The Shake Behind the Song: teacher key

Music and Instruments, grade 6 edition, written for 6th grade. Every instrument starts with a vibration. Follow it through strings, reeds, lips, hammers and a full orchestra, and out into space.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What is pitch?
   • How loud a sound is
   • How high or low a sound is (answer)
   • How long a sound lasts
2. Why does a violin have a hollow body?
   • It makes the bow longer
   • It keeps the strings warm
   • It pushes the air and makes the sound louder (answer)
3. What does a longer tube of air do?
   • Makes a lower note (answer)
   • Makes a higher note
   • Makes no sound
4. Who built the first piano?
   • Chuck Berry
   • Johann Bach
   • Bartolomeo Cristofori (answer)
5. What is the principal first violin called?
   • The oboe
   • The concertmaster (answer)
   • The piccolo
6. How old are the bone and ivory flutes found in caves in Germany?
   • About 40,000 years (answer)
   • About 400 years
   • About 4,000 years

Words

• vibration: fast shake
• pitch: how high
• reed: thin cane
• percussion: hit instruments
• concertmaster: lead violinist
• piccolo: tiny flute