Which instrument should you play? | Think Like A Musician
183,578 Views
Let’s Begin…
"Think Like A Musician" connects you with working musicians who want to help the music-curious and music-passionate hone and share the gift of music with the world. Part interview, part animated course, our first season "Think Like A Performer" features artists sharing their insight on the ins and outs of fine-tuning your instrument and crafting a great performance.
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
How to Pick Your Instrument
Learning materials developed by Education Through Music
Grade Level: Grades 6-12
Curriculum Resource for Educators
Presentation Slides for Educators
Objective: Students will be able to reflect and analyze personality traits to discover which instrument fits them more closely using the How to Pick Your Instrument App, and will collaborate to create a group performance using two or more instruments together.
Vocabulary: guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, piano, ensemble, personality, characteristics, harmonic, melodic
Activities:
1. Instrument Affinity Quiz
— Using the Instrument Explorer App take the Affinity Quiz to see which instrument most connects to you.
— Have select students read out each question to support all learners
— Have students share which instrument they received
Reflection Questions:
Does your instrument match your personality? Why or why not?
Which questions were missing from the quiz that would have helped?
What are your first impressions of your instrument?
2. Instrument Listening Examples & Analysis
— Listen to curated examples for Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, and Drums.
— Identify characteristics and patterns of each instrument and how it fits with the ensemble (Modify the speed of the videos as needed using the functionality in YouTube)
— Discuss what makes each instrument unique.
Reflection Questions:
What makes this instrument sound like itself and not any other instrument?
How do the different instruments work together in the ensemble? Are they all playing the same things?
How does the sound quality (timbre) or texture of each instrument affect the overall feel?
3. Exploring your Instrument
— Choose the instrument you received from the quiz.
— Divide the class into groups of each instrument.
— Read and discuss the harmonic and melodic foundations for your instrument in your groups from the Instrument Explorer App.
— Provide students with an acoustic instrument or see the resources for digital instrument options available.
Reflection Questions:
Does this feel like an instrument that reflects you? Why or why not?
What characteristics about your instrument do you like the most? Why?
Do you want to play more harmonic foundations or melodic foundations? Why?
4. Project Introduction & Ensemble Creation
— Introduce and model the Project Expectations.
— Present and explain the rubric criteria.
— Facilitate group formation and help students assign roles for an ensemble with two to four different instruments. Use the Instrument Guide as a resource.
— Encourage students to use their How to Pick an Instrument findings as a reference point when building their ensemble.
— Perform for peers and reflect: Have each group perform their groove for the class and use the rubric to guide self-assessment and peer feedback.
Instrument Listening Examples:
Guitar
Description: The guitar is a versatile string instrument. It fills the middle frequency range, providing rhythmic chordal backing (strumming) or soaring melodic lines (solos).
Prominent Guitarists: Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, St. Vincent (Annie Clark)
Musical Examples:
Jimi Hendrix - “Purple Haze”
John Mayer - “Neon”
St. Vincent - “Huey Newton”
Bass
Description: The bass bridges the gap between rhythm and harmony. It plays low-pitched notes that define the chord structure while locking in with the drums to drive the groove.
Prominent Bassists: Flea (Michael Balzary), Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius
Musical Examples:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Bass Solo” (Flea - Michael Balzary)
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - “Sinister Minister” (Victor Wooten)
Jaco Pastorius Big Band - “Soul Intro/The Chicken” (Jaco Pastorius)
Keyboard
Description: The keyboard is both harmonic (playing chords) and melodic (playing tunes), allowing a single player to function as a full ensemble.
Prominent Keyboardists: Stevie Wonder, Jacob Collier, Yuja Wang
Musical Examples:
Stevie Wonder - “Superstition”
Jacob Collier - “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert”
Yuja Wang - “Turkish March (encore)”
Drums
Description: The drums are the rhythmic heart of the band. They dictate the tempo (speed) and feel, requiring limb independence to coordinate different percussive sounds.
Prominent Drummers: John Bonham, Travis Barker, Questlove (Ahmir Thompson)
Musical Examples:
Led Zeppelin - “Moby Dick” (John Bonham)
Blink 182 - Travis Barker's Favorite Rudiments (Travis Barker)
The Roots - “You Got Me” (Questlove - Ahmir Thompson)
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Director
- Serin İnan, Tolga Yıldız, Kozmonot Animation Studio
- Lead Editor
- Mac Hanson
- Composer
- Stephen Eugene Larosa
- Sound Designer
- Stephen Eugene Larosa
- Interview by
- Cella Wright, Anna Bulbrook
