton) to tell an ensemble how to play.

Cutoff: The main way a conductor tells the ensemble to stop.

Note: A single musical sound or pitch.

Tune: A sequence of notes.

Melody: The main tune in a piece of music.

Refrain: A structural piece of a song. A refrain is the main statement of a song and can be as short or as long as you like.

Verse: A structural piece of a song. A song often has many verses that share the same form but are all unique. Each verse sets up the refrain.

Tempo: The speed of the music.

Beat: The main rhythmic unit of a song.

Rhythm: A chain of sounds, arranged in a specific pattern. There are different genres of rhythms.

Dynamics: Dynamics are directions for how to perform a piece of music. This mainly includes tempo, volume, and tone quality.

Trumpet

Trombone

French Horn

Tuba

Euphonium (Baritone Horn)

Percussion: Most percussion instruments make noise when they are struck with another object, such as a stick. Other percussion instruments may be shaken or rubbed.

Sticks

Mallets

Drum

Bongos

Bell

Gong

Triangle

Shakers/maracas

Xylophone

Marimba