Musical Instruments of the Orchestra and Band:
Elementary Music Lessons and Activities

Teaching students to recognize and identify the sounds of musical instruments is part of developing music literacy.

This page brings together simple, effective ways to teach musical instruments and their families through:

  • Listening
  • Games
  • Printables
  • Easy-to-use lesson ideas

Use these activities with your K–5 music classes for whole group lessons, centers, or sub plans.

Two students playing musical instrument Bingo in elementary music class

Start Here: Learn About Instrument Families

Build a foundation by introducing instruments through listening and real-world connections.

Start with this lesson:

This is a great first step to help students:

  • See real instruments.
  • Hear them in context.
  • Begin identifying instrument families.
Virtual Field Trip Learn About the Instruments of the Orchestra -Elementary Music Class

Bonus: When you watch the performances through this page, there are no ads.

Instrument Identification Activities (Listen and Learn)

Help students connect what they see to what they hear.

Use listening-based activities to guide students as they follow and identify instruments in music.

These listening maps work well for:

  • Whole group lessons.
  • Guided listening.
  • Sub plans.
Girl in elementary music class wearing headphones. Text says 21 Online Listening Maps.

Bonus: When you watch the listening map videos through this page, there are no ads.

Musical Instrument Games for Elementary Music

Reinforce learning with simple, interactive games.

Use card games for:

  • Centers.
  • Quick, engaging lessons.
  • Review days.
  • Indoor recess.
  • Earned rewards.
  • Emergency sub lessons.

See Bingo game on the blog.

Musical Instrument Bingo for elementary music class - 2 Bingo Cards with markers.
Four children play a musical instrument card game in elemetnary music class.

No-Prep Instrument Worksheets and Puzzles

Need something quick and effective? Take a peek at the musical instrument worksheets and coloring pages featured in this blog post.

Printable activities are perfect for:

  • Centers
  • Independent work.
  • Easy assessments.
  • Sub plans.
Elementary Musical Instrument Worksheets to color. Includes audio links. Image shows cello and other instruments with colored pencils.
Instrument Worksheets

Featured Resource: Instrument Families Bundle

Looking for a complete set of instrument lessons?

This bundle includes:

  • Read and present teacher script.
  • Real instrument photos.
  • Information about each instrument.
  • Quality video performance links.
  • Interactive slides.
  • Optional guided notes worksheets.
  • Ready-to-use activities.

Use instrument lessons for:

  • Whole class lessons.
  • Centers.
  • Sub plans.
Pictures of musical instruments in the String, Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Families
Includes 4 Instrument Families

Prepare Your Students to Be Successful in Your School’s Orchestra and Band Programs

The work you do in elementary music lays the foundation for future success.

When students learn to:

  • Listen carefully.
  • Identify instruments by sound and sight.
  • Understand instrument families.

They are better prepared to:

  • Choose an instrument they will stick with.
  • Participate successfully in band or orchestra.
  • Continue their music education in later grades.

You are building lifelong musicians.

Meet the Author

Terri Lloyd is an experienced music educator with over 25 years of teaching in elementary music classrooms. She holds a Master’s in Education, an Instructional Technology Certificate in Curriculum Design, and a Bachelor of Music. Her resources are designed to help music teachers develop students’ music literacy and performance skills while enjoying learning.

She presents music education workshops, develops curriculum, and writes for her blog. Terri is on the music staff at her church and leads a children’s program. She performs as an active community musician with a local Big Band, pit orchestras, and at various events.

More About “Mi”

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