2 Interactive Instruments of the Orchestra Games for Kids

There are many ways for kids to learn about the instruments of the orchestra.  They can learn by listening to books like Welcome to the Symphony: A Musical Exploration of the Orchestra Using Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 or Story of the Orchestra : Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music!.

Students can watch a DVD like The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.  Or students can play online games like the ones found at the San Francisco Kids website, listen to orchestra excerpts on CD, or attend a live concert.  All of these ideas are great and definitely important.  But these 2 interactive instruments of the orchestra games for kids will get kids on their feet and will make learning fun!

 

1. Instrument Four Corners

This game is to test students knowledge of instrument families.  Before playing this game, you would have already gone over the different instruments and their families so students are familiar with them. The winner of the game is the last student standing.

How to play:

1. Tape a sign for each instrument family (woodwind, brass, strings, percussion) in the corners of the room.
2. Students will stand in the middle of the room.
3. Call out a certain instrument and the students will walk to the corner of the room that instrument belongs to.  (For example, if I call out trumpet, students will walk to the brass family.)
4. If students don’t walk to the correct instrument family, have them sit back down in the middle of the room or somewhere out of the way.
5. Keep playing the game until there is only one student left standing.

 

2. Guess My Instrument

This game is to help students learn the individual instruments of the orchestra.  You will need a class set (or enough for your kids if you are doing this at home) of note cards and some tape.  Before playing this game, spend several weeks going over the instruments of the orchestra so students are familiar with how each instrument looks and sounds. This game is played until each student has guessed their instrument.

How to play:

1. Tape a note card, with an instrument name written on it, on the back of each child’s shirt.
2. When you say go, students will walk around the room and ask “am I” questions to other students to figure out who they are.
3. Students can ask questions about their instruments size, shape, family, color, where they sit, or how they sound, but can’t ask who they are.
4. The game continues until each student has guessed their instrument.

 

These two games are so much fun and kids will be laughing while learning.  How do you enjoy teaching about the instruments of the orchestra?  I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post.   

Also, I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it.

P.S.  Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher?  Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!

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