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Discovering the Instruments of the Orchestra | JuilliardX on edX

1,461 views · Published 1 August 2017 · 1:04 · Indexed 17 October 2026

Channel: edX · 2017 · People & Blogs

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Learn to hear and appreciate the nuances of each instrument in the orchestra, enabling you to listen more deeply to any kind of music.

Take this course for free on edX: https://www.edx.org/course/discovering-instruments-orchestra-juilliardx-jx003x

The world’s greatest orchestras have the incredible ability to sound so unified they feel like one single instrument. Listening to the music of an orchestra can feel invigorating, exciting, and life-affirming all at the same time. But how do you learn to hear and appreciate the nuances of each instrument? How have the instruments that make up an orchestra evolved and improved over time?

Dr. L Michael Griffel, Chair of Juilliard’s Music History Department, takes you on a journey into the orchestra and introduces you to the history of its principal instruments.

You will learn about each instrument, from violin to timpani, and will gain the ability to recognize their individual sounds and textures when listening to any orchestral music.

Through four modules you will discover the four families of instruments: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, giving you confidence to further discover the music of the orchestra. No prior musical experience necessary.

What you'll learn
How the instruments of the orchestra have evolved over time, and what the four families of instruments are
What it’s like for musicians to create sound and music with different instruments
How to recognize instruments by their sounds in classical music, leaving you better equipped to listen more deeply to any kind of music

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