I Taught the Orchestra Instruments, Now What?

After you’ve become a wizard at teaching the instruments of the orchestra, you’ll notice that what your students have learned has excited and inspired them. Naturally, it’s an awesome feeling, but what’s your next step? To continue building on this foundation of orchestra instrument knowledge, it makes sense to teach orchestra seating next. As a result, once students understand the seating arrangement of the musicians and their instruments, they’ll also recognize how the orchestra instruments work together as a cohesive ensemble. Exciting and inspiring, indeed!

So, Why Teach Orchestra Seating?

Understanding the layout of an orchestra using an orchestra seating chart is key to seeing how the instruments function as a whole. By exploring orchestra seating, students will learn:

The history of orchestra seating plans
Why certain instruments sit in specific spots
The roles of the conductor and concertmaster
How modern orchestra layouts have evolved

These are important concepts that help students appreciate how an orchestra performs. It also gives them a new perspective when watching live performances or listening to recordings.

Seating of the Orchestra Teaching Resource

Preview of digital Google Slides lesson about orchestra seating on a laptop, featuring digital and printable resources perfect for teaching general music class. — Teach your students the seating of the orchestra with this engaging Google Slides lesson, featuring interactive printable and digital teaching resources to simplify your planning and enhance student engagement.

The Seating of the Orchestra resource offers a complete, structured unit to teach this practical next step in your general music class curriculum. This resource is perfect for elementary music teachers who want to build on their Instruments of the Orchestra unit and guide students through orchestra seating.

Here’s what’s included:

Google Slides Lesson: Engaging lesson with embedded video and audio to bring the instruments of the orchestra to life.
Note-taking Sheets: Printable and digital versions are included
Digital Drag-and-Drop Orchestra Seating Charts: Students can arrange the orchestra seating chart digitally by using the manipulator to move each section around like a puzzle.
Assessments: Includes a self-grading Google Forms assessment or printable version with an answer key and grading guide.

Not only is this unit reusable year after year, but it’s also a valuable addition to your elementary music curriculum.

Bonus Orchestra Seating Activities for Extra Practice

Printable orchestra seating chart, study guide, and answer key for learning orchestra instruments and seating arrangement. Includes sections for strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, helping students identify instruments of the orchestra by location. — This orchestra seating chart study guide reinforces knowledge of orchestra instruments and their seating arrangement. Perfect for learning and reviewing instrument placement in the orchestra.

The resource also includes bonus activities that reinforce learning orchestra seating. Both printable and digital options are available for assessments and note-taking. By the end of the unit, students will feel confident navigating an orchestra seating chart.

Keep Building Knowledge About the Orchestra

After completing the Instruments of the Orchestra unit, the Seating of the Orchestra resource is the ideal follow-up. It helps students deepen their understanding of how an orchestra functions, not just what instruments are played.

So, are you ready to take the next step? Check out the Seating of the Orchestra resource today!