Musical Instruments & Music History

Name:

Date:

Instructions: From classical symphony to jazz and rock — test your knowledge of musical instruments and music history!

1.
Around what year was the piano invented?
A
Around 1800
B
Around 1500
C
Around 1700
D
Around 1600
2.
Which of these instruments is NOT part of the violin family?
A
Cello
B
Oboe
C
Viola
D
Double bass
3.
How many strings does a standard acoustic guitar have?
A
8
B
4
C
5
D
6
4.
Who invented the saxophone?
A
Adolphe Sax
B
John Philip Sousa
C
Antonio Stradivari
D
Louis Armstrong
5.
The trumpet is a key instrument in which genre of American music?
A
Country
B
Folk
C
Bluegrass
D
Jazz
6.
What is the large drum that produces a deep, booming sound in an orchestra called?
A
Snare drum
B
Timpani
C
Bongo
D
Tom-tom
7.
A pipe organ produces sound by sending air through what?
A
Pipes of various sizes
B
Membranes
C
Reeds
D
Strings
8.
Antonio Stradivari was a famous maker of which instrument?
A
Flute
B
Violin
C
Piano
D
Guitar
9.
The harmonica is also known by what other name?
A
Mouth organ
B
Melodica
C
Penny whistle
D
Jaw harp
10.
The banjo is believed to have originated from instruments brought to America from which continent?
A
Europe
B
Africa
C
Asia
D
South America
11.
A classical symphony orchestra is traditionally divided into how many main sections?
A
3
B
2
C
5
D
4
12.
Ludwig van Beethoven continued composing music even after losing which sense?
A
Hearing
B
Taste
C
Touch
D
Sight
13.
At what age did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart begin composing music?
A
5
B
10
C
8
D
3
14.
In standard music notation, how many lines make up a musical staff?
A
4
B
5
C
3
D
6
15.
Tchaikovsky composed which famous ballet that is traditionally performed during the Christmas season?
A
The Nutcracker
B
Giselle
C
Swan Lake
D
Sleeping Beauty

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