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Meet the Orchestra

Meet the Orchestra

Discover the instruments, the families, and the magic behind the music.
Created byMariza Schutte Hamman
Last updated 10/2026
English

What you'll learn

  • Meet the four sections of the orchestra — strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
  • Discover the instruments in each section and learn how they produce their unique sounds.
  • Explore how the orchestra developed from its early beginnings to the modern orchestra.
  • Learn how to listen to an orchestra and recognise the different sounds, elements, and musical roles you hear.

Course content

8 sections • 14 lectures • 1h 21m total length

  • Introduction1:42

    Welcome to Meet the Orchestra! In this opening section, we’ll begin our journey into the fascinating world of orchestral music.

    You’ll discover what an orchestra actually is and what you can expect to learn throughout the course. No previous musical knowledge is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to listen.

    By the end of this introduction, you’ll be ready to meet the instruments, explore the orchestra, and discover how all these different sounds come together to create one incredible musical experience.

  • What exactly is an orchestra?3:18

    In this section, we’ll answer the simple but important question: What exactly is an orchestra?

Requirements

  • No previous musical knowledge or experience is required.
  • All you need is an interest in music, a willingness to listen, and a little curiosity about how an orchestra works.

Description

Meet the Orchestra is a friendly and accessible introduction to the fascinating world of orchestral music, designed especially for beginners. Whether you are completely new to classical music or simply want to understand the orchestra better, this course will help you listen with greater confidence and enjoyment.

Discover the four instrument families—strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion—and meet the instruments that make up each section. Learn how the instruments produce their different sounds and how individual parts come together to create the rich, colourful sound of a full orchestra.

You’ll explore a typical orchestra layout, discover where the different instrument families sit, and learn about the important role of the conductor in bringing everything together. You’ll also learn some basic musical elements, including melody, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, timbre and texture.

Most importantly, you’ll learn how to listen to an orchestra. Through guided listening and a selection of well-known orchestral works, you’ll discover what to listen for and how to hear the different layers of music.

No previous musical knowledge is required, and you don’t need to read music or play an instrument. All you need is curiosity, a willingness to listen, and a love of music.

Come and discover the orchestra—and hear classical music in a whole new way.

Who this course is for:

  • This course is for anyone who is curious about the orchestra and wants to understand how its instruments, sections, and sounds come together. It is ideal for complete beginners, classical music lovers, or anyone who wants to feel more confident listening to orchestral music.

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