[ Music ]
>> Hi. My name's George and today we're going
to meet the Sydney Youth Orchestra.
Orchestra!
[ Music ]
Wait a minute.
What is an orchestra?
I'm going to find out!
[ Music ]
An orchestra is a group of musicians
that play instruments together.
It sounds like this.
[ Music ]
I really want to learn an instrument,
but I'm not sure which one.
[ Music ]
This is Brian Buggy.
He's the conductor.
Hi, Brian.
What's a conductor do?
>> Well, a conductor keeps all
of these musicians in time and in tune.
It's quite a job.
>> And how do you do that?
>> Well, you use your hands.
You wave them around in a particular pattern, and,
if you really need it, you use the conductor's baton that's
a stick.
Would you like to hear how it works?
>> Yes, please.
[ Music ]
There's a lot of people in this orchestra.
>> There are a lot in this orchestra
and the Sydney Youth Orchestra has got 14 groups
about this size from people your age right up to these people
and a little bit bigger.
Something for every member of the family.
>> There are lots of different instruments in the orchestra.
Like lots and lots and lots.
It's ridiculous how many there are!
Violin and clarinets, and trumpets, and xylophones.
Each instrument belongs to a section,
or family in the orchestra.
There are four families altogether.
The first family is the strings.
[ Music ]
What are the instruments in the string section?
>> Well, George, we have four types
of strings instruments including the violin, viola,
cello, and double bass.
[ Music ]
>> How do you play your instruments?
>> You can play instruments by plucking.
Or bowing.
[ Music ]
We can play high notes like this.
And low notes.
[ Music ]
Would you like to have a go?
So put your head under there.
[ Music ]
That's very good.
[ Music ]
>> The next family is the woodwinds.
[ Music ]
What is a woodwind instrument?
>> Well, George, this is an oboe
and we also have a clarinet and a flute.
And, in an orchestra, we have a bassoon as well.
And the difference between us and string instruments
and that you blow into it to make a sound.
>> And how do you play them?
>> Well, for the oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, you have a reed,
which you blow into and the two pieces
of cane will blow together to make a sound like this.
[ Music ]
And then, when you put it into the instrument.
[ Music ]
Good dancing, George [laughing].
>> Next we have the brass section.
[ Music ]
You're the noisy section.
>> That's right.
We do make a lot of noise,
but we can also play really quietly as well.
>> What are the brass instruments?
>> Well, as the name suggestions, they're made
of brass and they come in all different shapes and sizes
like the ones behind us here.
>> How do you play your instrument?
>> Well, each brass instrument comes with one
of these mouth pieces.
You blow on it like this, and then sound comes out the end.
[ Music ]
Do you want to try?
Have a go at that.
That's it [laughing].
Good work.
Do you want to hear us play it together?
>> Yeah.
>> Ready, guys?
[ Music ]
>> Wow! The fourth family of the orchestra and percussion.
Your section has lots of different instruments.
>> That's right.
The percussion section is a very big family.
To make the percussion you either have to hit, or scrape,
or shake to make a noise.
Some sounds can be soft and beautiful like glockenspiel.
Or some can be loud and booming like a timpani.
Hey, George, do you want to have a go?
>> Yes, please.
[ Music ]
Percussions are fun!
[ Music ]
>> So, George, did you decide what instrument you want
to play?
>> I think I have though it's not an instrument.
>> It's not an instrument?
>> What is it?
>> I want to be the conductor!
>> All right!
Here we go!
You can have this and you can conduct the Sydney Youth
Orchestra Philharmonic!
Here we go!
And.
[ Music ]
[ Applause ]