Instruments

Choosing your "Bow Time" Instrument
To participate in Bow Time At School, a decision will have to be made about which string instrument to choose. The three choices are violin, viola, or cello. In order to help with the decision making process, I have located a wonderful youtube video that I would encourage you and your child to watch. This is worth watching even if your child has already chosen his or her instrument, because it demonstrates the power of classical music to people of all ages and races.

The video was recorded in Sabadella, near Barcelona, Spain. The piece that is being performed is from Beethoven's 9th Symphony, and many of you will recognize it as "Ode to Joy". The sequence of instruments presented is as follows:

The Double Bass – Typically, this instrument is not included in Bow Time classes
because of its size, weight, and cost. However, it can be accommodated.
The Cello – It has a deep, beautiful tone.
Two Violas – It is a large violin that can produce lower pitches. A bassoon (a
woodwind instrument) joins as well.
Several Violins – produces the highest pitches
More instruments appear including clarinets, brass instruments, and percussion.
Finally, the choir joins in.

To view the video, click here. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

The strings on a violin:

The Viola
The viola is larger and plays lower notes than the violin.

The difference between a violin and a viola:

The viola and cello have the same string names:

The Cello
The cello plays the lowest notes of all the instruments we learn in class. It is so large that it is played resting on the floor instead of the shoulder.

This is how the cello sounds:

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