Music Fun
Instruments to Trace Color and Label
Handbells and castanets. Triangles and timpani. Trumpets and trombones. As part of their study of instruments, young musicians label, trace and color the parts of seven instruments. Also included in the resource packet are tracing...
Curated OER
Musical Instruments
In this musical instruments worksheet, students identify and locate 20 various types of musical instruments in a word search. First, they locate brass and percussion instruments. Then, students locate string and woodwind instruments.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids
This interactive site offers students resource for learning about composers, their works, the logistics of orchestra seating, the functions of different instruments, and the like.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Timpani
A nice, factual encyclopedia entry from Wikipedia on the timpani. Discusses its origins, how it is played, how it is tuned, and its significance in an orchestra. Links are provided throughout the article for additional information.
PBS
Classics for Kids: Musical Instruments
An A-to-Z directory of all the instruments and tools of the orchestra. Each entry includes a description, a picture, and a sound sample.
Other
Drum Bum: A Drum Lessons Database
Providing "Over 400 free Lessons and Tabs," this resource includes learning ideas and information for everyone from the drum novice to the expert. In addition to including lessons on a wide range of instruments, this resource includes...
Other
Vic Firth: Educator's Resource Library
This website is a cornucopia of resources for percussion instruction. There are videos, audiocasts, podcasts, interviews with talented percussionists. Please check out this website is you are interested in any aspect of percussion.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Timpani
Have you ever wondered what those big bowl shaped drums were? They are timpani. Use this resource to learn more about them and the percussion family of the orchestra. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the timpani play...
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Listening Library
At this resource listen to a selection of audio clips that feature the works of a full range of composers and a full orchestra of instruments. Scroll down an alphabetical list to find the composer or instrument you want, then choose the...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: The Timpani
A site mostly exploring the hyperphysics of the sound frequencies of the timpani.
Music Education
Learn About Instruments: The Percussion
Learn general information on different percussion instruments such as the snare drum and cymbals and hear sound clips of these instruments being played.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Percussion
A basic article on percussion instruments lists several examples of percussion instruments, provides a distinction between membranophones and idiophones, and lists instruments that are tuned vs. ones that are not.