Instrument Families in Music
The instrument families are made up of four main families: woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. The pictures below include some of the instruments in each musical family. The instruments have an audio file to listen to the instrument sound. Scroll down the page to see all of the instruments.
Woodwind Family - Woodwind instruments produce a sound by blowing into a mouthpiece. Some woodwind instruments use a reed to make the sounds play.
Brass Family - Brass instruments are played by 'buzzing' the lips into the mouthpiece.
Percussion Family - Percussion instruments are struck with sticks or mallets. Some percussion instruments are pitched, such as the xylophone, which can play different notes or sounds. Keyboard Family - The acoustic (grand, upright) piano is also considered a percussion instrument. The other keyboard instruments below are electronic instruments.
String Family - You will find more String instruments than any other type in the orchestra. Most string instruments are played using a bow or by using the fingers to 'pluck' the strings.
from the MMF Music Library
- The Music Department is dedicated to providing an educational experience of the first rank, training that will prepare students for a lifetime of involvement in music, as teachers, performing artists, church musicians, arts administrators, composers, or community volunteers.
- Listening Singing Teacher gives you the time to learn aural skills at the pace you need. With Listening Singing Teacher you can sing and see how you can carry a tune. The display gives you feedback on your pitch, intensity and sustained duration. It also gives you hints on how you should count rhythm.
- Listening and responding is one of my favourites for music lessons. Children can respond to music in so many ways! Movement Drawing (draw what you think of when you hear the piece of music) Create a graphic score Writing about it (how does the music make you feel/write a story based on the piece of.
- Listening is a two-way process: you, as the teacher do most of the talking but you must also learn to listen to the students; the students spend a lot of time listening to you, and will also benefit from improved listening skills.
After class, explain to your teacher why listening to music is helpful to you. As long as you are following the rules, your teacher should have no problem with it.
Lesson Zone™ - Music Lessons Plans for the Elementary Music Classroom
Music lesson plans that are jam-pack with fun for the elementary music classroom.
Lesson Zone™ Worksheets
MMF Lesson Zone music lessons plan and worksheet packs make lesson planning as easy as click, print, teach. Save on premium music lessons plans with MMF Print.

Star Wars Rap | Music Lesson Plan and Worksheet
Monster-Themed Music Lesson Plan Pack | Lesson Plans, Worksheets, and More
High & Low Mix-and-Match | Lesson and Worksheets
Mystery Message Game | Music Game Worksheet
The Wee Little Scare | Steady Beat/Grade 2-3
Messiah/Hallelujah Chorus (Handel) | Listening Map
In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg) | Listening Map
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'Meet the Composer' Famous Composer Resources
Everything you need to start teaching or learning about your favorite music composer.
Hey Kids, Meet the Composer Biographies
Beethoven at Bat™ | Music Composer Board Game (Digital Print)
Famous Composer Coloring Pages
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Monster-Themed Music Lesson Plan Pack | Lesson Plans, Worksheets, and More
In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg) | Music Listening Map
Kangaroo from Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) | Music Listening Map
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Handel | Music Lesson Plan and Bulletin Board Pack
Trepak (Nutcracker) | Music Listening Map
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Toccata in D Minor (Bach) | Listening Glyph
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Bach | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
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Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev) | Comic Strip Worksheet and Music Lesson Plan
Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev) | Music Lesson Pack
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Famous Composer Soprano Recorder Play-Along
Want to give your music students a hands-on music experience playing a masterwork? This lesson resource includes beginner/easy level recorder sheet music and an Mp3 play-along recording.
Download cybernet space saving laptops & desktops driver. Hallelujah Chorus | Soprano Recorder Play-Along (Music/Mp3)
Listening Maps and Listening Glyphs
Designed for the music classroom, our printable listening maps and listening glyphs turn listening to music into an engaging visual learning experience.
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Star Wars (John Williams) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Jurassic Park (John Williams) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Indiana Jones (John Williams) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Trepak (Nutcracker) | Music Listening Map
Toccata in D Minor (Bach) | Listening Map
Toccata in D Minor (Bach) | Listening Glyph
In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg) | Listening Map
Kangaroo from Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) | Listening Map
Surprise Symphony (Haydn) | Music Listening Map and Lesson
Monster-Themed Music Lesson Plan Pack | Lesson Plans, Worksheets, and More
Hallelujah Chorus (Handel) | Music Listening Map
Hallelujah Chorus (Handel) | Music Listening Map/Composer Pack (Bundle)
St. Patrick's Day | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Easter (Vivaldi 'Spring') | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Thanksgiving (Vivaldi 'Autumn') | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Circus Music (Entry of the Gladiators) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Royal March of the Lion (Circus of the Animals) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Famous Composer Bulletin Board Posters
Our bulletin board poster packs add pizzazz to your music classroom bulletin boards, while helping kids remember the essential facts about the composer or lesson unit.
Beethoven | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
John Williams | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
Bach | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
Tchaikovsky | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
Elements of Music | Anchor Chart Posters
Haydn | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
Prokofiev | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev) | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
MMF Songbook - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes
Browse 700+ kids song lyrics and nursery rhymes for the music classroom or just for fun.
Action Songs and Rhymes
Animal Songs and Rhymes
International Songs and Rhymes
Bible Songs and Rhymes
Folksongs for Children
Lullaby Songs and Rhymes
Mother Goose Nursery Songs and Rhymes
Playtime Rhymes
Silly Songs and Rhymes
Holiday Songs
Traditional Children's Songs and Rhymes
MMF Songbook Sheet Music

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Learn about the instruments of the orchestra with our Meet the Orchestra resources.
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