Week of November 30 - December 4, 2020

To Read
To Watch
To Do

Orchestra Week

ABTKids Daily turns our attention to one of ballets most important elements, the music. The ABT Orchestra is composed of over 60 highly talented, professional musicians who make the theatre come to life each and every night through their masterful performances!

Occasionally you will have the opportunity to see our musicians on the stage with our dancers, but normally you will find them in the orchestra pit in front of the stage. Next time you attend the ballet feel free to walk down to the pit and wave to our musicians!

This week we are very happy to be joined by seven musicians and one conductor as they introduce some of the instruments you would encounter on a trip to the ballet.

Enjoy!

First We Tune - Oboist Matthew Dine

Before any orchestra begins, they tune their instruments. Let’s get ready for Orchestra Week with ABT Oboist Matthew Dine.

Fun Fact: The oboe is a double reed woodwind instrument and often oboe players make their own reeds!

Monday

Meet the Conductor - Ormsby Wilkins

Today we meet ABT’s Music Director and Conductor, Ormsby Wilkins, as he explains the different sections of the orchestra and why there are no easy ballets to conduct!

Tuesday

Meet the Clarinet - David Gould

The clarinet is a member of the woodwind family, along with others such as the flute, oboe, saxophone, and bassoon. Did you know that the clarinet has the largest range in pitch, out of all the common woodwind instruments?

There are many different types of clarinets, and they continue to evolve. Today ABT Clarinetist David Gould shares many of the different clarinets that he has collected!

Clarinet Quiz

Time's up

Wednesday

Meet the Violin - Robin Bushman, Mike Gillette, and Carol Zeavin

Did you know…
– That no two violins are the same?
– That the bow of a violin is made of horse hair from Siberian horses?
– The violin can play more than one note at the same time?

Join us as we meet three of ABT’s Violinists and discover more interesting facts about this popular instrument!

Thursday

Meet the Flute - Judith Mendenhall

The flute is another instrument in the woodwind family. Something unique about the flute is that it creates sound from the flow of air. The pitch can be changed by altering the direction of the air, or pressing buttons.

Did you know…
– A long time ago, flutes were made out of wood? Now they can be made from metal.
– That flutes need the second most amount of air to play, following the tuba?

Let’s meet ABT Principal Flutist, Judith Mendenhall as she demonstrates why the flute is one of the most captivating musical instruments!

Writing Prompt

If you could play any instrument in the world, what would it be and why?

Friday

Meet the Bass - Lewis Paer

The bass is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument in the orchestra. The bass goes by many names. You may have heard it referred to as the “double bass,” “contrabass,” “string bass,” “upright bass,” or “bass fiddle”. Unlike the violin, this string instrument is too big to fit under your chin, so the bass has to stand on the floor.

Do you want to know more? Let’s meet ABT Principal Bassist Lewis Paer!

Orchestra Crossword

Let’s see how much you remember with our Orchestra Week Crossword Puzzle!