Guide to the Orchestra

an orchestra on a stage between performances

Welcome to the Guide to the Orchestra

A walkthrough of the sections of the orchestra

The orchestra brings together many instruments into a multi-layered audio experience. Commonly, an orchestra performs classical music, though many often perform a wider range of repetoire, including film scores, pop song covers and musical theatre.

Beethoven's 5th Symphony is one of the most famous works for a classical orchestra. Check out the video for an amazing performance of this work!

Below you can explore each section of the orchestra, from the bold brass instruments, the rhythmic percussion, the smooth string section, and the mellow woodwind instruments.

Explore the Sections of the Orchestra

close-up of a trumpet on the valves
Brass
close-up of a xylophone
Percussion
close-up of a violin
Strings
close-up of an oboe
Woodwind