Instruments of the Orchestra reinvented, Carnegie Hall

We all remember the formula for the Dora the Explorer adventures. Hints and clues, mysteries to solve. This is how things work in the fabulously interactive "Listening Adventures" for Benjamin Britten's "A young Persons' Guide to the Orchestra".

Players are offered the option of logging in to save their game to finish at another time, or they can play a local game. This game can be played as a class using a data projector, smart board etc or individually. It could even be set as a homework activity to fuel a discussion in class upon completion. I am going to follow this up with a thinglink using a picture of the orchestra : label instruments, include youtube videos of instruments playing etc. I have discussed thinkglink in a previous post. As a further follow up activity to check their understanding, I will play a kahoot that I created . (I will be discussing kahoot next week).

This is the first thing your students will see when they navigate to the website.

For the purpose of this discussion I have selected local game.

Once the game has begun there is no option to pause. From time to time the students are given the chance to read information from the books. They have freedom to decide what and how much information. The game waits for them to do this. For this reason, the game length will vary for each player.

The great thing here is that students have the option to read this text themselves or select to have it read to them. This is great for younger students or for those will reading problems.

slowly the game moves through an introduction to the symphony orchestra and then one instrument family at a time as can be seen below.

Students can select one instrument at a time to listen to that instrument played solo. If the game is played as a class this can lead to further discussion, eg which is higher/lower etc.

By selecting a different tab students are able to both watch and listen to the range of the various instruments in each family and to see where the over lap is.

By clicking on the treble clef at the bottom of the book you are able to see the table of contents and hence select the instrument family you wish to study rather than working through all of them.

This following page allows the player to spin the wheel to see each percussion instrument and to gather necessary information.

Now the fun begins. Each player works through a series of activities to unlock the door (the way to the end of the game). The first quiz asks students to match the instrument with the appropriate family. There is always the chance to try again if unsuccessful.

This continues for all four families and the safari begins. Students are able to track their progress through the map via the diagram at the bottom.

At each point one family of instruments are featured. Students have the chance to learn about each instrument, how it is played, what i sounds like and so on. The game continues in the same vein throughout.

At each point the students has control of how much information they read and listen to. They are in control of their own learning. This is a good way to begin the idea of research or even introduce the idea of a viva voce supported with listening examples.

Your turn now to make your way through the safari. I use this with year 7 non elective music. It is good regardless of student pre requisite knowledge as there are options to extend students with extra reading or just take the basic route. I usually work on 2 50 minute lessons. Sometimes it is more, sometimes it is less. It really depends on how the students play the game.

A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

Yours in music

Teresa