Mr. Alex Mueller
Director of Instrumental Music
“Music expresses that which cannot
be said and on which it is impossible to be silent”.
Victor Hugo (1802-1885)
Click on a link below
Related Links:
Baltimore
County Public Schools Web site
Instrumental music is an elective for fifth grade students where
they can choose an instrument suitable to their interests and abilities. Classes meet twice a week in small groups of
similar instruments. As a culmination of
their musical growth and achievement, they present two concerts a year to which
all parents and guests are invited. We
feel there is much potential available for intellectual, aesthetic and social
development for those children who choose to participate.
The program is divided into the two performing groups outlined below. Click on an instrument to find out more.
Flute / Oboe
/ Clarinet / Alto Saxophone / Tenor Saxophone /
Trumpet / French
Horn / Trombone / Baritone / Tuba /
(In alphabetical order)
The alto
saxophone is a woodwind instrument made of brass. It uses a reed to create the vibration it
needs to make a sound. The alto
saxophone is commonly found in concert bands and jazz bands.
The Baritone is a member of the Brass Family. It plays low notes like the trombone and you
must buzz your lips to create a sound.
It looks like a miniature tuba and is used in the band.
The Bass is the largest member of the String
Family. It plays the lowest notes in the
orchestra and looks like a giant violin.
You must stand to play the bass.
The Cello is the second largest member of the String
Family. It can play fairly high and
really low. It is used in the orchestra
and you must sit down to play it.
The Clarinet is
a woodwind instrument and is used in the band.
The clarinet uses a reed to create the vibration. The clarinet provides many melodies and
harmonies in music.
The Flute is a woodwind instrument that you must blow
across to create a sound. The flute used
to be made of wood but now it is most commonly made of metal. The flute is a member of the band and can
play very high notes.
The French Horn is a brass instrument that is found in the band. The French horn produces a soft and warm
sound. You must buzz your lips to
produce a sound on the French horn.
The oboe is a woodwind instrument and a member of the
band. The oboe has a double reed that
you use to create the vibration. The
oboe can play almost as high as the flute.
The Percussion
is a group of instruments including the snare drum, bass drum, concert bells,
timpani, and cymbals. Percussion players
must learn to play all of these instruments.
To create a sound on a percussion instrument you must strike it.
The Tenor
Saxophone is very similar to the Alto Saxophone but is larger. The tenor saxophone is a woodwind instrument
made of brass. It produces a much lower
sound then the alto saxophone. The tenor
saxophone uses a reed to create sound and is played in the band.
The Trombone is
a member of the Brass Family and can play low notes. It uses a slide to create different
pitches. To play the trombone you must
buzz your lips. The trombone is found in
the band.
The Trumpet is
the lead instrument of the Brass Family.
The trumpet plays many melodies in the band. You must buzz your lips to play the trumpet.
The Tuba is the
lowest member of the Brass Family and is used in the band. The tuba takes a lot of air to play as it is
also the largest brass instrument. The
tuba plays the bass lines in most music.
The Viola is a
string instrument and is used in the orchestra.
The viola is slightly larger in size and lower in sound when compared to
the violin. The viola usually supports the
violin by playing harmonies.
The Violin is a
string instrument and is used in the orchestra.
The violin is the smallest of the string instruments and it also can
play the highest notes. The violin
usually plays melodies in music.
Every fourth grade student meets once
a week for a fifty minute class that explores the various instruments of the
orchestra and band. During these classes
students also learn to play a represented instrument from the Woodwind, String
and Brass family. These families
represent the three units of the course.
Students learn how to play simple
songs on the clarinet throughout this unit.
Students will learn how to exhibit proper playing position and
fingerings of notes “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, and “G”. Students will also explore the many instruments
of the Woodwind family comparing the instruments’ similar and unique
characteristics.
Students learn how to play simple
songs on the violin throughout the course of this unit. Students will learn how to exhibit proper
playing position and fingerings of notes “D”, “E”, “F#”, and “A”. Students will also explore the many
instruments of the String family comparing the instruments’ similar and unique
characteristics.
Students learn how to play simple songs
on the trumpet throughout the course of this unit. Students will learn how to exhibit proper
playing position and fingerings of notes “C”, “D” and “E”. Students will also explore the many
instruments of the Brass family comparing the instruments’ similar and unique
characteristics.